From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 9/25/25

Recovery Shelter

Less than two weeks ago, the Agency of Humans Services and the Department of Health contacted us to see if we would consider operating at Recovery Shelter, which is drug-free and only for people who are homeless seeking recovery and a substance free environment. Developing shelters typically takes well over a year or more, however, with the Community Resource Center (CRC) moving back to the renovated space at 228 North Winooski, we will have the Howard Center space at 184 Pearl Street (temporary CRC site) as a possible location to fit up for an overnight shelter. Initial planning is for a 12-bed shelter for 3 to 12-month stays. CVOEO would operate the shelter, and Howard would provide substance and co-occurring mental supports. This will be key community partnership.

Why would we do this? Adding recovery beds to our continuum of homeless services allows us to move people from our low-barrier shelters to a place where they can live in recovery and in an abstinence-friendly environment. This provides additional shelter capacity as it will free up beds at our lower barrier shelters (Champlain Place and Samaritan House). It is also a more stable source of funding compared to federal sources at this uncertain time. We still have many things to consider before we confirm the launching of this new recovery shelter.

Complex Care Initiative

CVOEO has recently launched this initiative to support our teams, collaborating with people with varied needs in multiple areas. The first three months of this initiative will be information gathering, preparation of a complex care workplan, and handbook and identifying opportunities to integrate this initiative consistently across CVOEO programs. Our manager will begin by providing some limited technical assistance on high-need cases. In the first six months we will formalize the cross-program protocols and launch case review meetings while solidifying evidence-based practices. Agency and statewide trainings will also be developed. At year one we will have published our internal guidelines and begin to share lessons learned. Please contact Shannon and Travis if you have any questions and would like to begin high level technical assistance.

CVOEO Community Navigator Position

This is a new position for CVOEO, and we are launching this work in Addison County. We are so pleased that Zoraida has stepped into this role! Please see below the description of this position in Zoraida’s own words.

“As a Community Navigator, I will play a vital role connecting individuals and families with the resources, services and support they need to thrive. I will be a dedicated advocate and bridge between my community and the organizations, businesses and service providers that can help meet diverse needs. I will collaborate with local nonprofits, businesses, schools, and government agencies to build strong partnerships that create long term solutions, enhance community engagement and foster a network of support that uplifts everyone. "

Community Resource Center Moves Back to 228 North Winooski Avenue

As of Wednesday, October 1, the Community Resource Center (CRC) will relocate to 228 North Winooski Ave. Meal service begins at 9:30 am. Thanks to this incredible CRC team for adjusting so well and so professionally to their temporary space, and thanks to the Feeding Champlain Valley culinary team for continuing to provide great food service at the temporary site!

Office of Racial Equity & Community Inclusion (ORECI) Interpretation/Translation Graduation Ceremony

We attended ORECI’s wonderful graduation ceremony to celebrate CVOEO Community Ambassadors who passed their interpretation and translation certification. I am grateful to our team for continuing to center this work in our agency. CVOEO does not stand down -- but up! -- in the face of pressure and uncertainty.

CVOEO Addison County Open House and Celebration

Last Thursday, September 18th at 11 am, CVOEO hosted an Addison Open House to celebrate our new locations for our Addison Community Action, Feeding Champlain Valley Addison Food Hub, and Weatherization. These services are not new, they are next steps in reaching more neighbors and strengthening our commitment to Addison County and rural communities – and they are part of many other CVOEO services including Head Start, Crisis Fuel, volunteer tax assistance, financial education, microbusiness and more.

For the Open House, Representative Jubilee McGill wrote, “When I was finally on my own path to economic and housing security, it was Addison County’s Community Action office that opened the door for me. Back then, Laura Morse sat with me, she helped me navigate all the paperwork, made referrals with a warm handoff, and she connected me with the supports that completely changed the trajectory of my life. Without that crucial assistance, I would not be where I am today, as your neighbor, your advocate, and now as a Vermont State Representative.” And Senator Ruth Hardy wrote, “CVOEO has been serving the greater Addison County area for many years, working in collaboration with other vital community organizations to make sure that local individuals and families have the resources they need to make ends meet, weather a storm, and be healthy and stable in our community.”  

Learn more: https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/video/cvoeo-celebrates-food-bank-housing-programs-in-middlebury/11089576/

Feeding Champlain Valley’s Richford Food Shelf

Feeding Champlain Valley (FCV) has created additional space for the Richford Food Shelf to address the local need. The community has been pleased with CVOEO since taking on this vital food shelf! Thanks to all the work done by the FCV’s Healthy Roots Collaborative Team (Christine and Peter)!

Head Start Family Gathering

Thank you to everyone who made Saturday a beautiful event for our Head Start families! The weather was fantastic, and spirits were high. We had a total of twenty-three families from across our service area attend a family gathering. Among those twenty-three families, there were thirty-six adults and sixty-one children. The event could not have happened without the time and effort of twenty-seven staff and volunteers. Thank you, all!

Sandra and Bernie

Lastly, here is Sandra, our Head Start Director, introducing Senator Bernie Sanders at the Head Start Conference in DC! Awesome!