A Season of Shelter and Support in Lebanon

On April 15, the Lebanon Seasonal Shelter closed for the year after months of providing food, warmth, and a safe place to sleep for people experiencing housing insecurity in the Upper Valley.

Operated by the Haven and funded by the City of Lebanon, the shelter welcomed 73 different individuals this season. Some guests slept at the shelter almost every night; others visited only once. On nearly every night the shelter was open, the building was at full capacity. And most evenings, staff also placed a few guests in hotels to ensure that no one was left out in the elements.

This quiet but vital work often goes unseen. But for those who spent their evenings at the shelter—or worked overnight shifts to keep things running—the impact was clear.

“When we arrive at the shelter, we set up the beds and get the food going,” said Susan Champy, a seasonal staff member who returned for her second year. “We open the doors at 5 PM, sometimes a little early, depending on the weather.”

The shelter offered a hot meal, showers and a cot every night for up to 14 guests.

Building Trust, Person by Person

A place like the Lebanon shelter can be more than temporary housing. It can be a turning point. But that doesn’t happen overnight. The nights are filled with quiet acts of support and the slow building of trust. Over time, those efforts pay off.

“I’ve had the opportunity to build rapport with many of our regular guests that they know they can trust me to share more about the unique challenges they face,” said Aron Fecto, who also worked nights this winter. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to know that these guests have made positive improvements in their day-to-day lives and are on their way to achieving their goals, whether small or large.”

“We have one young woman who has a mental health challenge, and she’s now on her medication,” Susan said. “The change that I’ve seen in her versus January to April has been amazing. She’s trying to get her life back in order so she can possibly regain custody of her son. She’s very, very focused on doing that, and I think the shelter has been a big part of her success.”

The shelter staff team did an incredible job this year, creating relationships with guests, and providing a safe and welcoming environment.

Human Connection

Staff also found that what many guests needed most wasn’t complicated—it was connection.

“They just want someone to listen to them,” Susan said. “When they speak to the general public, when they’re outside, people ignore them. They shun them. They’re afraid of them. And they’re human, just like we are.”

Aron echoed this sentiment. “In general, I feel most guests need reassurance that they’re in a safe space both for their physical and mental states… Open, clear communication is so important, and it helps put everyone at ease and feel comfortable.”

This season also revealed something to Susan she hadn’t realized before working at the shelter. “I didn’t realize how many unhoused people there are and how young they can be… and how vulnerable they can be.”

She added, “There’s been lots of moments, when you can actually reach out to someone and you actually get some feedback from them. You get to see that they’re improving in their situation… It’s also very heartfelt to build those connections.”

A Misunderstood Resource

Both Susan and Aron reflected on what people often assume about those who stay in a shelter.

“A common misconception the community has about shelters like ours, is that everyone that uses the shelter and related services has done something wrong in their life which has resulted in them being unhoused,” Aron said. “This is a misconception that I’m passionate to re-educate the community about.” Several shelter guests were up early each morning to catch the Advance Transit bus to their jobs.

Susan added, “People don’t want a shelter in their backyard… We’ve had some pushback from the community, though there’s been a lot of support from volunteers and people dropping off food and clothing and other essential items, almost every night. Sadly, there’s been some incorrect information about the shelter that’s been fed via media reports.”

Among the things often misunderstood are the safety and stability of the shelter. We were grateful for the support of the Lebanon City Welfare staff and the Lebanon Police and Fire Departments for their quick response to emergency calls. Many of those calls were medical in nature—guests needing wellness checks, assistance, or emergency care. Many fewer related to behavior or conflict, and most of those were quickly de-escalated by staff.

As Aron put it, “The Lebanon Seasonal Shelter is both unique and effective because it’s such a valuable resource to our community and one that is so very needed in our country at large. The housing shortage is at epidemic levels in this country and it affects us all, no matter if we’re housed or unhoused.”

Looking Forward

While the Lebanon Seasonal Shelter has closed for this season, the Haven is preparing for a long-term solution.

Construction has begun on a new 20-bed, year-round Emergency Shelter and Resource Center in White River Junction. The building will offer not only a safe place to stay, but also day services and support for housing searches, employment, benefits, and other needs. It’s designed to remove barriers and bring services together under one roof, making it easier for people to access the help they need. The new building should be completed in the summer of 2026.

Susan hopes people understand how important it is to continue this work. “This is real. People are suffering. We as humans need to try to work together and not against each other. We need to try to help lift people up.”