According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness “The 2024 Point-in-Time count documented the highest number of people being unhoused since reporting began in 2007. Approximately 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 – an 18% increase from 2023. Homelessness increased among nearly all populations, including individuals, people in families with children, children and unaccompanied youth, seniors, and people of color.”
As of January 2024, Vermont had an estimated 3,458 experiencing homelessness on any given day, as reported by Continuums of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As of January 2024, New Hampshire had an estimated 1,258 experiencing homelessness on any given day, as reported by Continuums of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Our Shelters
The Haven’s Byrne House Family Shelter and Hixon House Adult Shelter do not have limits for stays. The average length of stay in 2024 for Byrne House was 176 days, while the average for Hixon House was 163 days. Some guests stay longer, and some may only stay a few days. We recognize that homelessness does not have a one-size-fits-all solution.
Byrne House Family Shelter
The Haven’s Byrne House Family Shelter provides a temporary home for families. As part of the stay in our shelters, our Service Coordinators, who serve as guests’ advisors, work with each family to achieve financial, housing, education, child development, and transportation objectives.
- 46 beds to accommodate up to eight families
- Two family “pods” with shared kitchens and common space
Children of families in the shelter are invited to attend the Haven’s After-School and Summer Programs both while in shelter and after moving to permanent housing. The kids enjoy enriching activities with the support of caring, trained staff while the parents can focus on employment, education, and developing greater self-sufficiency for their families.
After families leave the shelter, 75–80% of the guests find and maintain permanent housing and retain jobs, and service coordinators from the Haven continue to offer support through extensive aftercare services.
The residents of the Family Shelter are required to participate in the following while staying at our shelter:
- Search for employment
- Save a percentage of their earnings to be used for securing housing
- Work together with other residents to complete community tasks
Hixon House Adult Shelter
70% of people experiencing homelessness are individuals who are living on their own or in the company of other adults. (edubirdie.com)
To meet the rapidly increasing need for an adult shelter in the Upper Valley region, the Haven completed and opened a new shelter for single men and women, and couples without minor children in June of 2010.
- Ten bedrooms to accommodate up to 20 guests
- Communal dining area with kitchen for volunteer Dinner teams to cook meals
- Ives Library provide computer and internet access, books, games, and meeting space
A unique feature of living at Hixon House is the dinners served in the dining room. Dinner teams—volunteer groups of all kinds—prepare meals there and then join our guests for dinner to meet and learn from one another. Guests can count on three meals a day at Hixon House, helping free up some of their time to concentrate on employment, education, housing, health, and more on their path to greater independence and stability.
Like residents of the Family Shelter, all residents of the Hixon House Adult Shelter are required to:
- Search for employment
- Save a percentage of their earnings to be used for securing housing
- Work together with other residents to complete community tasks
