The Upper Valley Haven
Be Kind. Be Thoughtful. Be Helpful.
Adult Shelter Project
Adult Shelter News
On September 17, the Upper Valley Haven received wonderful news! The Kresge Foundation of Troy, MI issued the Haven a Challenge Grant of $250,000 IF we can raise the remaining $500,000 needed for the Adult Shelter by May 31, 2010.
The Kresge Foundation, headquartered in Troy, Michigan, is a $2.8 billion, private, national foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of nonprofit organizations in health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services. A large component of their mission is to help these organizations grow their philanthropic capacity through challenge grants that encourage community participation. In 2008 Kresge awarded 342 grants totaling $181 million.
“We’re thrilled by the vote of confidence Kresge is giving us,” said Rob Sennett, a member of the Haven’s board and its development committee chair. “It’s an opportunity to raise the sights of our current donors.” At the same time, he acknowledges, the grant presents a short-term challenge. “Even as we ask donors to give to the Kresge Challenge to help us complete the Adult Shelter Campaign, we also have to ask for their sustaining support of our $1.025 million operating budget.”
How can one help meet the Kresge Challenge and ensure that our operating needs are met? The time to make a difference is now. Please consider making an unrestricted gift to the Haven that can be used where the need is greatest, or stretch your giving this year by supporting both the Kresge Challenge and our operating budget.
How’s the project coming along? The new shelter is weathertight, with the roof, windows & doors installed. Currently, and over the next few weeks, the heating, electrical, & plumbing systems will be roughed in. After this is finished, the building will be insulated. The work is approximately 50 percent complete, so we are still on schedule to open the doors and begin operating in May 2010.
Would you like a tour? We welcome the opportunity to show you around the new shelter as well as our existing family shelter, and to discuss our plans for programming moving forward.
With each new gift we become closer to providing a vital resource for our community’s most marginalized, and to sustaining the Haven’s work. Thank you.
Adult Shelter Need Statement & Additional Facts
As a shelter that serves homeless Upper Valley families exclusively, the Haven is unable to provide shelter for adults and couples without children. Last year, 93 single women, 93 single men and 58 couples for a total of 302 individuals unaccompanied by children contacted the Haven for shelter and were referred to facilities 30 to 100 miles away. The actual number of individuals who need shelter is estimated to be even higher, as many people know we are a family-only facility. Currently, the closest adult shelter is 25 miles away in Claremont, New Hampshire.
To meet the rapidly increasing need for adult shelter in the Upper Valley of Vermont, the Upper Valley Haven is constructing a new shelter for single men and women, and couples without minor children. We expect many of our guests to be veterans due to the close proximity of the Veterans Administration Hospital.
The new shelter is being erected on our campus using the remaining portion of our original building (an addition that was built in 1988) and new construction. The building will contain two levels, one of which is a walk-out basement. The building will have a footprint of approximately 3,000 square feet, and will have 6,500 square feet of finished space, including the basement. The shelter will be LEED Certified and its doors will open for operation by May, 2010. For more details on the project please , or call 802-295-6500.
Support the Adult Shelter Project
Support the Upper Valley Haven Adult Shelter Project and make a positive impact on lives for years to come. Download a PDF file of the complete Case Statement with information about the proposed shelter.
Make a tax-deductible contribution by mailing your check to the Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Avenue, White River Junction, VT 05001 (mark it Adult Shelter Contribution). Or make a donation now (under "designation," mark your donation as Adult Shelter Contribution).
The Haven also accepts gifts of stock. For instructions on making gifts of stock, click here.
You can also make a pledge spread out over a number of years. To make a pledge—or to discuss any other contribution options— or call 802-295-6500.
The Upper Valley Haven, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) organization. Gifts are deductible to the full extent allowable under IRS regulations. Our Federal tax ID # is 03-0277908.
