T H E C O M M I T T E E O N T E M P O R A R Y S H E L T E R

Vol. 32, No. 2 www.cotsonline.org Fall 2014

Preventing homelessness begins with childrenCOTS advocates to end homelessness by preventing the crisis from ever happening. And, one way we do this is by working with children in COTS programs.

In 2014, COTS served 127 children in our family shelters. These are children who have frequently experienced repeated upheavals; many have specific developmental needs that require special attention.

Our goal is to serve children now, and take action to prevent them from being a risk for homelessness in the future. Homelessness is not just a financial crisis but also an early education issue.

continued page 2

GIvE THE GIfT THAT kEEPS ON GIvING

Alternative shopping ideas from COTSSend 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 the Committee on Temporary Shelter 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.” To order, call Casey at (802) 864-7402, Ext. 210 or email caseyt@cotsonline.org.

Share Cookies for Good: Sugarsnap delicious “Cookies for Good” is a “bake sale every day” for CoTS: 35 cents from each $1 cookie sold goes to CoTS. Serve the cookies at your holiday party, business lunch or send to a friend, co-worker or customer. a variety of flavors of the locally sourced treats are available. To order, visit www. cookiesforgood.org, call (802) 861-2951 or email catering@thesnapvt.com.

Carry a COTS flashbag: The Flashbags feature doorknobs from the Main Street Family Shelter. To order tote bags (available in 2 sizes), placemats or wallets, call (802) 864-7402 or email info@cotsonline.org. For orders placed through CoTS, we receive 50 percent of each sale.

Music to your ears: “Harmonies for Humanity, Vol. 1: Musicians raising money for CoTS” features Vermont musicians created to benefit CoTS. The $10 CDs are available at our main office, 95 North ave., Burlington.

This spring, we started a healthy snack program in family shelter that teaches children about nutrition. Each afternoon, the children prepare a snack with the ameriCorps member serving in shelter. Sweet potato chips are popular!

Committee on temporary Shelter

PO Box 1616 Burlington, VT 05402

802-864-7402fax 802-864-2612

www.cotsonline.org

Established 1982

BoarD oF DireCtorS Brigitte Ritchie, Chair

Jeffrey Nolan, Vice ChairDebra Royce, TreasurerJoyce Hagan, Secretary

Beth AndersonSean Collins

Catherine DingleLaurie Gunn

George HubbardPaul Lekstutis

Michael H. LipsonJeff Martin

Michael NewShelley Richardson

Tom Torti

Rita Markley, Executive Director

A United Way Member Agency

HomeFront is published twice a year, in April and November, by:

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 2

editor Becky Holt

Writer Gillian Taylor

Designer Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio

FolloW uS online

www.cotsonline.org

www.facebook.com/COTSonline

@COTSvt

Pinterest.com/cotsvt

Many of the children in our shelters are younger than 5. This is a critical time for a child’s development, especially ages 0-3. Brain research has shown that the environment in which a child is raised directly affects the way the brain develops.

Connecting children with opportunities as early as possible will give them the best chance to succeed later in life. To this end, COTS’ Children’s Education Advocate connects children in shelter with quality early learning, after-school, and summer camp enrichment opportunities.

These connections are arranged to begin while a family is staying in shelter – and continue after the children and parents move into permanent housing.

We work with the University of Vermont Early Education Enrichment program to provide services to children in shelter. We also partner with the Burlington School District on tutoring.

A member of the AmeriCorps serves as a Children’s Program Specialist in COTS programs, focusing on nutrition, wellness and physical activity. As part of this, Vermont’s first in-shelter snack program was launched in family shelter. The children prepare a healthy snack together – sweet potato chips, extremely popular! – and once a week make dinner as a group. The snack program is designed to address obesity and food scarcity issues, as well as teach about overall healthy eating.

COTS staff also coordinates additional learning activities, including field trips, arts projects, and the COTS “book buddies” literacy initiative.

We believe that each child represents a thousand futures – and this investment of time and energy makes each one of those possible futures much brighter.

We believe in ending homelessness, one child at a time.

Preventing Homelessness...continued from page 1

WHY ARE SO MANY fAMILIES IN vERMONT STRuGGLING?

In the past decade, the number of homeless families in Chittenden County has tripled, and families are the fast-growing segment of the homeless population locally and nationally.

The primary reasons so many working families are facing homelessness in our community: low vacancy and high rents. Many low-income workers need to work multiple jobs (and many are) to afford housing in Vermont. Compounding that issue is the extremely low vacancy rate in Burlington, which hovers between .5 percent and just under 2 percent. a healthy rental market has a vacancy rate closer to 5 percent.

CoTS has adopted new programs and adapted existing services to help families successfully navigate these challenges. CoTS staff members work with guests to identify their needs and set goals to address them — specifically as those goals relate to securing stable and sustainable permanent housing. They match guests with our programs — and those provided by community partners — to find the best fit for each family’s unique needs.

also, shelter guests do not pay for shelter with CoTS. Instead they save 40 percent of their income to create a nest egg for when they move into their new home.

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 3

focus on the fixDespite what are sometimes daunting challenges, the culture at COTS has always been to focus on the fix. This year, we launched ‘What The (Fix)’ Slam to celebrate and encourage problem-solving throughout our agency.

Staff and volunteers submitted two-page proposals that identified an issue, developed an idea to address it, and looked at financial feasibility and opportunities for collaboration with community partners. Last fall, staff submitted 20 proposals; some of which were immediately implemented with existing resources. Others were moved forward to full proposals and presented to all COTS staff at our first WT(Fix) Slam! Those semi-finalists were whittled down to three finalists who competed in our community WT(Fix) Slam in May.

Staff presented a range of ideas – from a creative new fundraiser with local artists, to engaging guests in therapy that uses theatrical practices, to the ultimate winner, in partnership with 2-1-1, that transforms the 6-inch (literally) print resource binder into a digital tool that’s not only more portable but easier to keep updated for community partners to use.

The event was hosted at ArtsRiot in Burlington, with guest judges: Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power Corp.; John Killacky, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts; Katharine Montstream, Burlington artist; Lesli Blount, VPR; and Rita Markley of COTS.

Our next WT(Fix) Slam is set for May 2015; staff are submitting proposals now.

Talk about an efficient connectionThis year, COTS partnered with Vermont Energy Investment Corp. and Efficiency Vermont on a new program to connect low-income households with the benefits of energy-efficient improvements.

We achieve this through a multi-prong approach, across COTS programs.

In family shelter, we discuss how low-flow shower heads can reduce water bills or CFLs or smart power strips can save money on utilities. For children, we make it fun – and explain how they can help Mom or Dad by flipping off a lightswitch in a room that no one is using. (The children even made decorations for their own lightswitches that they were responsible for in shelter.)

As family exit shelter, we provide them with a care package of these resources and tools for their new home.

Residents in COTS transitional and permanent housing programs also received energy-efficient upgrades in their homes, as well as educational guidance about these improvements.

And, finally, we’ve connected with more than 200 people who have sought prevention or rehousing support through the COTS Housing Resource Center. This program focuses on preventing families from becoming homeless or rehousing them more quickly. One of the ways we help families at risk of becoming homeless stabilize is through budgeting guidance and examining utility usage and practices. The partnership with VEIC has enabled us to help people create additional savings and reduce financial pressures.

Canal Street veterans HousingThe progress toward ending homelessness among veterans has made national headlines for the positive strides made so far. In Vermont, Canal Street Veterans Housing, which COTS opened in 2011 in collaboration with Housing Vermont, is a successful program making major headway toward that goal.

The program provides two-year transitional housing for 16-18 formerly homeless veterans and their families at a time. Canal Street creates housing, not shelter. While veterans are living at Canal Street, they pursue job training, education, and address individual challenges.

Earlier this year, COTS Executive Director Rita Markley and Kenn Sassorossi of Housing Vermont spoke at a national symposium, hosted by the Housing Assistance Council, in Washington, D.C., on the successful outcomes and partnership between COTS and Housing Vermont.

Since opening, 29 veterans have successfully completed the program and moved into permanent housing. The average stay is about 14 months. Of the veterans who came to Canal Street, 76 percent improved their income while in the program. More than three-quarters of participants have achieved or made significant progress toward their educational goals.

Canal Street also has an active community that enjoys collaboration with volunteers and veterans organizations. Meals, outings to baseball games, hikes and crafts are extremely popular with veterans and their families.

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 4

Thank you to our volunteers!Blue Star Mothers of vermont were honored with the 2014 Governor’s Service Award for outstanding service by an adult volunteer group for their contributions to COTS. The Blue Star Mothers prepare and donate a monthly meal for veterans and families living in Canal Street Veterans Housing and often drop off food donations for residents. They also award $200 to each veteran when he or she graduates the program and moves into permanent housing to help cover move-in costs.

Dealer.com was honored with the 2014 Governor’s Service Award for outstanding service by a corporation of 50+ employees for their support of COTS. Dealer.com has been an incredible corporate partner, contributing multiple food donations and volunteers for the Daystation meal program, sponsorships of the annual COTS Walk, a donation of 750+ socks, and offering their business expertise to COTS leadership.

kathrine Mansfield, the VYDC AmeriCorps Children’s Programming Specialist in COTS Family Shelters, was honored with the 2014 Governor’s Service Award for outstanding service by a national service program participant. Kathrine developed children’s programing – including Vermont’s first snack program in family shelter – to encourage healthy lifestyle habits around physical activity and food choices among the children living in shelter during her term. (See more about this program on Page 1.)

Howard Longway received a 2014 united Way Building Block Award for his volunteer commitment to COTS’ Canal Street Veterans Housing program. Howard delivers donations to Canal Street at least once a month that he has artfully collected from local stores, friends and purchased himself. He takes pride in offering new goods and items tailored to the specific needs of individual veterans in the program.

ToP: Kathy Baker (left) and Valerie Pallotta (right) of Blue Star Mothers of Vermont with CoTS Executive Director Rita Markley (center) CENTER: Gov. Peter Shumlin, with Jill Badolato and Sean Collins of Dealer.com, and Peter Hayward of SerVermont (right).BoTToM lEFT: Kathrine Mansfield with Gov. Peter Shumlin. BoTToM RIGHT: Howard longway with Maggie Schwalbaum, program coordinator and case manager for CoTS’ Canal Street Veterans Housing

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 5

Nearly 2,000 walkers, volunteers, and supporters attended the 25th Annual COTS Walk in May. The annual 3-mile trek on May 4 around Burlington raised $180,000 for COTS shelter and services.

The walk would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors:

Presented by: Flat Fee Real Estate

2014 Corporate Partner: HomeBridge Financial Services

Community Sponsors: Efficiency Vermont/ Vermont Energy Investment Corp.

Media Sponsors: Route Sponsors: Star 92.9 Dealer.com FreePressMedia Duncan*Wisniewski WCaX-TV Pomerleau Real Estate Planet 96.7 MyWebGrocer

Site sponsors: Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont Casella Waste Management Darn Tough Vermont The Residence at otter Creek & The Residence at Shelburne Bay NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Vermont Tent Company

T-Shirt Sponsors: City Market; Dinse, Knapp & Mcandrew, P.C.; The Dixie Six; Fletcher allen Health Care; Gardener’s Supply Co.; Kave audio; Northeast Delta Dental; Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors; Queen City Printers, Inc.; RedStone; VSECU

Generous in-kind supporters:Costco; Dok Wright Photography; Enterprise Rent-a-Car; First Congregational Church of Burlington; Hannaford Brothers Co.; Healthy living Natural Foods Market; Green Mountain Chorus; James Durbin; Chakra-5-Records llC; P&P Septic; PP&D Distribution Service; Saint Michael’s College; Staples; Starbucks; Sugarsnap; Symquest Group, Inc.; University of Vermont athletic Dept.; Verizon Wireless; Vermont Business Magazine; Vermont lake Monsters; Vermont Pure Springs; WB Mason; Wind Visuals

CHALLENGE WALkERS

Individuals: Scot Barker; anna Buckley; Beckie Bull; Denise Danyow; Bob Duncan; Joyce Hagan; Sydney Holt Barker; Jack Kearnan; alexandra lehmann; Michael lipson; Rita Markley; Nan Mason; lucy Samara; Stacey Sheehan; Nicole Stefanowicz; Casey Therrien; Father Richard Tinney

Businesses: Booska Movers; Champlain Investment Partners; Flat Fee Real Estate; Gardener’s Supply Co.; General Dynamics; law line and Vermont legal aid; logic Supply; Murphy Sullivan Kronk; MyWebGrocer; Northern lights; People’s United Bank; Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer; Saint Michael’s College; Sen. Patrick leahy’s office; Technology Consultants; TruexCullins architecture & Interior Design; USaNa

Community: adventure Girls; Mary Markley & Julia Hurley; The Gems

faith: Cathedral Church of St. Paul & Christ Church Presbyterian; College Street Congregational Church; First Congregational Church of Burlington; First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington; First United Methodist Church of Burlington; Good Shepherd lutheran Church; ohavi Zedek Synagogue; St. James Episcopal Church; St. Pius X Catholic Church; United Church of Underhill

Schools: The Bellwether School; Burlington High School; Champlain Valley Union High School Key Club; Colchester High School; Mater Christi School Girls on the Run; Rice Memorial High School; Mount Mansfield Union National Honor Society; St. Francis Xavier School Baseball Team; Shelburne Community School; Shelburne Community Middle School; South Burlington High School National Honor Society; University of Vermont Club aFECT

Many thanks to our community volunteers, team captains, donors and walkers!

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 6

We are grateful to our community — it takes all of us…COTS absolutely could not do the work it does without the generous support of our community.

Three teams fundraised and ran in the Vermont City Marathon for CoTS as part of Run vermont’s Miles for Mission program that benefits local nonprofits. CoTS volunteers also hosted a water station for the marathon.

Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, in conjunction with Darn Tough and Smartwool, donated hundreds of new socks to CoTS shelters as well as the proceeds from their 4th annual Charity Sock Sale. The result? More than $600 for services and support and many warm, dry feet.

Gotta Have Sole foundation, Inc. provided 24 pairs of new shoes for children in the family shelters.

vermont Energy Investment Corporation staff groups donated and prepared six meals for guests at the Daystation. The thought and creativity that everyone put into these meals went above and beyond. VEIC has also worked hard with staff to make our buildings more energy efficient (see more on Page 3).

Liz Dyer and local homeschoolers hosted their 15th Annual Homeschooler Bake Sale for CoTS at the Fletcher Free library. The bake sale brought in more than $350, and they donated all the remaining baked goodies to the Daystation.

Gardener’s Supply Co. helped beautify CoTS shelters and permanent housing this summer. They donated seeds, plants, compost, and potting soil to the Daystation, family shelters, and St. John’s Hall. Their generosity and thoughtfulness means so much to us and really goes far in brightening the spaces where we serve our clients.

Jamie Bright, a local singer-songwriter based in Burlington known on stage as Silent Mind, has raised nearly $1,000 for CoTS through the COTS Songwriters Circle series he organized in partnership with local performers and Nectar’s Bar and lounge. Jamie also included a benefit for CoTS as part of his release party of his new album: Silent Mind, “Good Morning, Mr. Bright.”

Students from Champlain College’s Center for Service and Civic Engagement helped make signs for our CoTS Walk and cleaned family shelters and St. John’s Hall in preparation for the CoTS Walk.

Students from university of vermont College of Medicine provided a meal to guests at the Daystation and did a deep cleaning in CoTS family shelters, including the children’s playrooms, kitchens, and Main Street garden.

Heaven on Wheels Car Show, presented by McCaffrey’s Sunoco & Waggy’s Store & Deli and Community Bible Church, raised money for CoTS and homeless prevention, shelter, and housing services.

vermont Lake Monsters hosted CoTS Friends & Family Night in July. Tickets bought with the CoTS code for that game helped benefit CoTS.

Citizens Bank sponsored another wonderful backpack drive, “Gear for Grades,” that outfits all of our children with backpacks and supplies for school each year.

The Church Street Marketplace’s “Pachinko Champ and Champette,” spare change game has collected more than $3,500 since arriving on Church Street.

Burlington furniture Company Anniversary Sale raised more than $2,000 for CoTS.

Mirabelle’s Café continues to donate a cake each month to children who are having their birthday in shelter.

ECHO at the Leahy Center donated 100 $2 admission vouchers as well as family, dual and single memberships for children and their families staying at CoTS.

Twincraft Skincare donated hundreds of bars of soap to CoTS shelters.

Hannon Home Center donated sheets and pillows through a special in-store promotion.

Dean LePage generously donated a Pizza Putt outing to 20 children in family shelter and partnered with kevin O’Neill to donate a barbecue lunch to the guests at the Daystation.

The flying Pig Bookstore donated 4 boxes of books for adults.

Housing vermont did an amazing job at Firehouse Family Shelter, the Daystation, the Smith House, Canal Street Veteran Housing, and the Housing Resource Center with their landscaping volunteer project.

Abby kirk donated more than 100 handmade rag dolls for children living in family shelter and receiving family case

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 7

management services. Modeled on Rag Dolls 2 love patterns, these dolls offer comfort during a high stress time.

Movies at Main Street Landing invited CoTS to host their July movie night series, which raised more than $1,000 for CoTS.

The Schoolhouse in South Burlington once again included mothers staying in CoTS’ family shelters as part of their Mother’s Day brunch bag fundraiser. The Schoolhouse delivered donated brunch bags to moms who are in CoTS emergency shelter.

Logic Supply donated computers and Hickok & Boardman of St. albans, Inc. donated 10 computer monitors.

vermont Tour and Charter and Benways Taxi each donated one week of round-trip transportation to summer camp for children living in shelter.

Seventh Generation stocked our shelves with their green cleaning supplies in celebration of Earth Day.

Pet Naturals of vermont, vetri-Science, and food Science Corporation donated a bunny and springtime-themed gingerbread house to family shelter.

The farmhouse Center, Burlington City Arts, the flynn Center for the Performing Arts, ECHO at Leahy Center, and Sandy valine of YWCa Camp Hochelaga together donated 11 one-week summer camp scholarships to children staying in family shelter.

The American Red Cross of Burlington donated 200 blankets and 20 tarps, and Mater Christi School donated blankets with personalized notes to guests at the Waystation.

Essex Alliance Church donated hundreds of care packages to be distributed to CoTS clients – including deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wash clothes, hand towels, shampoo, conditioner, combs, bandages, lotion, soap, and more.

Burlington Drug Company donated 5 new twin-sized mattresses to St. John’s Hall.

Annie E. Casey foundation and the Burlington free Press donated office furniture to the CoTS administrative offices, the Housing Resource Center, programs and shelters.

Sam’s Wood furniture discounted furniture for Canal Street Veterans Housing and CoTS family shelters.

Timberlane Dental Group donated toothpaste.

Chappell’s florist donated beautiful recycled flower center pieces to the Housing Resource Center reception desk.

k.I.D.S./fashion Delivers donated new toys and clothing to kids in family shelters and support services.

Ethan Allen Home Interiors donated pillows and bedding.

James and Lori Wilson donated 2 tickets to “1964: The Tribute” for CoTS guests to enjoy.

COSTCO made monthly gift card donations to support the Daystation meal program.

Rookie’s Root Beer, Nate’s Automotive, Apple Mountain, Leonora Dodge, Move You fitness, farmhouse Group, Hammerfit, Perkins fitness, flex Your face, Aveda School c/o kristina Hermanson, Marcy Einhorn-Hardy, Jordan Engel, kyle Hand, Honest Yoga, and Bertha Church donated raffle prizes to the 3rd annual Zumbathon©. Special thanks to Kate Barash-Engel for organizing the Zumbathon event and to all guest instructors who participated. The event raised $8,500 for the Daystation.

Volunteer groups from keyBank, Allscripts, Green Mountain valley School, All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Milton Elementary School, Northwestern vermont Board of Realtors, uvM Living/Learning Center, keurig Green Mountain, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue’s J-Serve, MyWebGrocer, Mansfield Hall, Hallam Associates, Inc., General Dynamics, New Moon Café, St. Pius X Church, first united Methodist Church, Burlington Housing Authority, and Essex Resort and Spa, donated and prepared meals and snacks for the Daystation.

Heidi Dostal and Community Alliance Church, Second Congregational Church, Instrumart, uvM Department of Nursing, Laura Reed and members of Chapter 26-2 of the Combat veterans Motorcycle Association, Richmond Congregational Church, underhill Central School, Allen Pools and Spas, Champlain College Center for Service and Civic Engagement, and Systems & Software, Inc. all organized donation drives that collected a variety of much-needed items on the CoTS Wish list -– from toiletries, to household items, to gift cards, pillows and bedding, clothing and non-perishable food.

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 8

a Single Pebble Restauranta.M. Turk Tax associates, Inc.adventures in Early learningaIG Matching Grants Programall Souls Interfaith Gatheringallen Pools & Spasallscriptsal’s French Frysamazing Smiles, Inc.american Flatbreadamerican Red Crossampersand Propertiesapple Mountain Vermont Gifts & Specialty Foodsargosy Foundationartisan Realty of VermontartsRiotascension lutheran Churchashgate Publishing Companyautumn Harp, Inc.aXa EquitableBacon Block llCBagel Café, TheBailey-Howe and Dana Medical librariesBaker DistributingBalance Team, Inc.Banana RepublicBarnes & Noble BooksellersBauer, Gravel & FarnhamBeavin & SonsBen & Jerry’s Homemade Inc.Big lotsBio-Medic appliances, Inc.BlueCross BlueShield of VermontBlue Star MothersBluebird TavernBlueprints Etc., Inc.Bobbin Mill Sand and Stone Co.bolocoBond auto PartsBoxcar BakeryBristol animal HospitalBristol-Myers Squibb FoundationBullrock CorporationBurlington BedroomsBurlington City arts

Burlington FurnitureBurlington Housing Trust FundBurlington TelecomBurnett Scrap Metals, llCBusiness Communication Services Inc.Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc.Cabot VermontCady’s Falls NurseryCalvary Episcopal ChurchCarter’sCasella Waste Systems, Inc.Catamount NorthCedar ledge Builders, Inc.Chakra-5-Records llCChamberlin Elementary SchoolChamplain Cable CorporationChamplain College:Center for Comm. Service and Civic EngagementChamplain Consulting EngineersChamplain Investment PartnersChamplain Valley Union High SchoolChamplain WoodcraftChappell’s FloristCharlotte Central SchoolChef’s Corner Cafe BakeryChelsea Green PublishingChildren’s Preschool and Enrichment CenterCitizens BankCity Market onion River Co-opCity of Burlington, Community & Economic Development officeCity of South BurlingtonCity of WinooskiClark’s Truck CenterClearwater Builders, Inc.Clute Wealth ManagementColchester High SchoolCollege Street Congregational ChurchComfort Inn and SuitesCommunity alliance ChurchCompetitive ComputingConnor ContractingConverse Bay Farm PartnershipCo-operative Insurance CompaniesCostco Wholesale #314

Creative TeamworksCSE, Inc.Curley Court ReportingCx associates llCCybergrantsDanforth PewterDarn Tough VermontDaughters of Isabella, Madonna CircleDealer.comDee Physical TherapyDinse, Knapp & Mcandrew, P.C.Dixie Six, TheDiscovery MapDok Wright PhotographyDuncan * Wisniewski architectureDunkin’ DonutsE & M Mechanical, Inc.E & R CleanersEast Brookfield Congregational ChurchEB Strong’s Prime SteakhouseECHo at the leahy CenterEdmunds Elementary SchoolEfficiency VermontEl CortijoEley Financial Management, Inc.Employee Community action Council of General DynamicsEnergy Futures Group Inc.Engineering VenturesEnsave Energy PerformanceEnterprise Rent-a-CarEnviro Tech of VT Septic Services, llCEssex agency Inc., TheEssex alliance ChurchEssex Center United Methodist Church WomenEssex Community Players, Inc.Essex Resort and SpaEthan allen Home InteriorsFanny allen Corporation, Inc.Farmhouse CenterFarmhouse Group/Farmhouse Tap & GrillFarrell Real Estate Co.Fead Construction law, PlCFeldman’s BagelsFidelity Charitable Gift FundFirst Congregational Church of BurlingtonFirst Congregational Church of Essex JunctionFirst Unitarian Universalist Society of BurlingtonFirst United Methodist ChurchFitzgerald Veterinary HospitalFlat Fee Real EstateFletcher allen Health CareFlying Pig BookstoreFlynn Center for the Performing arts

Thank you!These generous businesses and organizations provided in-kind and financial support during COTS’ fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2013-Sept. 30, 2014). In addition to the names here, hundreds of individuals and foundations have made financial and/or in-kind gifts in support of COTS programs and services this year. The foundations listed have requested inclusion in our newsletter.

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 9

FoodScience CorporationForest Park Realty Corp.Frank Carruth, Inc.Fraternal order of EaglesFreePressMediaFriendship Circle - United Church of JohnsonFurchgott & Sourdiffe GalleryG W Tatro Construction, Inc.Gadue’s Dry Cleaning, Inc.Gannett Foundation, Inc.Gay & lesbian Fund of Vermont, Inc.Gardener’s SupplyGeneral DynamicsGeri Reilly Real EstateGigunda Group, Inc.Girl Scout Troop 30846 at IaaGoodrich PaC MatchGoodwillGotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc.Grace United Methodist ChurchGreat Developments, llCGreat Harvest Bread Co.Greater Burlington YMCaGreater HorizonsGreen Mountain ChorusGreen Mountain Power Corp.Green Mountain Tech SolutionsGuild and CompanyGuyer Energy Team Real Estate & RV Sale, llCHair Bands by HilaryHallam associates, Inc.Halvorson’s Upstreet CafeHammerfit Motion StudioHannaford Brothers Co.Hannon Home CenterHarrington PropertiesHayward Tyler, Inc.Healthy living Natural Foods MarketHeavenly Cents Thrift ShopHickok & Boardman of St albans Inc.Higher Ground ProductionsHolland & Knight, llPHomeBridge Financial Services, Inc.Howard CenterIBM Employee ServicesIBM Retiree Charitable CampaignIBM-ComputershareImmaculate Heart of MaryIndependent Block, llCIndustrial Services, Inc.Infinity Brewing Company, llCInstrumartIsaac’s antiquesJ & l Hardware, Inc.

J. a. Morrissey, Inc.JanitechJCPenneyJeff Corey Excavating, Inc.Jericho United Methodist ChurchKana Enterprises, Inc.Kave audioKell and Company Real EstateKelsey TrustKeurig Green MountainKeyBankKeyBank FoundationK.I.D.S./Fashion DeliversKiss the CookKrebs & lansing Consulting Engineers, Inc.l/R Pest Elimination Serviceslacey’s, Inc.lake Champlain Chocolateslake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commercelamoille ambulance Service, Inc.lang Mclaughry Real Estatelangrock Sperry & Wool, llPlarkin Realtylas albany Redevelopment Co.la-Z-Boy Furniture Galleriesleddy Park arenalenny’s Shoe & apparelleonardo’s Pizzaleunig’s Bistrolewis Excavating llClogic Supply, Inc.lutheran Church of The Good ShepherdMack Painting, Inc.Main Street landing CompanyMansfield HallManufacturing Solutions, Inc.Martial Way Self-DefenseMater Christi SchoolMaXIMUS FoundationMay and Stanley Smith Charitable TrustMBa Healthgroup

McCaffrey’s SunocoMembers advantage Community Credit UnionMerchants BankMeredith Parents NetworkMervyn l. Brenner Foundation, Inc.MGV associates, Inc.Microsoft Matching Gifts ProgramMid-Town associatesMilton Elementary SchoolMirabelles, Inc.Miss Vermont Scholarship organization, Inc.MJN Woodworks llCModern Design FurnitureMoneypeace, Inc.Montgomery & Merrill, PCMorgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc.MorrisSwitzerMove You Fitness StudioMurphy Sullivan KronkMyWebGrocerNational life Group Charitable Foundation, Inc.National life Insurance CompanyNectar’s New England Center for CranioSacral TherapyNew England Federal Credit UnionNew England Floor Covering Company, Inc.New England Housewrights, ltd.New Moon CafeNFI Vermont, Inc.Nick Greilich’s RemodelingNIKaNorth End StudiosNorthCountry Federal Credit UnionNortheast Delta DentalNorthern Benefits, ltd.Northfield Savings BankNorthwestern Vermont Board of Realtorso’Brien Brothers agency, Inc.ohavi Zedek Synagogueonion River ChiropracticP & P Septic

Rice Memorial High School students were once again the top fundraising team for the CoTS Walk, raising about $10,000 to support services.

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 10

Pajama ProgramPayson Carpentry, Inc.PC ConstructionPenny Cluse CafePeople’s United Community FoundationPerkins FitnessPet Naturals of VermontPfizer FoundationPinewood Beauty Salon, llCPJSC llC, The Scuffer Steak & ale HousePomerleau Properties, Inc.Post 782 VFW auxiliaryPreble StreetPrice Chopper Community Relations – Box #204Prim’s House PaintingProfessional Postering & Distributing, Inc.Quadric SoftwareQueen City Printers, Inc.Randolph Union High SchoolRay’s SeafoodReady Funeral Service, Inc.Red House, Inc.Redstone Commercial GroupResidence InnResource Systems Group, Inc.Rice Memorial High SchoolRichard Wolf Medical Instruments Corp.Richmond Congregational ChurchRick Marcotte Central SchoolRiver Berry FarmRiverview GarageRobert a. Johnston MemorialRock Point SchoolRookie’s Root BeerRoth Real EstateRovers NorthSaint Michael’s College: MoVE officeSam’s Wood Furniture, Inc.Santa NightSargent & McKinney advertisingSecond Congregational ChurchSecurShred, Inc.Selection UnlimitedSeventh GenerationShadow Cross Farm, Inc.Shelburne Community SchoolShelburne MuseumShelburne United Methodist ChurchSisters of MercySleeping Well llCSMC Edmundite CommunitySmugglers’ Notch Ski ResortSoles4SoulsSoS, Inc.

St. andrew’s Episcopal ChurchSt. John Vianney ChurchSt. Pius X ChurchStaplesStarbucksState of VermontSteel Traders Shipping ltd.Stellar Restaurant Group, Inc.Stephen & Burns Salon & SpaStephenson, Inc.Sterling Construction, Inc.Stone Underground ConstructionStowe Community ChurchStowe GemsStowe Mountain lodgeSubwaySugarsnapSustainability academy at lawrence BarnesSweeney Design BuildSweet Tooth Cupcakes and ShortbreadsSymQuest Group, Inc.Systems & Software, Inc.TD Charitable FoundationTechnology Consultants, Inc.Thomas Mechanical, Inc.Timberlane Dental GroupTown of CharlotteTown of EssexTown of HinesburgTown of JerichoTown of St. GeorgeTown of UnderhillTown of WillistonTraining, Marketing & Technology, Inc.Triad oB-GYN, P.C.TRUiSTUnderhill Central SchoolUnion Mutual of VT CompaniesUnited Church of ColchesterUnited Church of HardwickUnited Church of HinesburgUnited Professions aFT-VTUnited Student aid Funds, Inc.United Way of Chittenden CountyUnited Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack ValleyUnited Way of Rhode IslandUnited Way of the Greater Capital Regon, Inc.University of Vermont: athletic Department Club aFECT College of Medicine Department of Nursing Department of Theatre living/learning Center

Medical Group Clinical operations Panhellenic CouncilUrban Dance ComplexVerilux, Inc.Verizon WirelessVermont Business MagazineVermont Children’s Trust FoundationVermont Community FoundationVermont DaR, Seth Warner ChapterVermont Department of HealthVermont Energy Investment Corp.Vermont Federal Credit UnionVermont Heating & VentilatingVermont Housing Conservation BoardVermont Inspection Services, Inc.Vermont Korean american United Methodist WomenVermont lake MonstersVermont Moving and StorageVermont Mutual Insurance Co.Vermont National Country ClubVermont Pure SpringsVermont State Employees Credit UnionVermont Systems, Inc.Vermont Tent CompanyVermont Tour and CharterVermont Youth Development CorporationVermont Zen CenterVetriScience laboratoriesVHB Inc.Village Green FloristVMF Fabrication Machining & MaintenanceW.B. MasonWalmartWaterbury HardwareWCaX TVWeinheimer and associates, P.C.Wellspring learning, Inc.WEZF 92.9 FMWhite & Burke Real Estate Investment advisors, Inc.Wieman - lamphere architects, Inc.Williston Federated ChurchWilliston School DistrictWinburn law officesWindjammer RestaurantWind VisualsWindows & Doors by BrownellWoKo 98.9Wow ToyzWXZo Planet 96.7X-Ray’s Barber ShopXtreme Grafix, llCZinnia, Inc.Zumba Fitness with Jen Skinner-Cisse

www.cotsonline.org CoTS HoMEFRoNT Fall 2014 11

year in review 2014

SHELTERS

family Shelters: 78 families, including 127 children, stayed in a CoTS family shelter. We can host 15 families each night.

Adult Overnight Shelter: 301 individuals stayed in a CoTS emergency shelter, which provides 36 emergency beds each night.

Adult Daytime Shelter: The Daystation is the only daytime shelter for homeless adults in Chittenden County. about 40 people per day visit the Daystation, where a noontime meal is served daily with the help of volunteers.

REHOuSING & SuPPORT SERvICES

COTS family Services: 181 families, including those staying in emergency shelter or the community, received support from CoTS staff.

COTS Adult Services: 206 single, homeless adults received outreach and support from CoTS staff.

PREvENTION SuPPORTPrevention Assistance: 204 households experiencing crisis averted homelessness through the CoTS Housing Resource Center.

Rehousing Assistance: 223 households received rehousing assistance through the CoTS Housing Resource Center.

HOuSING

Transitional Housing: 23 units of housing for families and individuals are offered by CoTS at the Smith House and Canal Street Veterans Housing.

10 additional families were in transitional housing through Family Supportive Housing, a CoTS-master lease program in partnership with HowardCenter and Champlain Housing Trust.

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

COTS services provided: 10/1/13-9/30/14

by the numbers 2014

*These are pre-audited numbers for COTS FY14 (Oct. 1, 2013-Sept. 30, 2014).

Revenue $3,374,028

Individuals & Businesses: 32% ($1,074,561)Federal Grants: 22% ($728,006)Foundations: 15% ($499,803)

Rental Income: 10% ($344,341)State Grants: 6% ($208,075)

Veterans administration: 7% ($237,883)United Way: 4% ($123,681)

other: 4% ($157,678)

adult Shelters: 16% ($546,533)Prevention Services: 12% ($384,302)

Family Shelters: 24% ($789,007)administration: 7% ($239,751)Development: 11% ($381,290)

Housing Facilities: 15% ($469,678)Rehousing & Support Services: 15% ($454,029)

Expenses $3,374,028

Non-Profit org.U.S. Postage

PaIDPermit No. 896Burlington, VT

Committee on temporary Shelter

PO Box 1616Burlington, VT 05402-1616802-864-7402 www.cotsonline.org

NATIONAL HuNGER & HOMELESS AWARENESS WEEkNovember 16–23

November 19 6–8 pm alex and ani Charity by Design Event, 15% of sales donated to CoTS

November 20 11–12:30 am UNo Chicago Grill Dough Raiser, 15% of sales donated to CoTS

November 20 6:30 pm Champlain College Film Screening, admission and concession by donation

Mark your calendarPHONATHONDecember 1–4 and 8–9 5:30–9 pm Morning hours available on December 10, COTS Administrative Offices, 95 North Avenue, Burlington

at the annual Phonathon, volunteers “dial for dollars” to raise money for CoTS shelters and services. These enthusiastic volunteers call CoTS supporters to ask them to consider a gift again this year. If you are interested in joining us to volunteer, please call Gillian at (802) 864-7402, Ext. 207 or email gilliant@cotsonline.org.

CITY MARkET TREE SALEBegins December 3 City Market 82 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington

City Market hosts its annual Tree Sale to benefit CoTS. The first trees will be delivered on Dec. 3. all trees cost $35 (all sizes) while supplies last. Volunteers needed to help with tree sales. Visit www.citymarket.coop.

THE COOLEST LuNCHDecember 17 noon–2 pm

Downtown Burlington and Church Street Marketplace (at participating restaurants) The Coolest lunch in town raises awareness and money for CoTS services. Dine outside to bring attention and raise money to help those in need this winter. lunch is by a suggested $25 donation.

CANDLELIGHT vIGILDecember 18 5:30 pm Burlington City Hall steps, Church Street Marketplace

Each year, during the week of the Winter Solstice, we pause to reflect on those who are homeless in our community. Community leaders share brief vignettes about some of the people who have turned to CoTS for help this past year. a choir from Edmunds Middle School will perform. Refreshments follow in City Hall’s lobby.

Find out more about these events – and how you can get involved – cotsonline.org.

SuNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Registration at 1pm

Walk begins at 2pm

Battery Park,

Burlington