From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 8/4/25

CVOEO Climate Change Resolution

The CVOEO Board of Directors has passed a climate change resolution for our agency. This resolution ensures that the community knows where we stand on climate change, affirms the environmental justice component of our mission statement, and better positions us for funding when applying for environmental grants. The resolution particularly speaks to the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income communities. We hope to provide this resolution, shown below, as a strong organizational statement on the environment and climate change, a resource often requested by prospective funders.

Resolved that CVOEO:

• Asserts that climate change is real and that it disproportionately impacts our communities’ most vulnerable and underrepresented populations.
• Considers climate change in its decision making, planning processes, and program design and implementation.
• Represents the voices of the low-income community in national, state, and local discussions about climates change and policy.
• Reduces its greenhouse gas emissions whenever and wherever possible.

With the goal of preserving Vermont’s quality of life for future generations and for eliminating community health disparities attributed to environmental pollution.

Strategic Plan Update

Staff have been provided with a 6-month update on our current strategic plan, which began in 2022. There is evidence of progress across the five goals that we established as a team. Forty-one percent of our objectives are at or above target, nine percent are below target and 50% are at or just below target. Overall, we have made tremendous progress as an agency. In the update, staff witness where our work has been more focused, and you can also find progress by program. CVOEO has been working on a new five-year Strategic Plan which will be operational in March 2026. A reminder that our strategic planning is informed by our in-depth Community Needs Assessment and by staff and community partner surveys and interviews.

New guidance from the Federal Government that bans people entering this country illegally from accessing programs

The State of Vermont will be joining other states to block this action, and as an organization that serves asylum seekers and people seeking emergency assistance, we have concerns regarding: the amount of time, staff capacity, and resources it takes to verify a person’s status; the impact on our community if people are not provided with emergency services (food and shelter); and the harm to adults and children that will result in turning people away from critical services. We have provided this and more to the State in support of their legal action.

Learn more: HHS Bans Illegal Aliens from Accessing its Taxpayer-Funded Programs | HHS.gov

Feeding Champlain Valley’s Healthy Roots Collaborative in Northwest Vermont

Last week was the first distribution of the Northwest Farmacy CSA in partnership with the NOTCH (Federally Qualified Health Center). Individuals who screen positive for food insecurity and meet the criteria of having cardiovascular disease risk factors can be enrolled in the program. This year up to 45 people will be enrolled in the program, receiving bi-weekly deliveries of fresh local produce. We are increasing enrollment in Grand Isle County and participants can pick up food directly from a farm stand or receive home delivery.

The HOME Family Housing Voucher Program

This is our statewide rapid rehousing program for families experiencing homelessness, embedded within CVOEO’s Statewide Housing Advocacy Programs. Twenty-nine families successfully leased up and eight have received lease extensions since May.

Do Good Fest and Feeding Champlain Valley

Staff members represented Feeding Champlain Valley at the National Life Group Do Good Festival on Saturday, July 12^th. Thank you, team, for showing up to highlight our work!