As a foundation, our mission is to dramatically impact the lives of children. Through working with various organizations, non-profits, and foundations; we are able to achieve this mission.
Every month, our foundation highlights another in the hopes to raise awareness and dramatically impact the lives of children.
The Vermont Agency Foundation is pleased to present...
About COTS
Mission & Approach
A Time and A Place Where No One Is Homeless
We advocate for long-term solutions to end homelessness and provide emergency shelter, services, and long-term housing for people who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed.
Core Values
Everyone should have a secure place to call home.
We believe...
In the value and dignity of every human life.
That housing is a fundamental human right.
That emergency shelter is not the solution to homelessness.
COTS Housing Navigators are assigned to clients staying in one of COTS shelter programs, and they support those clients in reaching their long-term housing goals. They work to understand the client's goals, assess their barriers to reaching those goals, and then support them through the process of overcoming those barriers and transitioning into long-term, sustainable housing.
COTS provides housing retention services to ensure that previously unhoused clients are able to maintain stable housing after securing permanent housing. Housing Retention Specialists are part of the Housing Resource Center, working directly with COTS residents to make sure they’re on track to reach their goals, assisting them in developing a service plan for transition to and/or maintenance of stable housing.
Our emergency shelter programs provide opportunities for individuals without housing to have a safe, secure place to stay and have their basic needs met. This includes access to showers, laundry facilities, computer access for job searches, applications, and lunch service. We have emergency shelters for both families and individuals that are open 365 days a year.
Preserving Historic Properties Can Create Affordable Housing
Maintaining a stock of permanently affordable, supportive, and safe housing is a challenge in our community, and COTS has pursued opportunities to preserve historic properties as well as create new housing that meets the needs of the people we serve. These properties allow us to engage with hard-to-house neighbors all the way from Coordinated Entry to Safe and Permanently Housed.
Our buildings are supported by our Director of Housing Services, by Resident Managers who help solve problems and build community, and by our COTS Housing Retention Specialist.
