From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 7/16/26
At CVOEO, we believe in collaboration and transparency. That’s why every week Executive Director Paul Dragon shares a roundup of updates and initiatives to keep everyone, from our 300+ team members to the broader community we serve, informed and connected. Here’s what’s new this week!
Weekly Update:
Vermont–New Hampshire Asylum Support Network semiannual report
In the first half of 2026, the Vermont-New Hampshire Asylum Support Network (VT-NH-ASN), with CVOEO providing both fiscal and administrative capacity, supported 316 people from over 30 countries, including 126 families. Despite new federal fees and policy changes, the Network kept families housed, legally protected, and connected, providing fee assistance to 53 households, emergency housing and legal support, and hiring its first permanent Coordinator.
Thanks to strong collaboration among nine member organizations, CVOEO's administrative support, and flexible backing from partners, most families are now stably housed, and the Network is better equipped to respond to ongoing challenges. As the policy environment shifts, VT-NH-ASN remains committed to ensuring asylum seekers in Vermont and New Hampshire receive practical help and a welcoming community.
Staff Recognition
Kahila Livingston was featured as the July Equity Spotlight in the City of Burlington's REIB newsletter, which highlighted her work as Fair Housing Project Coordinator advancing fair housing education, outreach, and advocacy across Vermont. See the great story below!
Congratulations to Elaine Markey, who will be recognized at the annual VITA Partners Recognition Awards this week. Elaine continues to expand outreach, strengthen volunteer recruitment, and build capacity for our free tax preparation services.
CVOEO Block Party
The 2nd Annual South Champlain Street Block Party is this Sunday, July 19, from 1-4pm. This neighborhood event is a partnership of CVOEO, Mercy Connections, Seven Days, Burlington Housing Authority, and others, and will feature lawn games, a kids' pop-up bike park, music, tie dye, info tables, a raffle, ice cream, and food from Pasta Mia. Come join the fun!
Community Needs Assessment in Action
One of the strengths of CVOEO is our commitment to listening, learning, and continually adapting to meet community needs. Recently, staff from our Addison Community Action program joined colleagues from Financial Futures and VITA to begin a series of discussions focused on CVOEO's latest Community Needs Assessment. Using the presentation recently shared with the Board as a starting point, the first conversation generated thoughtful questions, insightful observations, and a healthy curiosity about what the data is telling us. The team is looking forward to the next two sessions as they continue exploring the findings and considering how they can inform our work in the communities we serve.
CVOEO Communication – Head Start Talking Points
Champlain Valley Head Start is in the 6th year of using TalkingPoints to communicate with families. Talking Points enables direct service team members as well as supervisors and managers the ability to send individual messages or group announcements to enrolled families in their preferred languages. CVHS staff sent almost 3,000 messages to families to help share important information about program updates and attendance, learning at home, and resources available in the community. Families receive messages via SMS text or the Talking Points for Families app. This year CVHS has added the new option of Document Translation to our account. When staff attach a PDF or Word document to a Talking Points message, they will see a pop-up asking if they want to translate the document before sending. If they choose to translate, families will receive a link to view the document in their home language.
Chittenden Community Action - Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) Impact
As the 2026 HOP fiscal year ended, CVOEO's Chittenden Community Action team helped deliver nearly $1 million in rental and housing assistance to households experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their housing. Of the 583 households served countywide, our team assisted 394 households, 68% of all applications in Chittenden County, demonstrating both the tremendous need in our community and the incredible dedication of our staff. Special thanks to the entire team for helping keep hundreds of our neighbors safely housed.
Supporting Unsheltered Families – UVM Partnership
Through the University of Vermont Medical Center Emerging Needs grant, our teams have helped 13 families access temporary shelter, providing 244 bed nights to date. One household has already moved into subsidized housing, and two others have transitioned into Foundations. Outreach staff also continue to distribute critical supplies, including tents, sleeping bags, and hygiene items, to individuals living unsheltered.
Farm to Family Update
Demand for Farm to Family coupons has been exceptionally high. Both the federal senior coupon allocation and the state-funded coupon supply have been fully distributed, and staff are now maintaining a waiting list while exploring opportunities for additional resources.