A Message from the Executive Director
This is a special time of year at the Haven. I’m fortunate in my position at the Haven to be able to reflect on the accomplishments we’ve made since I wrote to you at this time last year. I am proud to share news of recent events, and plans for things to come, honoring the day-to-day work of the Haven team and our selfless volunteers that make the difference in the lives of our Upper Valley neighbors who count on our support.
None of this would have been possible without you.
Last week, we celebrated the holidays with families who receive temporary shelter at the Byrne Family Shelter, or who once lived there and are still connected to us through the Children’s After School Program or through our supported housing services. Haven staff did a wonderful job of decorating St. Paul’s Church Hall into a winter wonderland that encouraged wide smiles and good cheer by all in attendance. There was great food, including baked deserts contributed by the Haven team, games and general merriment topped by the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Despite the challenges these families face every day, in my conversations with the parents there was such positive spirit and gratitude for what they still have and not what they’ve lost or never had. I saw resilience and hope for the future that can inspire us all.
Also, I’m pleased to report that the Byrne building is bustling as Christmas approaches as we have been sorting presents and making sure that every parent will have presents for their children. Thank you to everyone involved with the toy and gift drives undertaken by local businesses, churches, schools and groups who took the time and effort for the Haven and the people we serve. I know that you feel the same glow that we do from these acts of kindness and generosity.
Speaking of bustling, the Community Food Market has been crazy busy since before Thanksgiving and it hasn’t let up. We’ll provide food to households including more than 5,000 people between Thanksgiving and the New Year. While we’re relieved that food prices are not growing as quickly as they were a few years ago, the costs remain high and combined with rising rents and other expenses, it’s still hard getting by. The Food Market provides an opportunity for people to stretch their budgets and have a balanced and nutritious supply of food throughout the year. It just seems more important at this time of year when so many holidays have meals at their center.
I can only begin to tell you how pleased our Food Market visitors are with a return to shopping inside and the brilliant new space we created in the completely renovated market that has been open since late June. I hope you can stop by some time to see this beautiful space. And be sure to notice the tribute we created with the names of the people and organizations whose generosity made this possible. The Haven spends over $400,000 annually on a broad variety of food items not typically available in food pantries made possible only through your donations. The new Community Food Market is well stocked with nutritious items, expanded to meet a growing demand, laid out efficiently so we can restock quickly and manage our off-campus food services too. Thank you to everyone who helped us with this project and who support us every day.
Even with all this good news, we are very worried about the threats of changes and cutbacks in nutrition programs at the incoming federal administration and what it will mean for the people who depend on these programs. We will closely monitor this and do what we can to influence the decisions made in Washington. And the Haven will continue to be a resource for our neighbors in the Upper Valley who are hungry and food insecure.
When I leave work at night this December, I am cheered by seeing Christmas lights in the windows of the new apartment building next to the Haven developed by our close partner, Twin Pines Housing. Only fully leased since the end of November, inside there are 18 people in the 18 apartments, all formerly homeless, who now have an affordable and permanent place to live and access to a Haven service coordinator to help them with their adjustment to independent living.
With expanded support for affordable housing from Washington and Montpelier (elections do have consequences!) Twin Pines was able to add 100 new affordable apartments in three projects in White River Junction this year. In addition to the 18 apartments noted above, another 12 apartments were also focused on people who were previously homeless for a total of 30, all placed by the Haven and all offering supportive housing case management for long term success. Happy Holidays indeed! My special thanks to the Haven team that managed this identification, lease up and ongoing supports.
The team has also been busy planning for the opening of the Lebanon Winter Shelter. Eight new members of the Haven team have been added to staff this shelter for the second year, again led by the indefatigable Gwen Williams. We plan to open this 14-bed shelter in early January once the team has completed training. We anticipate that it will be full every night given the numbers of people in need of a warm place to sleep and our very cold winters. Our thanks again to the City of Lebanon for recognizing this need and engaging the Haven to operate the shelter. We also appreciate grant funding from the State of Vermont recognizing that some people who will use this facility will be from the Hartford area.
And recognizing that the need for shelter is year-round and it’s important to have space for day services where we can also help people find permanent housing, we are thrilled that we are moving forward with the purchase of the property at 608 N. Main Street in White River Junction (the site of the old 25,000 Gifts building) before the end of the year. Our goal is to complete the fundraising we need to construct a new building that will provide 20 beds for shelter each night and a Resource Center for day services. With luck (and the financial support of the community) we will be able to begin construction this spring and open this tremendous resource a year later. More information to come in the New Year.
Finally, the burst of cold weather and dangerously low temperatures reminds us of the fragility of life, especially for those who experience homelessness. Though we address the challenges people experience every day, once a year we set aside a night to remind us that life is precious and can be taken away suddenly and painfully. A life without consistent housing, living on the edge or in poverty, sometimes with additional challenges of substance misuse too often has tragic consequences of deaths that occurring far to early in someone’s life. The Haven has remembered the people we knew who died at the annual Homeless Vigil for many years. Held on or near the winter solstice, symbolically the longest night of the year, this year we remembered 11 friends of the Haven who passed away this year, the youngest who was 18.
It’s a moving tribute for us because we aren’t only reading a list of names. These were people we knew well through their connections with us, sometimes over many years. The Haven staff who knew them best, including some who are no longer working here, wrote brief and moving memories of each person so that for one more time, they came alive again with a favorite expression, event and the things they enjoyed in life. We ended our ceremony by placing lights on top of the Haven sign overnight as a symbol of their time connecting to us which will not soon be forgotten.
My best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday season and start to the New Year.
Sincerely,
Michael
