THE COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER

Vol. 34, No. 2 www.cotsonline.org FALL 2016

Alternative gift ideas for the holidays

Send a Katharine Montstream holiday card: Make a minimum $10 donation to COTS in someone’s name, and we’ll send the recipient a beautiful Katharine Montstream card with this message: “A generous donation has been made to COTS in your name. This gift of warmth and shelter will help families and individuals who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness make it through the harsh winter months. Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year.” Contact Gillian to order” (802) 864-7402, Ext. 207 or [email protected]. Ending chronic homelessness More alternative giving ideas: starts early Share Cookies for Good: Sugarsnap People who experience homelessness as children are more likely to become delicious “Cookies for Good” is a “bake homeless as an adult. The older man you see sleeping in a doorway, bundled up sale every day” for COTS: 35 cents from against the cold, may very well have experienced repeated upheavals and trauma each $1 cookie sold goes to COTS. Serve as a child. About 15 percent of the overall homeless population nationwide is the cookies at your holiday party, business considered “chronically homeless.” Of the remaining 85 percent, many are newly lunch or send to a friend, co-worker or homeless families with children. customer. A variety of flavors of the locally sourced treats are available. To order, visit Our goal is to prevent these children from becoming the next generation of www.cookiesforgood.org, call (802) 861- chronic homeless. COTS works in collaboration with community partners to 2951 or email [email protected]. intervene early to alter their trajectories, reducing the impact on them today and helping them avoid future years of struggle. NEW! AO Glass COTS ornaments: AO Glass has generously created a glass As part of this effort, COTS partnered with the University of ’s College ornament with COTS’ logo on it. These are of Education and Social Services. Jennifer Hurley, program coordinator for available for $20 each at our temporary ’s early childhood special education program and assistant location: 179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. professor of education, has conducted a multi-year qualitative research study on homeless infants and toddlers in Vermont. (More than 56 percent of children in Carry a COTS Flashbag: We have a COTS’ shelters and family services are under age 5.) limited number remaining of the COTS Flashbags feature doorknobs from the Main Jen, accompanied by UVM doctoral student Winnie Looby, was the keynote Street Family Shelter. Call for availability of speaker at this year’s COTS Annual Meeting in October. As part of the UVM tote bags, placemats or wallets, call (802) study, Early Intervention service providers filled out questionnaires, describing 864-7402 or email [email protected]. their experiences in the field. Specifically, they worked with homeless children, ages 0-3, in Vermont who were living in shelters, cars, tents, and other places not For more gift ideas, visit cotsonline.org. meant for human habitation. continued page 2 Community...continued from page 1

Their findings included: • Vermont infants and toddlers live in spaces that lack basic amenities: “A child might have loving, affectionate, attached parents, but if you can’t warm up a bottle without going to McDonald’s and putting it under the hot water in the sink there, it’s just not ideal.” • Vermont’s infants and toddlers live in cars and HomeFront is published twice a year, in March and November, by: tents: “In the cooler months, in the warmer months, it’s going to be uncomfortable in the car. Do you keep Committee on the windows down? ... If you keep the windows up, Temporary Shelter it’s too hot. In the winter, you’re certainly going to PO Box 1616 Winnie Looby & Jennifer Hurley Burlington, VT 05402 have a heat problem and what to do? You turn the 802-864-7402 engine on? That’s got all kinds of health problems. Cars are not designed for living in.” fax 802-864-2612 • Homelessness has a negative impact on the development of Vermont’s infants www.cotsonline.org and toddlers: “A lot of these kids are not available to learn because … it’s difficult for them to focus … even on play because they’re feeling so insecure.” Established 1982 Jen said that while shelter is not the answer to homelessness, “program shelters” like BOARD OF DIRECTORS the COTS family shelters are a considerable step-up from hotels, cars, tents where Jeffrey Nolan,Chair Tom Torti, Vice Chair too many of our Vermont infants and toddlers are living. Debra Royce, Treasurer “COTS family shelters provide families with a safe place to live and give families Paul Lekstutis, Secretary Beth Anderson access to important things that help them support their child’s development and Sean Collins receive early childhood special education services,” Jen said. “As a community, we Catherine Dingle must work collectively to mitigate the negative impact of homelessness on the Laurie Gunn development of these children.” Andrew Hanson Michael H. Lipson Jeff Martin COTS year in review Shelley Richardson Among COTS’ other programs and efforts, these are some of the many highlights: Brigitte Ritchie • We successfully completed our $3.1 million dollar 95 North Avenue capital Bob Steis campaign, which included a generous capstone gift from the Argosy Foundation Rita Markley, Executive Director and leadership gift from the Stiller Foundation, and began construction there on our new Daystation and 14 units of permanently affordable housing, which will be completed in the spring of 2017. A United Way Funded Agency • In November 2015, with the help of a long list of community partners, we opened a five-month, low-barrier winter warming shelter with 40-50 beds. This served as a refuge for 240 individuals during the harshest weather months, while our year- round Waystation program provided shelter to an additional 223 people for a total Editor of 463 people. Becky Holt • We offered rapid rehousing assistance to 133 households through security Writers deposits and our risk guarantee fund, greatly reducing their time in shelter and Sian Leach, Tamira Martel, overflow motels. David Mayer, Gillian Taylor • We provided prevention assistance to 291 households helping them avoid the Designer crisis of homelessness. Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio • We also maintained 58 units of deeply affordable permanent housing and received a special commendation this summer from the VA for the successful outcomes of follow us online our transitional program at our Canal Street Veterans Housing in Winooski. www.cotsonline.org • And, we secured funding to continue our Children’s Education Advocate position, www.facebook.com/COTSonline which focuses on connecting infants and toddlers in our shelters to early education programs, and coordinating academic support and enrichment for school-aged kids @COTSvt staying in shelter to help minimize the long-term impact of homelessness. Pinterest.com/cotsvt Learn more at www.cotsonline.org.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016 

Everything old is new again In the spring of 2017, COTS project brings it all home COTS looks forward to welcoming guests In 1893, a new building opened at And, in 2016, we launched and completed the corner of North Street and North a capital campaign that raised $3.1 to our: Avenue, offering goods, services, and million in private support, including a Daystation: A new permanent home housing to residents of the Old North generous capstone gift from the Argosy for our daytime center that connects End. Later, Alex Colodny created the Foundation that will enable COTS to homeless adults to housing, services, state’s first “supermarket” at the location. help privately subsidize new housing in and community partners. (Our previous Then, after decades as a grocery store, the building. The overall project includes home was destroyed by a flood in education became central, as Burlington a mix of public and private funding, 2012.) A noontime meal is served daily, College opened at 95 North Avenue. including low-income tax credits. 365 days a year;

In 2010, COTS purchased the building In January, we broke ground. Since Housing Resource Center: Our with a vision of creating a new type of then, construction crews have been hard prevention and rehousing program that community anchor – one that provided at work transforming and restoring helps families and individuals in crisis services, support, and housing for COTS’ historic building into a modern, avert homelessness or return to housing people facing the crisis of homelessness. accessible, and energy-efficient building more quickly; that preserves its rich cultural and To fulfill this vision, we partnered architectural history, while also creating Services: Our COTS case with Housing Vermont, a nonprofit new housing and improving our management team provides housing syndication and development program space. support services to families and company that creates permanently individuals who are struggling with affordable rental housing and enables “This project is not about a building, homelessness; investments in economic and community but about what happens within it,” said development to benefit Vermonters Rita Markley, COTS Executive Director. Housing: Also, this renovation through partnerships with local “COTS, in collaboration with our project is enabling COTS, in partnership organizations, public agencies and partners, works to end homelessness with Housing Vermont, to create 14 the private sector. (COTS previously by preventing it from happening. We new affordable apartments, a mix partnered with Housing Vermont on aim to be the catalyst that changes the of one-bedroom and studio units, for our successful Canal Street Veterans trajectories of people’s lives, helping people facing homelessness. Housing facility.) them both aspire and achieve.”

1893 1902 1928 1979 2010 2016 Building constructed, Saiger’s Colodny’s Super Market, COTS purchased the COTS, in with Frank Riley Department Store became a community purchased building to consolidate partnership running a grocery opened by institution, known for its the building its programs. (Many with Housing store at this address George Saiger. excellent butcher shop and and opened people believed this Vermont, begins community connections. its doors was a “cookie factory” renovations because of the Cookies to create new for Good sign, which is housing, add actually a partnership the Daystation, between COTS, Cabot and modernize and Sugarsnap to help COTS’ program end homelessness.) space.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us…

COTS absolutely could not do the work it does without Thanks to People’s United Bank, Federal the generous support of our community. Credit Union, Merchants Bank, Edmunds Middle School, Vermont Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, and Thanks to the generous partnership of KeyBank, Staples, UVM for donating items for Family Shelter Summer Go Bags. These Gardener’s Supply Co., Hotel Vermont, Kinney Drugs, bags included beach towels, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, WCAX and Star 92.9, our #172vt Back to School Drive was lip balm, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses, so kids were ready for a huge success. We were able to fill more than 200 backpacks and summer fun! give them to children in COTS shelter and services, as well as share them with children helped by our community partners: Burlington Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, in conjunction with Darn Tough and Boys & Girls Club, King Street Center, families staying at Smartwool, donated hundreds of new socks to COTS shelters as Champlain Housing Trust’s Harbor Place, Spectrum Youth well as the proceeds from their 5th Annual Charity Sock Sale. & Family Services, and Sara Holbrook Community Center. The result? More than $600 for services and support and many, many warm, dry feet.

Two teams fundraised and ran in the for COTS as part of Run Vermont’s Miles for Mission program that benefits local nonprofits.

Liz Dyer and local homeschoolers hosted their 17th Annual Homeschooler Bake Sale for COTS at the Fletcher Free Library. The bake sale brought in nearly $400, and they donated all the remaining baked goodies to the COTS Daystation.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino donated 144 decks of cards for our guests at the Daystation. Gardener’s Supply Co. helped beautify COTS shelters and housing facilities this summer. They donated seeds, plants, compost, The American Red Cross provided 30 tickets to the Champlain and potting soil to the Daystation, family shelters, and St. John’s Hall. Valley Fair. Their generosity and thoughtfulness means so much to us and really Family Shelter received pumpkins from Shelburne Farms for goes far in brightening the spaces where we serve our clients. families to carve this fall.

Thanks to National Life Group’s Do Good Fest for inviting COTS to host a table in the nonprofit tent to help raise awareness about homelessness in our community.

The Turrell Fund and the Stern Center for Language and Learning partnered to offer professional development and training, centered on educational support for parents and children, for the COTS family shelter staff and guests.

The Church Street Marketplace’s “Pachinko and Champette” spare change game has collected more than $10,000 since arriving on the Church Street Marketplace, beginning in 2012.

Great Eastern Radio’s Wally Caswell for helping us craft and Thanks so much to HANDS, Saint Michael’s College, master air seasonal PSA’s sharing COTS story with Kiss 104.3 listeners. gardener Charles Nardozzi, Veterans Affairs, and the Vermont Community Garden Network for donations of items Vermont Business Magazine helps us promote upcoming COTS and time to help with the Canal Street Veterans Housing garden events across their media platforms and donates ad space for our that created a bounty of fresh vegetables for residents. use in their monthly publication, VBM.

Every Wednesday, Kim Borsavage, Courtney Sheehan, and Blue Star Mothers, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 5, Danielle Bassignani from Lang House on Main Street Bed St. Michael’s College Food Services, and Howard Longway and Breakfast prepare and serve lunch at the Daystation. donated food and items for Canal Street Veterans Housing.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us…

Rock Point School hosted their annual Ooky Spookey 5K on October 22, where all the proceeds benefited COTS.

Timberlane Dental Group has been donating a monthly supply of exam gloves for staff to use in shelter, and they donated 3 boxes of dental hygiene products.

We were honored to be a Seven Daysies finalist in the nonprofit category, along with Lund, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, Vermont Foodback, and this year’s winner: the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

Vermont Lake Monsters once again invited COTS to The South End Art Hop invited COTS to have a table in the participate in their nonprofit “Friends and Family” night, donated Kids Tent, where we had games for families to talk about housing tickets for our Daystation guests to enjoy a game this summer, and instability and for kids to draw and color as part of our “What sent Champ to greet children at the COTS Walk. home means to me” project.

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association invited COTS to join The Vermont Comedy Club along with Al Getler hosted “Daily them at Military Appreciation Day at the Fair. Grind” on September 29 as a fundraiser for COTS.

Thank you to Chappell’s Florist for donating beautiful summer Volunteer groups from Banana Republic, , blooms for the Housing Resource Center’s reception area! , Cathedral Square, Roman Catholic We have been gifted with many beautiful arrangements from Diocese of Burlington, Vermont Energy Investment Chappell’s wonderful offshoot “Vermont Recycles Flowers.” Corporation, Mister Z’s, CHS Summer Program, Charles Schwab, College Street Congregational Church, Burlington Furniture Co. hosted their annual Anniversary Sale Allscripts, Aon Insurance, Champlain Valley Union High to benefit COTS in September. As part of that, this year, they also School, UVM Medical Center Department of Surgery, displayed paintings created by children staying in COTS shelters. Burlington Laboratories, Russell Supply, Gardener’s Mirabelle’s Café continues to donate a cake each month to Supply, Northeast Women of the Moose, Sugarsnap, children who are having their birthday in shelter. McCain Foods, Underhill Country Co-op, College of St. John, Girl Scout Troop 30108, and Lang House on The Schoolhouse in South Burlington once again included Main Street Bed and Breakfast donated and prepared mothers staying in COTS’ family shelters as part of their Mother’s meals and snacks for the Daystation. Day brunch bag fundraiser. The Schoolhouse delivered donated brunch bags to moms who are in COTS emergency shelter. Groups from Klinger’s Bread Company, Hannaford Brothers Co., MyWebGrocer, and UVM Medical Group OshKosh B’Gosh donates an ongoing and steady supply of Clinical Operations, among many others, donated dinner to children’s denim and school clothing. the COTS’ Winter Warming Shelter. Business Communication Services, Inc. donated their time We received 4 boxes of books from Founders Memorial and services to our family shelters. School, boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from Girl Scout Troop Sherpa Foods generously donated a portion of their profits from 30136, 6 boxes of chocolate from Snowflake Chocolates, the Burlington Farmers’ Market each week this summer. and 5 cases of Gatorade from Shelburne Shipyard, Inc.

Chasworth Farms donates 2 boxes of soap each month for our Castleton Elementary, New York/Vermont Nurses Unite, guests. Second Congregational Church, All Saints Episcopal Church, The Edge Swim Team, Burlington Tennis Club, We have had amazing support from school groups: Mater Christi Essex Swim team, Essex Alliance Church, Northeast had 8th-graders volunteer to help kick off our origami butterfly project Women of the Moose, Hanes Brand Outlet, Stowe as part of their “Reaching Out Day” in October, and Fredrick Community Church, Solmate Socks, and SymQuest all H. Tuttle Middle School students as part of TuttleFest came by organized donation drives that collected a variety of much- COTS in April to help create beautiful signs for the COTS Walk. needed items on the COTS Wish List – from toiletries, to COSTCO makes monthly gift card donations to support the household items, to gift cards, pillows and bedding, clothing Daystation meal program. and non-perishable food.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  COTS Annual Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast COTS honored the incredible contributions of our community in October:

Leahy Leadership Award Wilma Rayta Volunteer of the Year Award Christopher Curtis has spent the past decade Tyler Raymond and Eric Picard are both as a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid. longtime Daystation volunteers. As our He also co-chairs the Governor’s Council Daystation said of them: “We realized we on Pathways from Poverty, and serves on could not choose one.” Tyler has volunteered the Board of Directors of Lund. He lives for seven years, while Eric has been with with his wife, Abby, and their two children COTS for nearly three years. Eric has been a in Montpelier. His parents instilled in him lifesaver to staff through his flexibility and the importance of contributing to the Vermont community willingness to be there on the days they need and fighting for social and economic justice. So, it’s no him most. His calm presence is a gift to staff accident that after pursuing his law degree he went to work at and guests. Tyler is kind, gentle, and steady, Vermont Legal Aid. There, Chris has championed his clients volunteering three days a week. You will never and their causes. He has helped his clients save their homes have to worry about a ringing phone going and their means of support. He has pursued systemic changes unanswered, as Tyler is always on top of that to help Vermonters have access to public benefits, to have with a cheery greeting. As Daystation Peer more employment opportunities, and to get their drivers’ Support Staffer Ciara Kilburn said: “We cherish them so much ... licenses back. But, most of all, he is using his professional And can’t imagine our days without either of them.” and private voice to speak “truth to power” – and to help his clients speak truth to power, something that is in the finest Youth Hero Award Vermont tradition. Edmunds Middle School went above and beyond with their support of COTS this year: Community Partner Award Jim Van Duyn and Pat Chiraseveenuprapund and their Mike Ohler and the Burlington Housing homeroom students prepared lunch for guests at the COTS Authority’s Housing Retention Team work Daystation. Daryl Kuhn and Rich Boyers created “Summer to help people preserve their housing through Go Bags” for children in family shelter with their homeroom stabilizing support and connections to students. The Edmunds students made sure that as children long-term service providers, such as mental staying in shelter went to camp, they had all the supplies they health resources. Among their specialties is would need, such as beach towels, water bottles, sunglasses, their task force on hoarding. Sharon Snow, sunscreen, bug spray. And, perhaps the biggest project of all, one of COTS’ family case managers, said it best about Mike: is the Puppet Playhouse that Edmunds students in a Design “Everyone in Chittenden County who has anything to do & Technology class, led by Eric Schoembs, designed and built with housing knows that Mike Ohler knows everything. He for the Main Street Family Shelter. Edmunds students even is the person I call about a client who has special needs or made puppets to accompany the new theater, which has been circumstances. ... He’s the person I call when I’ve got a family immensely popular with children in shelter. who just can’t quite keep their housing together. He’s the Samara-Anderson Walk Award person I call when I just flat out don’t know what else to do.” Eighth-grader Ellie Lamontagne of Christ Corporate Hero the King School and Aenea Thorne, Champlain College junior and filmmaking Beginning in 2009, New England Federal Credit Union has student collaborated with COTS to create a provided major gifts and in-kind support to COTS, assisting series of Web videos. Ellie suggested ideas with both critical needs, such as emergency shelter, as well as and messaging, thinking about ways to long-term solutions, such as homelessness prevention. Beyond make the videos relevant and meaningful their generous financial support to COTS, NEFCU’s employees to students like her. She wisely remarked: are also valued volunteers, particularly at the Phonathon. “Homeless kids ... are, well, just kids.” She Perhaps one of their greatest gifts, though, is an intangible then helped brainstorm script and video one: They make us laugh! Cindy Morgan, a Senior Marketing ideas. Aenea then coordinated, directed, Executive at NEFCU, always shot, edited and produced the 10 popular finds a way to surprise us shorts, which were viewed by thousands on and bring joy to our team. Facebook and YouTube.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  Media Sponsors Route Sponsors Generous in-kind supporters Star 92.9 Duncan•Wisniewski Costco Crystal Rock; Dok Wright Free Press Media MyWebGrocer Photography; Dunkin Donuts; Enterprise WCAX-TV Rent-A-Car; In the Pocket Jazz Band; Planet 96.7 Hannaford Brothers Co.; P&P Septic; PP&D Distribution Service; Saint Michael’s Site Sponsors College; Staples; Starbucks; Stephen Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Mease Photography; Sugarsnap; Symquest BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont Group, Inc.; University of Vermont; Verizon Nearly 2,000 walkers, volunteers, and Casella Waste Management Wireless; ; Vermont supporters attended the 27th Annual Children’s Literacy Foundation Teddy Bear Factory; WB Mason. COTS Walk in May. The annual 3-mile Darn Tough Vermont trek on May 1 around Burlington raised Denny’s CHALLENGE WALKERS nearly $200,000 for COTS programs. Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. Individuals: Sally Ballin; Scot Barker; Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. Peter Bauer; Anna Buckley; Mary Candon; This year’s theme – “Book it to the MyWebGrocer Denise Danyow; Sr. Isaline Duclos; Bob Walk” – also raised awareness about NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Duncan; Joyce Hagan; Judy Hamel; Andrew the challenges homeless schoolchildren University of Vermont Medical Center Hanson; Sydney Holt Barker; Stephen face in school. We are grateful to Vermont Tent Company Kiernan; Cheyenne Lapierre; Michael authors Chris Bohjalian, Chris Tebbetts, Wright & Morrissey Lipson; Nan Mason; James McFadden; Lisa Elizabeth Bluemle, and Jason Chin Meredith; Jerry O’Neill; Brigitte Ritchie; who collaborated with COTS to get T-Shirt Sponsors Lucy Samara; Stacey Sheehan; Nicole the message out to students in our Alchemist Brewery Stefanowicz; Gillian Taylor. community through talks, events, City Market videos, and a “story walk.” Business: Champlain Investment Partners; The Dixie Six Gardener’s Supply Co.; General Dynamics; And, the Walk T-shirt featured the work Foundation for Alcoholism Research Gravel & Shea; Hickok & Boardman; of Burlington cartoonist Rachel Lindsay. Gardener’s Supply Co. KeyBank; MyWebGrocer; Primmer Piper Hotel Vermont The Walk would not be possible without Eggleston & Cramer; Saint Michael’s Kave Audio the generous support of our sponsors: College; Sen. Patrick Leahy’s Office; Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineerings, Inc. TruexCullins; VEIC. Nikon Precision Presented by Northeast Delta Dental Community: BJMZ National Life Group Phoenix Books Faith: Cathedral Church of St. Paul and Queen City Printers, Inc. Community Sponsors Christ Church Presbyterian; College RedStone Efficiency Vermont/ Street Congregational Church; First Vermont Gas Vermont Energy Investment Corp. Congregational Church of Burlington; Vermont Mortgage Co. Dealer.com Mercy Associates and Religious; Roman Duncan•Wisniewski Catholic Diocese of Burlington and Vermont Catholic Charities; St. Catherine of Siena; St. James Episcopal Church; St. John Vianney; St. Pius X and Holy Family/St. Lawrence; Shelburne United Methodist Church; Trinity Episcopal Church; United Church of Underhill.

School: Burlington High School; Cub Scout Pack #651; Rice Memorial High School; The Schoolhouse; University of Vermont Department of Social Work. Many thanks to our community volunteers, team captains, donors, and walkers!

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  Cummings Electric, P.C. Cushman Design Group, Inc. Thank you! Cx Associates, LLC These generous businesses and organizations provided in-kind and financial Cybergrants support during COTS’ fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2015-Sept. 30, 2016). In addition to the Daily Planet names here, hundreds of individuals and foundations have made financial and/or Danforth Pewter in-kind gifts in support of COTS programs and services this year. The foundations Dark Star listed have requested inclusion in our newsletter. Darn Tough Vermont Daughters of Isabella, Madonna Circle 4 Seasons Garden Center Cady’s Falls Nursery Dealer.com A. C. Hathorne Co. Calvary Episcopal Church Dear Lucy Accu-Rite Business Services, Inc. Carter’s Dee Physical Therapy ADK Auto Brokers, Inc. Casella Waste Systems, Inc. DEW Construction AIG Matching Grants Program Castleton Elementary School DGH Enterprises, LLC Akwesasne Mohwak Casino Catamount North Diemer Enterprises, LLC The Alchemist Brewery Cathedral Square Corp. Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. All Saints Episcopal Church Champlain Cable Corp. Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 5 Allscripts Champlain College The Dixie Six Al’s French Frys Champlain College Emergent Media Center Discovery Map AmazonSmile Champlain College: Dok Wright Photography American Flatbread Center for Service & Civic Engagement Doughnut Dilemma American Red Cross Champlain Consulting Engineers Duncan•Wisniewski Architecture America’s Gardening Resource, Inc. Champlain Echoes, Inc. Dunkin’ Donuts Aon Insurance Managers Vermont Champlain Investment Partners East Corinth Congregational Church Argosy Foundation Champlain Valley Union High School Eastern Medicaid Pharmacy Administrator August First Bakery Chappell’s Florist Association The Bagel Cafe Charles Schwab ECHO at the Leahy Center Balance Team, Inc. Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation The Edge (Williston) Banana Republic Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary Club Edible Arrangements Bank of America Charitable Foundation Chasworth Farms Efficiency Vermont Beauty in the Works Children Unlimited, Inc. El Cortijo Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Children’s Literacy Foundation Employee Community Action Council of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Church Street Marketplace General Dynamics Benevity Community Impact Fund Citizens Bank Encore Catering Benware Enterprises, Inc. Citizens Bank Foundation Energy Futures Group, Inc. Bia Diagnostics City Market Onion River Co-op Enterprise Rent-A-Car Blue Star Mothers City of Burlington Housing Trust Fund Enviro Tech of VT Septic Services, LLC Bluebird Barbecue City of South Burlington Essex Alliance Church BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont City of Winooski Essex Center United Methodist Church Women Bond Auto Parts Clarity Laboratories Essex High School Booska Movers Clark’s Truck Center Essex Junction Girl Scout Troop 30136 Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Directors Clearwater Builders, Inc. Essex Swim Team Boy Scout Troop 602 – Shelburne Colchester High School Summer Program Everybody’s Massage Brian Jones Woodworking College Street Congregational UCC Everything Auto Brio Coffeeworks Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. of VT 26-1 Expressions Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Community of the Holy Wisdom The Farmhouse Tap & Grill Building Energy Concepts: In Structures, LLC F.O.E. Champlain Aerie No. 793 Burlington Community Justice Center Congregational Church of South Hero F.O.E. Jeffersonville Burlington Furniture Contemporary Dentalcare, P.C. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. Burlington Laboratories, Inc. Co-Operative Insurance Companies Faith United Methodist Church Burlington Police Department Cosmos Hair Salon, LLC Fanny Allen Corporation, Inc. Burlington Telecom Costco Wholesale #314 Farrell Distributing Corp. Burlington Tennis Club Creative Teamworks Farrell Real Estate Co. Business Communication Services, Inc. Crystal Rock & Vermont Pure Bottled Fead Construction Law, PLC Butternut Mountain Farm Water Companies Feathered Friends 4H Club

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  Feldman’s Bagels Hotel Vermont Microsoft Matching Gifts Program First Congregational Church of Burlington Howard Center Clinical Case Management Middlebury College First Congregational Church of Essex Junction IBA, Inc. Mirabelles, Inc. First Night, Inc. IBM Retiree Charitable Campaign Misery Loves Co. First Unitarian Universalist Society IBM-Computershare Mister Z’s Restaurant Fitzgerald Veterinary Hospital Image Outfitters Montgomery & Merrill, PC Flat Fee Real Estate In The Pocket Jazz Band Montstream Studio Fletcher CSI, LLC Independent Block, LLC Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Flying Pig Bookstore Indigo MyWebGrocer Foundation for Alcoholism Research Instrumart Nate’s Automotive Founders Memorial School Intervale Center National Life Group Charitable Foundation, Inc. Frank Carruth, Inc. Jay Peak Resort National Life Insurance Co. Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School Jericho United Methodist Church New England Federal Credit Union FreePressMedia JUDA Hebrew School New England Floor Covering Furchgott & Sourdiffe Gallery K.C. Scanlon Estate Sales & Services, LLC New Moon Cafe Fuse Marketing Kave Audio New York/Vermont Nurses Unite G W Tatro Construction, Inc. Kelsey Trust Newark School District Gadue’s Dry Cleaning, Inc. Ken’s Auto Repair Nick Enterprises, Inc. Gannett Foundation, Inc. Keurig Green Mountain Nikon Precision, Inc. Gardener’s Supply Co. KeyBank NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Gay & Lesbian Fund of Vermont, Inc. KeyBank Foundation Northeast Delta Dental GE Foundation KeyBank National Association Northeast Women of the Moose GE United Way Campaign Kinney Drugs Northern Benefits Geer Sound & Communications, Inc. KLA-Tencor Vermont Northfield Savings Bank Gene Armstrong Excavating Klinger’s Bread Co. Ohavi Zedek Synagogue General Dynamics Ordnance and Knights of Columbus One Drop, LLC Tactical Systems Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineers, Inc. Onion River Chiropractic, Inc. Georgia Elementary & Middle School L. K. Rossi Corporation Orchard Elementary School Goodrich PAC Match La Villa Bistro OshKosh B’Gosh Grace United Methodist Church Lafayette Highway Specialties Our House Bistro Grainger Foundation, Inc. Chocolates P & P Septic Grand Way Seniors Association, Inc. Lake Front Painting & Properties Services, LLC Parker Family Farm Gravel & Shea Lamoille Ambulance Service, Inc. Paul Frank + Collins P.C. Great Harvest Bread Co. Lamoille Valley Ford Payson Carpentry, Inc. Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Landry Insurance PC Construction Green Mountain Autism Foundation Larkin Realty Pearson & Associates Green Mountain Cabaret Law Offices of Blodgett, Watts & Volk, P.C. Penny Cluse Cafe Green Mountain Chiropractic Law Offices of F.J. von Turkovich, P.C. People’s United Bank Green Mountain Chorus Leadpages Growth Team Green Mountain Montessori School Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Green Mountain Power Corp. Leonardo’s Pizza Halloran Hardware Leunig’s Bistro Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe Lewis Excavating, LLC Handy’s Extended Stay Suites Lynch Family Chiropractic, LLC Hanes Brand Outlet Main Street Landing Hannaford Brothers Co. MAXIMUS Foundation Hardy Structural Engineering MBA Healthgroup Hazelett Corp. McCain Foods Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop Members Advantage Community Hemenway & Barnes LLP Credit Union Heritage Ford Mendy’s Clothing and Accessories Heritage Toyota Merchants Bank Hilton Burlington Merchants Bank Foundation, Inc. COTS Executive Director Rita Markley (pictured Homeport Meredith Corp. with Michael New) was presented an honorary Homeschoolers of Chittenden County Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation, Inc. doctorate by Saint Michael’s College in May.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016  People’s United Community Foundation Stowe Community Church Vermont Lake Monsters Pfizer Foundation Subway Vermont Mortgage Company Phoenix Books Sugarsnap Vermont Student Assistance Corp. Piecasso SymQuest Group, Inc. Vermont Systems, Inc. Pinto MacAskill PLLC TD Bank Vermont Teddy Bear Co. Pizzagalli Properties, LLC TD Charitable Foundation Vermont Testing & Consulting Co. PJSC LLC, The Scuffer Steak & Ale Thomas Fleming School Vermont Timber Works, Inc. Pomerleau Properties, Inc. Timberlane Dental Group Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1767 PP&D Distribution Service Town of Bolton VFW Auxiliary Post 6689 Queen City Printers, Inc. Town of Charlotte VFW Auxiliary Post 782 Quiznos Town of Essex Villari’s Self Defense & Wellness Center, LLC R & J Cameron & Sons Town of Hinesburg Vision New England R.E.M. Development Company, LLC Town of Huntington W.B. Mason Ready Funeral Service, Inc. Town of Jericho Waterworks Food + Drink Red House, Inc. Town of Milton WCAX-TV Redstone Commercial Group Town of Richmond Westphalen Photography Regular Veterans Association – RVA Post 514 Town of Underhill WEZF-92.9 FM Town of Williston Whitcomb Woods Tenants Association, Inc. Trader Joe’s Willie Racine’s Jeep Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington Training, Marketing & Technology, Inc. Williston Federated Church Rookie’s Root Beer Trapp Family Lodge Windows & Doors by Brownell Rovers North Trinity Church WOKO/WJOY Radio Sabra Field, Inc. TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design Wow Toyz St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church TRUiST Wright & Morrissey, Inc. St. John Vianney Church Underhill Country Co-op YourCause, LLC Saint Michael’s College: Food Service MOVE Underhill Country Store Zabby and Elf’s Stone Soup Office Union Mutual of Vermont Companies Zinnia, Inc. St. Stephen Parish United Church of Colchester Santa Night United Church of Hinesburg Second Congregational Church United Church of Underhill Selection Unlimited United Methodist Women of Montgomery Selectronics Corp. United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Seventh Generation Merrimack Valley Seventh Generation Foundation, Inc. United Way of Northwest Vermont Shearer Volkswagen United Way of the Greater Triangle Shelburne Charlotte Hinesburg Interfaith University Mall Projects (SCHIP) University of Vermont: Shelburne Community School Athletic Department Community Development & Applied Economics Shelburne Shipyard, Inc. Medical Group Clinical Operations Silicon Valley Community Foundation University of Vermont Medical Center Sisters of Mercy USANA SMC Edmundite Community Vanguard Charitable Smith-Alvarez-Sienkiewycz Architects Verizon Wireless Sneakers Bistro Vermont Business Magazine Snowflake Chocolates Vermont Catholic Charities Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services Soles4Souls Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Solmate Socks Vermont Commons School South Boston Arts Association, Inc. Vermont Community Foundation Gov. Peter Shumlin dropped off a diaper St. Catherine of Siena Church Vermont Country Camper Sales, Inc. donation in October to the Dee PT Great Diaper Staples Vermont Energy Investment Corp. Drive of 2016. Jason Fitzgerald is once again Starbucks Vermont Gas Systems, Inc. spearheading the effort to collect more than Stephen Mease Photography Vermont International Film Foundation 40,000 diapers for infants and toddlers in Sterling Construction, Inc. Vermont Korean American United COTS shelter and services. Find out more at Stone Underground Construction Methodist Women cotsonline.org.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016 10 2016 year in review

Revenue* $3,658,438 2016 by the numbers

Individuals & Businesses $1,029,848 (28%) COTS helped 2,643 people State Grants $1,025,053 (28%) (including 835 children) last year Foundations $404,503 (11%) Rental Income $339,896 (9%) COTS shelters Federal Grants $338,327 (9%) Family Shelters: 58 families (including 87 children) Veterans Administration $260,367 (7%) stayed in a COTS family shelter. We can host 15 Other $131,399 (4%) families each night. United Way $129,045 (4%) Adult Overnight Shelter: 223 individuals stayed in COTS’ year-round emergency shelter, which provides 36 emergency beds each night. 240 individuals stayed in COTS’ additional winter warming shelter.

Adult Daytime Drop-In Shelter: 570 individuals visited the Daystation, a daytime center for homeless adults, where a noontime meal is served daily with the help of volunteers. An average of 35 people visited daily.

COTS SERVICES COTS Family Services: 160 families, including those staying in emergency shelter or the community, received support from COTS staff.

COTS Adult Services: 140 single, homeless adults Expenses received outreach and support from COTS staff. $3,658,438 Adult Shelters $889,235 (25%) PREVENTION SUPPORT Family Shelters $761,146 (20%) Prevention Assistance: 294 households (with Housing Facilities $544,556 (15%) 277 children) received prevention assistance through Prevention Services $443,813 (12%) the COTS’ Housing Resource Center (HRC). Development $366,612 (10%) Rehousing Assistance: 133 households Support Services $339,696 (9%) Administration $248,397 (7%) (with 136 children) received rehousing help through Public Education $64,983 (2%) COTS’ HRC program.

COTS HOUSING Transitional Housing: 23 units of housing for families and individuals are offered by COTS at the Smith House and Canal Street Veterans Housing. Another 12 families were housed through our Family Supportive Housing program in partnership with Howard Center.

Permanent Housing: 58 units of housing are offered by COTS at the Smith House, The Wilson, St. John’s Hall and Canal Street Veterans Housing (with Housing Vermont).

COTS services provided: 10/1/15–9/30/16

*These are pre-audited numbers.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2016 11 Committee on Non-Profit Org. Temporary Shelter U.S. Postage PAID PO Box 1616 Permit No. 896 Burlington, VT 05402-1616 Burlington, VT 802-864-7402 www.cotsonline.org

Mark your calendar City Market Tree Sale November 30, City Market, 82 S. Winooski Avenue, Burlington Find out more about these events – and how you can get City Market plans to once again generously sell fresh balsam involved – at our Web site: cotsonline.org. trees to benefit COTS. Trees cost $35 and are expected to arrive Nov. 30, with sales continuing until all trees are National Hunger & Homelessness sold. “Elves” are needed to help with the benefit sale. Visit Awareness Week: November 12–20 www.citymarket.coop/cots-tree-sale to volunteer. November 16, Bluebird Barbecue, 317 Riverside Avenue, Burlington The Coolest Lunch As part of this annual awareness event, have dinner at Noon–2 p.m., December 16, downtown Burlington, Church Street Bluebird Barbecue on November 16, as part of Bluebird’s Marketplace, and Winooski (participating restaurants) Community Night program. 10 percent of all sales will be The Coolest Lunch in town raises awareness and money for donated to COTS that night. COTS services. Dine outside ($25 donation) and help bring attention for the need to help our neighbors this winter. Phonathon 100% of proceeds from this event go to services. Reservations November 28–December 1, December 5–7, 5:30-9 p.m. encouraged; visit cotsonline.org. Burlington Town Center (lower level) At the annual Phonathon, volunteers “dial for dollars” Candlelight Vigil to raise money for COTS shelters and services. These 5:30 p.m., December 21, Burlington City Hall steps, Church Street enthusiastic volunteers call COTS supporters to ask them Each year, during the week of the Winter Solstice, we pause to consider a gift again this year. If you are interested in to reflect on those who are homeless in our community. joining us to volunteer, please call Sian at (802) 864-7402, Community leaders share brief vignettes about people who Ext. 207 or email [email protected]. have been homeless this past year. Refreshments follow in City Hall’s lobby.