WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT — The Upper Valley Haven dedicated the Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Shelter and Resource Center Wednesday with a ribbon cutting at 608 North Main Street, with an opening date to be announced in the coming weeks. The new building adds a 20-bed, year-round emergency shelter on its second floor and a daytime resource center on its first, closing the gap between a night of shelter and the steps it takes to find permanent housing.
The shelter will operate every night of the year. Guests will sign up nightly rather than holding a bed for a set period. The building will be staffed around the clock, and guests can connect with Haven Service Coordinators on site. Each guest has a semi-private pod with three-quarter walls, a cot, a small table, and a light, and a couple of beds are fully accessible.
The Leahy Center succeeds the Lebanon Seasonal Shelter, a planned three-year arrangement with the City of Lebanon that has reached the end of its intended term.
The Resource Center will operate during the day, serving a broader group than just those staying upstairs. Community members who are precariously housed, living on a fixed income, or navigating a hard stretch will be able to meet with a Haven Service Coordinator and use computer workspaces for job applications and benefit enrollments. Partner organizations will also be able to provide services in the building.
“When someone unexpectedly needs a place to go, it can be hard to figure out the next steps. Shelters across the state are often full, with waitlists that stretch for months,” said Will Towne, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Haven. “The Leahy Center is designed to relieve that immediate pressure, a place where someone can reserve a bed, get a meal, and work with staff who will help identify and respond to their needs.”
“Rarely do projects like this go as planned, but this one met all our construction expectations, on time and on budget. Now we turn to using this building to be an agent of lasting change for the people we serve, with our staff based here, room for our partners, and a calming environment for the guidance our guests require,” said Kathy Welling, Board President of the Upper Valley Haven.
The building is named in honor of Senator Patrick Leahy and his wife Marcelle, a longtime nurse, recognizing their decades of public service to Vermont. Before retiring from the U.S. Senate, Senator Leahy secured $2 million in federal funding for the project. The broader fundraising campaign drew support from more than 320 individuals, families, foundations, businesses, and government partners. The building was designed by Studio Nexus and constructed by Estes and Gallup. The property sits within walking distance of employment centers, healthcare, and government offices.
The Haven supports more than 130 households across its housing programs and helped 108 families move into permanent housing in the past fiscal year. The Leahy Center is expected to provide more than 5,000 bed nights annually and serve over 100 individuals a year in its shelter alone, with many more using the Resource Center during the day.
About the Upper Valley Haven
With the support of the Upper Valley community, the Haven assists those who are experiencing poverty to be free from hunger, to be securely housed, and to pursue a self-directed life. Founded in 1980, the Haven provides food, temporary shelter, supportive housing, children’s after school and summer programs, community outreach, and problem-solving support to those in need.
Media Contact: Matt Taylor, Communications Manager 802-478-1806 mtaylor@uppervalleyhaven.org
