www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT SPRING 2018 1

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. 36, NO. 1 www.cotsonline.org SPRING 2018

COTS frequently partners with service-learning classes in our community. These opportunities give students real-life, hands-on experience, while helping them increase their understanding of complex social issues, nonprofit organizations, and the work we do every day.

This past fall, we worked with a multi-media class at Saint Michael’s College, taught by Allison Cleary. As part of the project, the students interviewed residents of Canal Street Veterans Housing to create multi-media profiles of the veterans. St. Mike’s student Maddy Linden spoke with Todd Thompson, a graduate of the COTS veterans housing program who is now a permanent resident in one of the building’s upper floors. The following includes excerpts from her interview and profile of Todd.

Todd Thompson is a soft-spoken man with warm eyes and smile. The proud grandfather, who served his country in both the Army and the Vermont National Guard, was born and raised in Burlington’s Old North End.

Todd was also among the first residents of COTS’ Canal Street Veterans Housing. After successfully completing the transitional housing program four years ago, Todd moved into one of the building’s permanent affordable apartments on the top two floors.

“I can sit up in my apartment and say, ‘Ah, this is mine.’ My own closet. It’s hard to explain, but it goes back to when I was a kid, jumping around, (with my) grandparents, shuffling around a little bit. … This place has been a

Learning Lab in family shelter helps school-age kids

Canal Street veterans connectProgram graduate offers tai chi to new residents

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Todd Thompson (pictured here with therapy dog volunteer “Hank the Tank”) is a graduate of the Canal Street Veterans Housing program and now a regular program volunteer.

Homelessness and housing instability can be traumatic for children, affecting their health, development, and ability to learn. These children are also at greater risk to become homeless as adults, as a result. In order to reduce that future risk as well as help them today, COTS provides targeted supports and enrichment through our COTS Children’s Program in family shelter. This is part of COTS’ overall strategy to end homelessness through prevention.

As part of this, we recently launched a new initiative, the Learning Lab, to complement the activities and assistance offered through COTS Children’s Program. (Learn more about our Children’s Program at the COTS Web site: cotsonline.org.)

The Learning Lab, funded by a grant through Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation (VCTF), is an enrichment, after-school experience for school-aged children in shelter. An educator provides support

three days a week, focusing on leveraging technology for educational purposes. The group lessons also are designed to enhance the children’s social and emotional development.

Over the years, COTS has developed strategic partnerships with local organizations and businesses to leverage public and private funding of services. That tradition continues with our recent part-nership with Logic Supply on this project. Logic Supply recently donated six custom-built computers and their peripherals to COTS.  Two of the computers are now being used by children and parents in our family shelters. (The other four are used by guests at the COTS Daystation and Housing Resource Center.)

“These basic amenities and services provide the foundation for those in need to build a safe and secure life for themselves,” said Sarah Yeager of Logic Supply.

COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER

PO Box 1616 Burlington, VT 05402

802-864-7402fax 802-864-2612

www.cotsonline.org

Established 1982

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeffrey Nolan, ChairTom Torti, Vice Chair

Debra Royce, TreasurerPaul Lekstutis, Secretary

Beth AndersonSean Collins

Catherine DingleLaurie Gunn

Andrew HansonMichael H. Lipson

Jeff MartinShelley Richardson

Brigitte RitchieBob Steis

Rita Markley, Executive Director

A United Way Funded Agency

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

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Editor Becky Holt

Writers Jonathan Farrell, Sian Leach,

Tamira Martel

Designer Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio

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blessing. I am grateful,” Todd said.

Todd continues to be an active member of the Canal Street community, volunteering to help veterans new to the COTS transitional housing program on the lower floors. He’s a frequent guest at Canal Street’s regular coffee hour for residents, where “Hank the Tank,” a therapy dog, visits with longtime volunteer Evan Stainman. Todd is also among the community’s most committed gardeners, helping raise the fresh vegetable bounty on site and at their Saint Michael’s garden location.

“Canal Street is a great place to live, and I feel veterans can benefit from the programs that COTS offers them,” Todd said. “It’s very important to me to have a safe and healthy environment to call home.”

Two years ago, Todd, in collaboration with the program coordinator, helped organize the first Wellness Day for COTS residents that included veterans

Todd Thompson...continued from page 1 at Canal Street and guests of the COTS Daystation program. That has become an annual event, with the third Wellness Day set for September.

Part of the Wellness Day included tai chi, an ancient Chinese meditative practice with disciplined movements. Todd, who began doing tai chi in 1980 with Grandmaster Bob Boyd of Burlington, guided the exercises.

“For me doing tai chi is a personal journey,” Todd said. “I love to teach and feel the positive energy from doing the tai chi form and getting a connection with my fellow veterans.”

Wellness Day also helped create another ongoing community connection at Canal. Todd now offers snake style tai chi, which focuses on core muscle strength, for an hour every other week with residents of Canal Street in collaboration with the COTS’ program coordinator.

“Life is life, and you learn how to deal with it,” Todd said. “It’s much better if you have support.”

SAVE THE DATE

Lake Monsters kick off #172Vvt Back-to-School Supply DriveJoin Champ and the Lake Monsters to help COTS kick off our fourth annual #172vt Back-to-School Supply Drive on Thursday, July 26. We will collect supplies at the game and throughout the month of August for children in need in our community. Bring school supplies to donate with you to the game and receive a free ticket for a future Lake Monsters home game.

Plan Ahead: Purchase your tickets in May to this July game through a special link on the COTS Web site at cotsonline.org, and COTS will receive $2.50 for every ticket sold.

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COTS incorporated Trauma-Informed Design in the renovation of 95 North Avenue, including the Daystation. The Daystation, our day center for homeless adults, features natural light, plants, and spacious design to structurally embody dignity into place.

By Jonathan Farrell

COTS recognizes that many of the people we serve suffer from at least one form of trauma – the trauma of homelessness – and that some might suffer from multiple causes of trauma in their lives. Our staff are trained on Trauma-Informed Care, and they fold best practices of that care into their day-to-day interactions with our guests.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says that “a program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms in clients, families, staff, and others involved with system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, practices, and seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.”

The next step for COTS has been research into the emerging field of Trauma-Informed Design. Trauma-Informed Design explores ideas for built environments that support the tenets of Trauma-Informed Care with a goal of creating spaces that are welcoming, calming, and safe both emotionally and physically.

Trauma-Informed Design pays attention to the details: the combinations of overall aesthetics, artwork, colors, furnishings, lighting, and spatial layout

to create a space that can aid in recovery from the trauma of homelessness.

The working definition of a Trauma-Informed Design that we are developing, drawn from research and playing off the four R’s of the Trauma-Informed Care definition is:

“Realizing how the physical environment affects an individual’s sense of identity, worth, dignity, and empowerment; recognizing that the physical environ-ment has an impact on attitude, mood, and behavior, and that there is a strong link between our physiological state, our emotional state, and the physical environment; and responding by designing and maintaining supportive and healing environments for trauma-experienced residents or clients to

resist re-traumatization.”

We have learned a great deal about how the physical environment can support the good, hard work that our staff does every day. Many of these lessons are incorporated into our building at 95 North Avenue, and with your help are beginning to be implemented in our shelters and program spaces through out COTS. We are currently working on changes to the COTS Waystation, our year-round overnight program for single adults, to make that emergency shelter space more trauma-informed.

Jonathan Farrell, who has worked at COTS since 2011, is the past COTS Housing Resource Center Coordinator, and is currently the COTS Facility Director.

COTS incorporates Trauma-Informed Design into program spaces

Carolyn Bates

SAVE THE DATE

Mad Marathon, Sunday, July 8 Billed as the “World’s Most Beautiful Marathon,” the Mad Marathon takes place Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Waitsfield in the gorgeous Mad River Valley. Run for a reason: Join more than 1,000 runners to test your physical limits while raising money to support our work. To fundraise and run for COTS or to find out more about the Mad Marathon, visit www.madmarathon.com or cotsonline.org.

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29th Annual COTS Walk

Sunday, May 6Registration: 1 pmWalk Begins: 2 pm

Battery Park

This year our 29th annual COTS Walk, presented by National Life Group, is May 6. The Walk is our largest event each year to raise funds to support services and increase understanding about homelessness. Our fundraising goal this year: $200,000!

Through the support of our sponsors, all the money raised by walkers goes directly to providing services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Each year, we work with more than 2,400 people, including individuals, families, children, veterans, and people who are elderly or disabled. COTS offers an array of services, including emergency shelter, housing, homelessness prevention, and rehousing outreach.

Beth Rusnock, from our presenting sponsor National Life Group, said the impact that COTS makes is what made COTS’ work meaningful to her. “COTS helps our neighbors when they’ve run out of options and hope,” she said. “To know there are people who are struggling to find their place, who are cold and hungry and defeated, are welcomed every day by COTS without judgment is what this world needs.”

Get started: Register today!Register online now at cotsonline.org – as an individual or team. (Or call us at 802-864-7402, Ext. 207.) Then set a fundraising goal for yourself. Collect pledges from friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors.

TAKE THE “CHALLENGE”Did you know that for about $1,000 we can prevent a family from ever becoming homeless? To help keep a family housed, please take the COTS Walk Challenge this year, and make a commitment to raise $1,000 or more for COTS as an individual or $2,500 as a team.

If you reach your goal, an anonymous donor has generously provided a Challenge Grant to match your donations!

Walkers who meet the challenge also receive special recognition and awards at our Annual Meeting in the fall. You can learn more by visiting cotsonline.org.

BE A TEAM CAPTAINDon’t do it alone! Form a team, and walk with friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family members. Show your team spirit, and have fun.

SHOW SCHOOL SPIRITCollege, high school, middle and elementary school teams are getting ready for COTS Walk 2018. Make sure your school is there, too!

The Walk can also help you:• Fulfillcommunityservicerequirements(ifyouparticipateandraise$150,youcan

earn 10 hours of community service);• Enhanceyourresumeortranscriptforcollegeapplications;• Expandonyourleadershipskills.

SUPPORT A WALKER OR TEAMEven if you are unable to participate, consider pledging a walker. The walk is one of COTS’ largest annual fundraisers. Almost 50 percent of our budget comes from community support – and the walk is one of the most important ways we raise money and awareness in our community.

SPREAD THE WORD• Createyourownfundraisingpageatgive.classy.org/COTS-Walk-2018 and

collect online donations from family and friends. (Find a link on the COTS’ Web site, too.)

• GainsupportandtellothersabouttheWalkviaemail,Facebook,Instagramandmore. Using social media, it’s easy to spread the word and raise money.

• Getup-to-dateinformationatwww.cotsonline.org.• BesuretofollowCOTSonsocialmedia,too.WeprovideongoingWalkupdates

on our COTS Facebook page at COTSonline.

JOIN US: May 6, 2018, Battery Park, Burlington

THINGS TO REMEMBER:The COTS Walk is something you can do today to end homelessness.

Every dollar raised by Walkers supports shelter, services, prevention, and housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The COTS Walk shows your donations at work: The Walk is a 3.1-mile trek around downtown Burlington, following the route a person who is homeless might take to connect with COTS shelters and services.

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COTS Walk 2018 centers on gratitude

Challenge Walker Mixer April 3, 5-7 pm Hotel VermontLearn more about COTS and the COTS Walk Challenge. Join staff, board and other Walkers for light refreshments.

The COTS Walk welcomes everyone to our annual celebration of our community coming together to end homelessness. We strive to create an event that embodies our core values, including recognizing the dignity of every individual.

This year, our Walk is all about “gratitude.” Gratitude is the foundation of COTS and interwoven in every aspect of our history and daily interactions. We invite Walkers to bring a gratitude stone to carry with them through the Walk. They can be stones you find by the lake, along a favorite path or even along a busy street. Write a message upon it, if you like. Decorate it. Or do nothing at all to it.

These gratitude stones can then return home with you to serve as a reminder of COTS, of hope, of your afternoon with us. Or, you can choose to leave it with us at one of the stops along the Walk for someone else to pick up, who might need it. Perhaps a group might want to create a rock garden or Cairn at your home or shared space, such as a school.

Learn more about our “gratitude” theme and activities you can do before the Walk at our Web site: cotsonline.org.

This supporter really rocks!6-year-old creates ‘pet rocks’ for COTS

COTS received a gift in the mail from Gracia Lenois, 6, of Bellows Falls just after Thanksgiving. The shoebox-sized package was filled with hundreds of tiny rocks, in every shape, size, and color; the “pet rocks” came complete with googly eyes.

Gracia and her dad, Dennis, created the pet rocks together, hoping they would “bring many smiles to staff, volunteers, and mostly the clients.” They certainly have done just that! In fact, Gracia’s pet rocks helped inspire our “gratitude stone” theme for this year’s COTS Walk, and we are excited Gracia and her dad plan to join us for the Walk in on May 6.

As for the packages, COTS wasn’t the only organization to receive the pet rocks (which arrived with “pet rock repair kit” – glue and more googly eyes). Gracia and her dad sent about five boxes of rocks, with thousands of individual pieces, to shelters and nonprofits who help people who are homeless across New Hampshire and Vermont.

Dennis says Gracia is passionate, caring, and loves positive social action. The father and daughter are even considering expanding their pet rock distribution to shelters nationwide. It’s a dream anyway, Dennis says.

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We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us…THANKSGIVINGWe would like to thank the Gerlach Family, John Miller, Anne, Maxine, and Erika Senft Miller, the Blue Star Mothers, the Regular Veterans Association Post 514, the American Legion, and Casella Waste Systems, who all donated turkeys, Thanksgiving dishes and desserts.

Hearts to Soles again donated new shoes for Daystation guests and James D. Michelson, M.D. and his Fletcher Allen Orthopedic Team offered their time and expertise giving foot-health assessments at the Daystation. Doug Shaw, an orthotist at Orthotekniks in Williston, also donated his time and expertise.

ANNUAL MEETINGWe were able to thank our volunteers at our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, thanks to the generous donations from Mirabelle’s Café, Great Harvest Bread Co, Feldman’s Bagels, The Bagel Café and Deli, The Bagel Place, Starbucks, Cookies for Good, as well as linen use from Sodexo, and floral centerpieces from Chappell’s Florist.

COTS PHONATHONMany generous community partners provided support to help energize and motivate more than 250 volunteers for the annual Phonathon. New England Federal Credit Union provided a generous Challenge Grant for the Phonathon, and WOKO-FM partnered with us on the radio to help share success stories and encourage listeners to call in their pledges. We would also like to thank our nightly sponsors, Comcast, Burlington Telecom, and AT&T.

Dinners were donated by American Flatbread, Leonardo’s, Subway, El Cortijo, Bluebird Barbecue, and La Villa Bistro. Snacks and drinks were offered by Speeder & Earl’s, Starbucks, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Vermont Cookie Love, The Bagel Place and Cabot Creamery.

AT&T donated the cell phones for callers.

Prizes were donated by Lake Champlain Chocolates, Danforth, Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Sally Ballin and USANA, Cheese Traders and Wine Sellers, Penny Cluse Café, New Moon Cafe, Revision Military, Zabby and Elf’s Stone Soup, Stowe Mountain Lodge, Trapp Family Lodge, University Mall, King’s Corner Deli, Vermont Lake Monsters, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Leunig’s Bistro, Oil n Go, Snowflake Chocolates, The Windjammer and Shelburne Museum.

THE COOLEST LUNCHWe would like to thank the many diners who joined us for the 10th annual Coolest Lunch to eat outside on the Church Street Marketplace in December and our Coolest Lunch sponsors:

National Life Group and Northfield Savings Bank. We also would like to thank the restaurants and their staff who made this event possible: Farmhouse Tap & Grill, Leunig’s Bistro, and The Scuffer Steak & Ale House. Also, Morway Moving donated moving assistance, and the Church Street Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop provided hot chocolate. Free Press Media and WCAX-TV offered media support.

BOOKS, TOYS AND TREATSMany generous supporters ensured children and families in COTS shelter and services enjoyed the season.

Montstream Studios provided beautiful seasonal cards for us to send to supporters.

The Daystation received a tree from White Christmas Tree Farm and wreaths were donated to family shelters and the Waystation.

The Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, Galen Medical, Systems & Software, Inc., Homebridge Financial Services, Inc., United Church of Colchester, Assure Software, St. John Vianney Church, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and Gordon’s Window Decor donated new toys, games, gift cards and craft supplies for children in COTS shelter and services. The 5th Annual Toys for Turkeys donated toys and gift cards, too. In addition, many individual donors donated toys and gift cards.

Thanks to longtime supporters of Canal Street Veterans Housing, veterans and their families had a great holiday. Revision Military provided a gift card to cover the costs a Christmas Day meal, as well as gifts for the residents. VFW Auxilary Post 6689 donated many items from our wish list. Howard Longway and RVA Post 514 donated lots of gifts and decorations for the children and veterans.

The First Congregational Church of Burlington donated more than 100 candy bags and wrapped socks for guests at the Daystation and Waystation.

City Market hosted its 20th Annual Tree Sale for COTS in December, selling more than 650 trees from Moffatt’s Tree Farm in Craftsbury. Nearly 100 volunteers, staffing nearly 200 shifts, made the successful event that raised $10,500 possible. This year, City Market also included COTS in their December Rally for Change fundraiser.

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South Burlington High School Issues and World Affairs Class, CVS, Emergent Media Center, Congregational Church of Richmond, Colchester Hockey, Movewell, Community Bank, Essex Center United Methodist Church, Willari’s Self Defense, Girl Scout Troop 13940, North Star Lodge #12, UVM Admissions Office, New England Federal Credit Union, Underhill ID Elementary School, UVM Medical Center Lab, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, Barre Area Veterans Council, University Mall, Temple Sinai, Keens Crossing, Home Instead Senior Care, St. Michael’s College Athletics, Spring Village at Essex, Saint Michael’s MOVE Office, South Burlington Senior Citizens, Sisters of Mercy, UVMMC Graduate Medical Education, and Paul Frank + Collins P.C. put together drives and donated items from our wish list.

We received a generous donation of soap from Chasworth Farms.

St. John Vianney Church made an enormous donation of gift cards along with toiletries, bedding, and a large amount of household items.

KeyBank teamed up with LL Bean to provide COTS with 100 pairs of new socks.

Gadue’s Dry Cleaning partnered with COTS to dry clean winter coats and blankets from multiple drives this winter.

DAYSTATION LUNCHUVM Living/Learning Center, First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, Richmond Congregational Church, Burton Snowboards, Dinner with Friends, KeyBank, Champlain College GWI, Dealer.com, CFAS, UVM Dewey House for Community Engagement, Galen Healthcare Solutions, Merrill Lynch, Engineers without Borders, and Mansfield Hall volunteered and donated lunch at the Daystation. Several individuals provided meal donations as well. Daystation lunches also have been provided regularly by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, College Street Congregational Church, Lang House on Main Street, All Soul’s Interfaith, Mister Z’s Pizza, Lang House, Sherpa Foods, and Love and Blessings Ministry.

Costco donates gift cards for the Daystation lunch program.

Seventh Generation and the Mountain Mamas dropped of homemade cookies for guests and staff over the holidays. Homeschoolers of Chittenden County dropped off leftover baked goods from their annual bake sale for COTS. Shelburne House and Heartworks School dropped off baked goods and other food items for the Daystation.

Holiday Skating Show: The Gift at Leddy Arena collected donations for COTS.

First Night Burlington donated First Night Buttons for adults and children in family shelter.

Free Press Media featured COTS in their annual Giving Season holiday call-to-action campaign.

The PreK class at Christ the King School chose COTS as the recipients of their kindness project for January, and donated mini bread loaves and flowers for the families in shelter.

Red Barn Gardens, Parker Family Farm, and Shelburne Orchards donated pumpkins to the Daystation for a pumpkin carving competition.

For Valentine’s Day, Essex Chips put together care packages for our guests that included sweet notes.

WISHLIST AND DONATION DRIVESDee Physical Therapy’s 10th Annual Great Diaper Drive of 2017, spearheaded by Jason Fitzgerald, brought in 100,945 diapers! The donated diapers will ease the financial burden on families, making it easier for them to save toward housing goals.

We have received several boxes filled with children’s clothes from Osh Kosh B’Gosh.

Thanks to Vermont Teddy Bear for donating 5 large boxes full of pajamagrams for our guests.

Fuse Marketing dropped off new jackets, backpacks, and t-shirts for our Daystation guests.

For the second year, Rhino Foods put together about 200 personal care kits for our guests.

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

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

One of the most exciting moments at COTS is when we can help a family or individual secure permanent housing. With the generosity of our community, and donors like you, we are often able to help our guests get started in their new homes with a “move-in kit”. These kits contain basic items households need to get set up – and are a festive way to celebrate getting housed. If you would you like to help us provide these kits, here are tips for assembling move-in kits to donate:

Move-In Kit Tutorial What SHOULD you include?These kits are all a little different. The generally contain these basic items in them:

New bedding and towels: pillows, sheets, blankets and towels.

Basic kitchen items: new pots and pans, or dishes.

Cleaning supplies: These items can add up quickly in cost for someone setting up a new home. Things like dish soap and sponges, a dish cloth, and laundry detergent are helpful.

Toiletries: A full-size bottle of shampoo and conditioner, hand soap, etc.

How do you package a move-in kit?We love putting items together in a laundry basket because it’s super practical, makes it convenient to transport, and makes the whole package look special for our guests.

What NOT to include?Anything that is used. We want to be able to help our guests have a fresh start as they move into new homes, and that includes providing them with new items.