Agency Details:

Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)

Our mission is to provide emergency shelter and support services to people who are marginally housed or facing the crisis of homelessness, and to advocate for permanent housing as the long-term solution to homelessness. 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.
  
  

Description:
We collaborate with state and local social-service organizations to ensure that everyone has access to shelter and the services needed resolve the issues they face. Specifically, COTS provides:

EMERGENCY SHELTER
We operate the Waystation (our overnight shelter for adults), two Family Shelters, and the Daystation (drop-in center for adults, open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 9 am to 5 pm).

SOCIAL SERVICES
We provide CASE MANAGEMENT to link families and individuals to support services (counseling, job training, housing assistance, etc.) so they can resolve the issues that led to their homelessness.
Through our HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM, we provide one-time emergency assistance to families and individuals who are on the verge of losing their homes, enabling them to avert homelessness.

PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
We operate three facilities in Burlington that provide subsidized housing to individuals: The Wilson Hotel, the Smith House, and St. John's Hall.



Contact people:


Mary Beth Jenssen, Volunteer Coordinator, (802) 864-7402 , ext. 124, (email) Beth Krueger, Grants Manager, (802) 864-7402 x119, (email)


Office fax number: (802) 864-2612

Address:


179 So. Winooski Ave. Burlington, VT 05402 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.cotsonline.org

Directions:

Our main office is in the red brick building on the northwest corner of South Winooski Ave. and King Street.   Nearest Bus Stop: Outside our door (corner of King & S. Winooski Ave.), 0 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

1. What target populations does your agency serve?
	COTS services families and individuals who are homeless, marginally housed, or in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
3. How many paid staff (FTE) do you have?
	34
4. Please indicate your organization type:
	Independent 501 (c)3
How many clients do you serve annually?
	Approximately 1,600
Volunteers for this agency can serve in these county(s):
	Chittenden County

Last updated on November 18, 2009