Homeless Awareness Day

Tomorrow, Thursday, January 18, 2004, all across Vermont we will come together for Homelessness Awareness Day to bear witness to the tragedy and continued struggle that is homelessness. 

On any given day in Vermont more than 2,000 households are homeless. 

In 2023, almost 8,000 Vermonters experienced homelessness including 2,000 children.

In Bennington County, over the past year, we have supported 863 people experiencing homelessness. This includes 296 children (17 years of age and younger), 39 people over the age of 65, and 16 United States Veterans. 

Tomorrow (1/18/24) at 5pm we will gather in downtown Bennington with flags that will represent these numbers, but more importantly, these flags will each represent a person, one of our very own, that has, or still is facing homelessness in our county, many right here in this town. We know them by face and name. We know their stories, and we have felt their fear, their sadness, their shame.  Please remember, these numbers reflect those that we have supported over the past year, some thankfully have been housed, but sadly others have not even been counted yet. 

Homelessness is not acceptable. It is a crisis; it is a tragedy; and it's preventable.  Homelessness is complex. Those who experience homelessness suffer; they feel shame and stigma; they are deprived, stressed, and scared. Many face challenges of access to food and clothing; many suffer from chronic illnesses.  These chronic illnesses do include mental health conditions and substance use disorders, but not all - Stereotyping must end! These individuals are overwhelmed and vulnerable. They are also kind, grateful, funny, smart, gracious, hopeful, and brave. The solutions to homelessness are complex as well, but they all start with a home – a place in the world to feel safe, to sleep, to have food, and to be warm. Housing is a basic human need, and we believe that housing should be a human right and accessible to all.

Tomorrow, and throughout the months of December and January, communities around the state also have held or will hold to pause and remember those who have died while experiencing homelessness. Over the last year, more than 50 people died while experiencing homelessness. Let’s not let our grief be for not. In this moment let us come together with a vow that we will only rise from here. Let’s honor those that we have lost by working for change. We know solutions and we have conviction. Let’s all join each other and do the work that’s needed to end this!!!!

In the last year across Vermont, almost 2,000 households were able to exit homelessness and move into permanent stable housing including 1,000 who were able to access subsidies that supported rental costs.  That does not end our work.  We need to continue to assist these households with on-going support so that they are successful, and do not live in fear of becoming homeless again.

This is no small feat, and there are many people that work every day with passion and dedication to support the truly lifesaving programs that offer shelter and food and administer financial assistance to move people into stable housing. 

Our work is not done. There are so many people that need us to come together now with strong support and solutions. Housing is a basic human need. It is dignity. It is health care. It saves lives, and it is deserved by all. 

To describe the data used for the flags:  These numbers represent the number of persons who experienced homelessness in our region between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.  These numbers are pulled from our Homelessness Management Information System and Coordinated Entry list. The numbers are a baseline and are always an undercount as they do not include many individuals including those served and supported through domestic & sexual violence programs, many who are unsheltered and unable to seek help through service providers in their region, and those who are at risk of homelessness.

Let’s all work together so that one day, hopefully soon, no man, woman or child will ever have to face the fear of or experience homelessness again.

Please remember… Homelessness is not acceptable. It is a crisis; it is a tragedy; and it's preventable.  Today might be Homeless Awareness Day, but for far too many…. This is every day!!!!

If you would like to join, and support us, please meet us at the Splash Pad on South Street (Across from The Clip Shop) just before 5pm.  We will meet there and walk over to the 4 corners for a brief time before reconvening at the Splash Pad for a couple of speeches before we wrap up at 6pm.  We know it will be cold out, but this is only an hour of what our homeless population mush deal with all day and night.

Thank you!

966 Weatherization Work

We are excited to announce that our 966 Main St location will be undergoing some much needed weatherization work.  Due to the type of work being performed, all guests and staff will not be able to remain in or enter the facility beginning at 9AM, November 7th, until the work has been completed Thursday afternoon, November 9th.  While we have made arrangements for all current guests during the project, we will unfortunately be unable to accept any new guests until Friday, November 9th, at 8am.  If you find yourself in need of a place to stay while this work is underway, please contact Economic Services at 211.  We appreciate your understanding and apologize for the additional inconvenience this may cause.

Beginners Guide to Budgeting in Vermont

Given the current economic situation for so many of us right now, this is a challenging article to write. Between rampant inflation, stagnant wages, and a lack of affordable housing, money is a touchy subject. For instance, Vermont’s current minimum wage is $13.18 per hour. If you make minimum wage in Bennington, work 40 hours per week, year round, your gross income would be $27,414.40. Using the traditional rule of thumb that your rent should be 30% of your income, that means that you’re housing budget for Bennington would be $685.36 per month. In the past month, I’ve seen one rental property in Bennington listed for below $1,000 per month (it was $950). Despite this obvious disparity, no matter your current economic situation, I think there will be at least one suggestion in here that might help you budget or consider money different. I hope that it will help

Use the 50/30/20 Rule: This is sort of the golden rule of personal finance. The idea is that 50% of your monthly income should cover your needs, 30% covers your wants, and 20% goes to savings, retirement, and paying off debt. Your “needs” includes rent, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, and child care. Your “wants” include travel, subscriptions, entertainment, and meals out.

The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out what your income is each month after taxes come out. Let’s go back to our minimum wage, full time employee as an example. If you’re making $27,414.40 per year, that equals about $2,010 after taxes come out. Based on this income, $1,005 would go toward your needs, $603 goes toward your wants, and $402 goes toward savings and debt repayment. Using this rule can be a good guide to make sure you’re “living within your means” but it can also be disheartening in this economy to see what your needs are.

Track Your Expenses: Start by recording all your income and expenses to understand where your money is going. What percentages of your income last month went to needs and wants? Were you able to set any aside in savings?

Prioritize Needs Over Wants: Ensure essential expenses like housing, utilities, and groceries are covered before allocating funds for discretionary items. The 50/30/20 rules is nice, but it can be flexible. Experts say to keep the 20% as solid as possible and instead divert funds from your want allotment to needs if necessary.

Use Cash Envelopes: If it worked for grandma, it can work for us, right? If you have trouble not spending your paycheck each week, try this instead: set that 50% aside into envelopes marked specifically for rent, utilities, etc. Want the modern approach to this? Set up a number of bank account equal to the number of funds you need. Each paycheck, you can set aside money for your various needs without worrying about overspending.

Cook at Home: Preparing meals at home is usually cheaper and healthier than dining out. If you’re working long hour and/or you have kids, this can be a major challenge. Be kind to yourself and do the best you can. Even if you can meal plan for a few meals per week to avoid getting takeout, you could end up eating healthier while saving money to make paying that skyrocketing heat bill easier.

Shop Around for the Right Bank: Vermont has some excellent local credit unions which typically offer accounts with no or small fees as well as modest returns on saved money. Some banks may waive ATM fees from outside ATMs or provide other services you find hepful. In Bennington, VSECU might be a good option for you.

Use Budgeting Apps: If you’re a phone addict or a tech junkie, explore some budgeting apps on your phone or laptop. You might find something that works well for you.

Regularly Review and Adjust: Revisit your budget after a month or two to assess your progress, make adjustments, and stay on track. If you mess up - that’s okay! Try not to get discouraged and instead figure out what you can do different next month. Maybe you can try cooking more meals at home or you can save money on food by clipping coupons. Keep trying new things to see what helps!

How to Furnish Your New Apartment for (Almost) Nothing

Congratulations! You finally saved enough money for first, last, and security deposit, and now you’re moving into your new apartment! Unfortunately, putting all of that money down just wiped out your savings, so now you’re facing the prospect of moving into your new place with some lawn chairs and a blow-up mattress. But not to worry because when we help our guests find permanent housing, we also help them furnish their new place with some of the things they need - all on a shoestring budget. So here are our absolute best tips for furnishing your new apartment for as low cost as possible.

Helping Hands of Bennington County - This is a wonderful Facebook page where you can post your specific needs as in “I’m looking for a full size mattress and two coffee tables” and local residents will see your post and respond if they have what you’re looking for. You may not get lucky, but this is a great first step for anyone looking to furnish a new apartment on a budget.

Curbside/Tag Sales - If you’re looking to furnish your new place May-September and you have a car, try to set aside a weekend with good weather to go tag-saling. For very little money, you may be able to find some excellent deals in town for some second-hand furniture. We recommend going down Main Street, Route 7, and Route 7a. If you don’t mind the miles on your vehicle, you might go as far as Manchester where you might find some great deals. Bonus Tip: One of the best times to go tag-saling and looking for curbside free furniture is when the spring semester ends for college students. Many students, facing the prospect of a long trip home, leave great quality furniture and appliances on the side of the road in late May.

FB Marketplace - If you’ve tried the first two options without luck, before you go to Walmart or start browsing on Amazon, check out the Facebook Marketplace. Do a little scrolling and see if you can find what you’re looking for. You may not, but take a look. The Marketplace can sometimes be a goldmine for reasonably priced second-hand furniture.

Why Can't Homeless People Just Get Jobs?

We often receive questions and comments from people in regards to homelessness and jobs. “Why don’t your guests just get a job?” “If you held a job fair for your residents, a lot of them could move out of homelessness.” While some homeless individuals may be able to work and hold down jobs, there are several reasons why many cannot. Here are some reasons why many homeless people don't or can't have jobs:

1.) Lack of stable housing and transportation: Homeless individuals often lack stable housing, which can make it difficult to maintain consistent employment. Without a stable address, it can be difficult to secure a job, as employers often require an address to contact potential employees. Without reliable transportation, many jobs are inherently inaccessible. Taxis are expensive and carpooling is great in theory but often difficult to establish.

2.) Mental health issues: Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD can make it difficult for homeless individuals to maintain employment. These issues can make it difficult to concentrate on work, communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors, and handle the stress of work. Roughly 50-60% of people who are chronically homeless struggle with some form of mental illness and as many as 25% have severe mental illness. You can learn more from this article here: www.psychologytoday.com

3.) Physical health issues: Many homeless individuals suffer from physical health issues such as chronic illnesses, injuries, and disabilities, which can make it difficult to work. Without access to medical care, these issues can become exacerbated, further limiting their ability to work.

4.) Lack of education and job skills: Many homeless individuals lack education and job skills, making it difficult for them to find employment. Without access to education and training programs, they may not have the necessary skills to hold down a job.

5.) Discrimination: Homeless individuals may face discrimination from employers, making it difficult to secure and maintain employment. This discrimination can be based on their homelessness, appearance, or other factors.

6.) Criminal records: Many people who struggle with homelessness also have criminal records. In many places, simply existing as a homeless person can be a criminal offense. Many people who have a criminal background are unable to get jobs or housing - the root of their homelessness in the first place. Finally, many people who struggle with homelessness also struggle with substance abuse and addiction which can lead to a whole host of criminal charges.

Now, having said that, it’s important to address that there’s actually a big misconception with the premise for this article. Many of our guests who stay at our shelters do in fact have jobs. At any given time, more than half of our residents are typically employed. As the housing crisis stretches on, inflation rises, and the cost of housing increases while wages stagnate, more and more people who have gainful employment still struggle with housing insecurity.

7 Ways to Handle a Difficult Landlord in Bennington

Slumlord, a derogatory term for a landlord who typically charges high rent and does little to improve or even maintain their rental properties, has become a more common term over the last few years. In 2020, the cost of building materials, along with just about everything else, skyrocketed. This cost lead to a dramatic rise in the cost of housing. Couple this with the fact that most new housing developments are aimed at the wealthy and vacation rentals, there is a sudden lack of properties available and the ones that are around, have balooned in price. Finally, since 2017, the cost of apartment rentals has increases by 18.97% while the average wage has increased by just 5% over that same period, means that renters have fewer options and less cash in the bank to be able to move - even if they could find an apartment. All of these factors can contribute to making moving apartments difficult - if not impossible. so, with all of that in mind, what can you, a renter, do if you find yourself paying rent to a difficult landlord? Here are our best tips to make the most of an unideal situation.

Follow Lease Terms: First and foremost, ensure that you're following the terms of your lease agreement. By adhering to your responsibilities as a tenant, you strengthen your position in any disputes with your landlord. If the worst case scenario happens, this will give you firmer legal ground to stand on.

Request Repairs in Writing: No handshake deals or phone call requests. If there are maintenance or repair issues, submit requests in writing - preferably emails which have a timestamp and can be printed out as proof. This provides a documented record of the issue and your request for resolution - and this type of documentation also can help your landlord stay organized. Giving them they benefit of the doubt, they may simply be overwhelmed by requests and can easily forget that phone call you made last week.

Document Everything: While we’re at it, keep a record of all communication with your landlord, including emails, text messages, and phone calls. This can be useful later on, even if at the time it may seem unimportant.

Stay Professional: Just like we all learned (or should have) in Kindergarten, treat others the way you’d want to be treated. It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives but do your best to remember that your landlord is a person too and likely has all kinds of stresses they are dealing with everyday. Maintain a professional and respectful demeanor, even if your landlord is difficult. This can help keep the situation from escalating further. If you lose your temper on your landlord, they may retaliate - unjust as it may be - by ignoring or delaying acting on your requests for help.

Be Flexible: Try to find compromises when possible. If you're facing financial difficulties or other challenges, discuss potential solutions that could benefit both parties. Especially here in Vermont, some landlords may be inclined to give you a discount on rent for helping with lawncare, snow removal, or property maintenance.

Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with Vermont tenant rights and local rental laws. This knowledge can empower you to stand up for yourself if your landlord is not abiding by the law - and to inform you on when legal action may be necessary.

Consider Legal Advice: If the situation becomes particularly challenging or if you feel like your landlord has violated the law, you might want to consult with a legal professional who specializes in landlord-tenant issues. Here in Vermont, Vermont Legal Aid is an excellent resource and you may be eligible to receive free legal council.

Top 7 Websites to Find Housing in Bennington

Though Bennington - and most of America - is suffering from a chronic lack of affordable housing, there are still housing opportunities to be found. With so few housing opportunities available, one of the best ways to secure housing is to find newly available apartments quickly. But where should you look? We investigated twelve different websites, spoke to our case managers who routinely sleuth the internet in search for housing opportunities for our guests, and boiled them all down to the top 4 best places to look for housing in Bennington Vermont.

*Note of Caution: Unfortunately, like much of the rest of the internet nowadays, you must use caution when seeking housing opportunities online. There has been a major surge in rental scams in the last few years. Make sure you know the warning signs so you don’t become the victim of someone’s scam. Learn more from our previous blog post here.

Tier 1

Rent.com, ForRent.com, and Apartments.com - I have three websites are both very similar in design and approach. These are your more traditional housing rental websites and they are the ones most frequently used in our area. Landlords and housing corporations tend to favor one or the other so you’ll typically find unique housing opportunities listed for each one. They where you will find more traditional apartment listings and while they are not immune from scam listings, they are less common.

Tier 2

Hale Resources and Shires Housing - Hale and Shires are two of the largest housing rental corporations in South Western Vermont. There websites only include their own listing so of all the options listed here, they are the only ones you can count on to be 100% safe from scams. However, listing only their own rentals means you’ll only see a narrow swath of what’s available to rent in the area.

Tier 3

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist - These two websites are attractive to renters because they typically have the largest number of rental listings for Bennington. For the landlords, posting listings here is straightforward and easy. These places are more likely to include offerings from homeowners looking to rent out a single bedroom or an in-law suite which could be an affordable and money-friendly living situation depending on your needs. However, these Tier 3 offerings are also the least regulated and are the most common rental websites where you will encounter scammers. If you look for rentals here, be sure to know how to spot the signs for false listings so you don’t inadvertently give your hard-earned money to someone who has no apartment to give you.

What's With the Surge of Litter in Bennington?

If you’ve walked around town, spent time in the Rotary Park also known as People's Park, or spent any amount of time on any number of Facebook community groups for Bennington, you’ve probably noticed some new concerns that have increased in the last couple of months. There has been a surge of reports of litter, including human waste and used needles. People's Park was  closed for a week at the end of June while the trail was cleaned up. So what’s going on?

If you’ve followed our blog, you know that Vermont’s hotel voucher program, which, at the beginning of May, was housing nearly 2,000 Vermonters who struggle with housing insecurity, were at risk of becoming homeless due to the Vermont Legislature not renewing the program. Vermont residents who were housed by the program were slated to lose their housing over the course of three waves. In a last minute effort, the Vermont Legislature renewed the program to extend until March 2024, but not before the first wave of Vermonters lost their housing. In Bennington county, more than 60 residents were put onto the street. This sudden and dramatic increase in homelessness had sadly predictable results. Bennington currently has no public restrooms available 24/7 and no public safe needle disposal boxes. Our director, Chloe Viner Collins, raised these concerns during Bennington Selectboard meetings in May and June and through both Project Alliance and the Housing Crisis Subcommittee. BCCH is currently taking a lead in trying to secure access to 24/7 restrooms and safe needle disposal boxes - as well as access to a 24/7 drinking water fountain to improve the safety of Bennington and the cleanliness of our public areas. 

Call to Action

Wondering how you can help? There are many ways! You could join our monthly Newsletter to stay up to date on BCCH and homelessness in Bennington. You can attend a Bennington Select Board Meeting to voice your concerns, or you can contact your elected representatives directly here.

Top 7 Ways To Avoid Housing Rental Scams in Bennington

Bennington may be a quaint, New England town in many regards, but it’s not immune to a growing trend of housing rental scams. With affordable housing so hard to find already, the possibility of scams only makes a difficult situation even more frustrating. At BCCH, we are constantly looking for housing opportunities to help our guests find permanent housing. Our case managers know the red flags to look out for when you’re seeking housing. If you are looking for an apartment to rent in Bennington, here are the top five ways you can keep yourself - and your hard-earned money - safe.

Show Me the Pictures - One immediate red flag is if the listing includes no pictures, just a couple of pictures, or if the pictures are poor qualify. A common tactic of scammers is to take pictures of homes that are not for sale from website such as Zillow and then posting the pictures as though they are of an apartment. Our case managers suggest Googling the apartment’s address first to make sure it really exists.

Money Up Front - Be cautious of rentals that ask you for money up from. It’s common practice for some landlords to ask for a $30 fee to cover the cost of a credit check, but you should not have to pay an application fee. You should not give the landlord any money at all until you’ve completed the application and seen the apartment in person.

Tour the Apartment in Person - If your prospective landlord will not let you tour the apartment or will only show you the outside, that should be a big red flag. Insist that you see the interior and if they do not, walk away.

Watch Out for Red Flag Payment Types - Another thing to watch out for is how the landlord wants you to pay. If they ask you to pay with cash, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, these are payment methods that are difficult to track and trace and are therefore the preferred payment method for scammers. Insist that you pay via check, or an established online payment method such as PayPal or Venmo. If they refuse, they may not be legitimate.

Check That Gift Horse’s Teeth - Another common technique for housing rental scams is to list rental opportunities that are significantly cheaper than the average for the area. The psychology behind this is that people who are desperate may be willing to overlook more obvious red flags in order to get a perceived great deal. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Put on Your Detective Hat - Look up the landlord's contact details, search for reviews, and cross-reference the property's information using reliable online sources. If possible, ask for references from previous tenants. Legitimate landlords should be open to providing such information, while scammers may hesitate or provide false details. This should be easy to do for housing corporations though may be difficult when renting rooms or in-law suites from individual homeowners.

Beware Less Regulated Websites - Some websites are more trustworthy than others. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are less regulated than other sites and are easy to list rentals for landlords, making them a favorite platform for scammers. These sites are more likely to offer housing opportunities from homeowners, such as individual rooms or in-law suites but be cautious when looking on these sites.

Join Us For Our Annual Meeting!

Please join us online on Tuesday July 25th at 6:30pm as Chloe Viner Collins, executive director of BCCH, as she reviews the past year, looks at the year ahead, and answers questions from the audience.

If you’d like to join, you’ll find the link below!

Chloe will be leading the meeting for both Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless’ board of directors as well as the general public. Chloe will review statistics for the past year and present a budget for the upcoming year which the board will vote on. Additionally, Chloe will be answering questions from anyone who would like to join. With so much happening in the last few months around homelessness and housing insecurity in Bennington, we hope you will join so you can get the latest information, learn what BCCH is working on to address some of the biggest issues our community faces, and to get your questions answered.

Recently, Vermont’s housing voucher program was slated to end, with hundreds of Vermont residents in Bennington county alone slated to be kicked onto the streets this summer. The voucher program was extended but not before hundreds of Vermonters were made homeless. Currently, BCCH is leading the way in organizing a coalition of area non-profits to come together and create a solution for when the voucher programs ends for good next year.

Additionally, BCCH has been in headlines recently as Chloe has been reporting out on homelessness issues at Bennington select board meeting, culminating in the town voting to set aside $50,000 in funding to be earmarked for homelessness assistance. Finally, BCCH has many new developments over the last few months including a new family shelter and a series of new grants. If you have questions related to any of these topics, we hope you’ll join us on July 25th via Zoom and ask.

We hope to see you there!

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87623749384?pwd=QjloL2pjckg4Tk41alQ3WGhyN29xQT09

What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur during childhood. These experiences can have a significant impact on a child's physical, emotional, and cognitive development, and may have long-lasting effects on their health and well-being throughout their lifespan.

ACEs can be categorized into three main types: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Abuse includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, while neglect includes physical and emotional neglect. Household dysfunction can include substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, or incarceration of a household member.

The more ACEs that a person has, the more likely they are to have a range of negative impacts on their health and well-being as an adult. Having a high ACE score can lead to an increased risk for physical health problems such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. They may also have increased rates of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction. Adults with high ACE scores may also struggle with interpersonal relationships and have difficulty maintaining stable employment and financial stability.

Additionally, ACEs can impact cognitive development and academic achievement. Children who experience ACEs may have difficulty with attention, learning, and memory, and may struggle in school as a result. These difficulties can - and often do - carry over into adulthood.

Preventing ACEs is crucial for promoting healthy development and well-being in children. This can be accomplished through a variety of interventions, including parent education and support, early childhood education and care, and trauma-informed care. Addressing the root causes of ACEs, such as poverty, social inequality, and systemic violence, can help prevent ACEs and promote the healthy development of children. One of the most critical supports that can counteract the negative impact of ACEs is for a child to have just one stable, healthy relationship with an adult who cares about them.

If you’d like to learn more about ACEs - or if you’d like to take the short ACE test yourself to see what your score is - check out this website here: https://stopabusecampaign.org/take-your-ace-test/

Covid Ends but Problems Remain

On May 11, the CDC announced that the Covid-19 emergency has ended in the US. More than three years after the emergency was first announced, Covid affected the entire world, had lasting devasting impacts on the economy, and according to the CDC, resulted in more than 1.1 million deaths in the US alone. With the emergency declared over, a slew of non-profit funding opportunities are vanishing as well. Let’s take a look at what’s going away, what the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless is doing about it, and where we still need help.

While the pandemic ending is a significant moment for the country and a milestone for how far we’ve come, it’s also bringing an end to funding that has benefitted many people. The funding that is drying up that most affects BCCH and the housing-insecure residents of Bennington County can be summed up intp three categories.

Food - The Vermont Foodbank had been providing food to BCCH free of cost for the last couple years. However, now that funds and resources are ending, they are renewing their fee-based services and BCCH cannot afford the thousands of dollars required to continue receiving regular food supplies from them.

Grants - BCCH was fortunate enough to receive a grant that provided discretionary funds to help us navigate Covid-19 outbreaks at the shelter. Because people who struggle with homelessness also struggle disproportionately compared to the general population with other underlying health issues - and because the vaccination rate of homeless people is as much as 25% lower - these funds were critical in helping us to manage several outbreaks during the pandemic. This funding helped us purchase cleaning supplies, gloves, masks, testing kits, plastic sheeting, and even outdoor patio furniture to facilitate social distancing. Even with all of this, we still sadly lost one of our residents to Covid in 2022.

Motel Voucher Program - Perhaps the best known form of Covid-era homelessness funding has been the hotly debated Motel Voucher Program which is set to expire in July. About 2,500 Vermonters who have been living in hotels across the state, many here in Bennington. will soon find themselves on the street when this program ends - all of this as Vermont’s housing crisis has become so severe that the US Dept of Housing and Urban Development recently revealed that Vermont has the second highest rate of homelessness in the country behind only California. While this isn’t money that directly benefitted BCCH, it has been a vital safety net for homeless residents and has provided a crucial relief valve as we’ve struggled to help record numbers of financially struggling Vermonters.

So, in the face of historic homelessness and dwindling funding, what is BCCH doing? Quite a lot, actually. BCCH is a key member of numerous workgroups working to address the problem including Project Alliance, the Housing Crisis Committee, and the Housing Solutions Committee. We’re exploring numerous options to be able to increase our own shelter capacity. At the time of this writing, we’ve applied for more than 50 grants since the start of the calendar year and have received a few, including a $4,000 mini grant from Vermonters Feeding Vermonters that will help us acquire food from local farms this summer and will partially offset the loss of food from the Vermont Foodbank. We’ve secured additional funding from the Office of Economic Opportunity, expanding our number of case managers to provide more dedicated and personalized services to our residents. We’ve worked hard to increase our accessibility within the community over the last few months, including sending out a monthly newsletter, posting more regularly on social media, and writing informative and educational articles on our website, including this one! And finally, we’ve also launched a GoFundMe to try to secure the operational funds we need to continue serving Bennington County.

Despite all of this, we are still facing a significant budgetary shortfall. If you’re interested in helping, there are a number of things you can do. First and foremost, you could make a donation to either our GoFundMe or directly through our website on the linked image above. You could also help by donating home cooked food, cleaning supplies, or one of the many items from our wishlist. We are also always open to volunteers - with a major need being someone who can help drive residents to appointments. As always, thank you for your support and interest in helping the many Vermonters in Bennington County facing homelessness now.

What is Generational Poverty?

Generational poverty refers to a cycle of poverty that persists across multiple generations within a family or community. It occurs when individuals and families are trapped in a cycle of low income, limited access to resources, and inadequate education and training opportunities. Generational poverty can have numerous negative impacts on individuals, including limited opportunities, poor health outcomes, and social and emotional difficulties.

One of the most significant negative impacts of generational poverty is limited access to opportunities. People living in generational poverty often lack the resources and support to pursue education or training programs that could help them secure higher-paying jobs or advance in their careers. As a result, they may remain stuck in low-paying, unstable jobs or struggle to find employment altogether. This can make it difficult to break out of the cycle of poverty and create a better life for themselves and their families.

Generational poverty can also have a negative impact on health outcomes. People living in poverty often lack access to quality healthcare, nutritious food, and safe living conditions. This can lead to a range of health problems, including chronic diseases, mental health issues, and developmental delays. These health problems can further exacerbate poverty by making it difficult to work or attend school, leading to missed opportunities for advancement.

Finally, generational poverty can impact social and emotional well-being. Children growing up in poverty may experience stress, anxiety, and depression due to the instability and uncertainty of their living conditions. They may also struggle to form positive relationships with peers or adults, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. These social and emotional difficulties can make it difficult to succeed academically or professionally, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Think of your life as being like a spider web. For instance, if your car stops running because it needs an expensive repair, it’s like a connection on your spider web comes undone. If you’ve not been affected by generational poverty, it’s likely that you have a job where you may have some paid time off you can use while you fix your car. You may have a little money in the bank to help pay for the repair. You have a AAA membership and they are able to tow your car to a nearby mechanic. After spending a few hours dealing with your broken car, you call your mom who lives nearby and she’s able to drive you to work so you only have to use a few hours of personal time. If you’ve not been impacted by generational poverty, your spider web is more likely to have lots of connections.

However, if you grew up in a family affected by generational poverty, this common problem may play out very differently. When you’re car won’t start, you call your boss. Your boss is understanding and lets you take the day off but your entry level, manual labor job doesn’t include time off. You’re living paycheck to paycheck and so you don’t have money for the repair - let alone have a AAA membership. You’d call your mom but she doesn’t have a vehicle of her own. You call a few more people and no one is able to lend you money for the repair and your job is too far away for any of your friends to drive you. If you don’t find a way to get to work in a day or two, you might lose the job altogether. With so few connections on your spider web, when one connection fails, the whole web is in danger of collapsing.

Here at BCCH, generational poverty is something that has had a major impact on many of our guests. However, understanding generational poverty is the first step in learning how to break its cycle.

The Benefits of Gratitude

Though it may seem like we can’t always agree on a lot, I’m willing to bet that most of us would agree that the last few years has been pretty stressful. Did you know that the simple act of saying “thank you,” regularly can help with that? Actually, according to Postive Psychology, gratitude can benefit you in a variety of ways including:

• increased happiness and positive mood

• more satisfaction with life

• less materialistic

• less likely to experience burnout

• better physical health

• better sleep

• less fatigue

• lower levels of cellular inflammation

• greater resiliency

• encourages the development of patience, humility, and wisdom

We could certainly use more of these things in our lives and so I want to take a moment to thank some of the people and organizations who make a tremendous difference in the lives of the 200+ Bennington County residents experiencing homelessness who we help every year.

1.) Our Staff: First and foremost, we want to thank our wonderful staff: Aiden, Bill, Deza-Rae, Ethan, Sarah, Shane, and Val. You keep our residents safe, create a respectful environment, and keep the shelter running 24/7 365 days a year. You help create a warm and inviting home for people who would not have one otherwise. Thank you for the great work you do.

2.) Bennington County: We are so grateful for the kind, generous, and caring people of Bennington County and beyond! Whether you’re one of our email subscribers, you’ve contributed money to our GoFundMe campaign or you’ve given one of the many physical goods we need to keep running, you’ve donated your time, or you’re one of the voters who help approve our funding in the town budget, we couldn’t do the work we do without you.

3.) Our Network Partners: We are so fortunate to have an amazing array of network partners with whom we partner every day to provide comprehensive wrap-around services to the people of Bennington County who are struggling. Among the MANY agencies with whom we work, we want to thank Greater Bennington Community Services (GBCS), Turning Point, BROC, UCS, Economic Services Division (ESD), Goodwill, Hireability, Creative Workforce Solutions (CWS), and PAVE.

4.) OEO and the State of Vermont: Thank you for providing the bulk of our funding so that we can serve our community. We appreciate your trust, guidance, and the opportunity you’ve given to us.

5.) Bennington County's Interfaith Community: From the individual support and guidance they provide to our residents, the delicious food the Second Congregational Church brings to our residents every Sunday, the salad and tasty sweets made by Rabbi Jarah and the Jewish community that fed 113 hungry Vermonters, and even their monetary donations, including a generous one we recently received by the First Congressional Church, we are so fortunate to have you here! Thank you so much to everyone in the Bennington County Faith community for all you do to help your neighbors. We see you and we appreciate you.

6.) Bennington County Voters: Every year, the town of Bennington votes on whether to appropriate funds to help keep BCCH running. In a time in this country when it often feels like voters can’t agree on what color grass is, we are touched and humbled that more than 60% of Bennington residents voted to keep funding our homeless shelters. Thank you SO much for coming out to the polls and for supporting us.

7.) Our Residents: Last but certainly not least, we want to thank the Bennington County residents whom we serve. Your resilience, hard work, and determination in the face of adversity are an inspiration to us all.

What Can You Do to End Homelessness?

Homelessness is a growing problem across America and in Bennington County. While it may seem overwhelming, there are many ways that you can help to fight homelessness in your community. Here are a few ideas:

1.) Volunteer: One of the most direct ways to help fight homelessness is to volunteer your time and resources. There are many organizations and shelters that rely on volunteers to help provide services to those in need and BCCH is one of them!. You can offer your time to cook meals, help clean or landscape, or provide transportation to individuals in need.

2.) Donate: Homeless shelters and organizations that work to fight homelessness like BCCH rely on donations to provide services to those in need. Consider donating money, clothing, or other items to organizations that work to fight homelessness in your community. Because we operate a family shelter, in addition to our individuals emergency shelter, we are also in need of gently used furniture, appliances, and home goods.

3.) Advocate: Homelessness is often a result of larger societal issues such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, and inadequate access to healthcare. By advocating for policies and programs that address these issues, individuals can help to fight homelessness in their community.

4.) Educate Yourself: Learn more about the root causes of homelessness and the resources available in your community to help those in need. By understanding the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness, you can better understand how to help.

5.) Support Affordable Housing: One of the most important ways to fight homelessness is to support affordable housing initiatives in your community. Across the US, and especially in Bennington County Vermont, there is a widespread shortage of affordable housing which has ballooned housing insecurity over the last few years. Work with local organizations and elected officials to promote policies and programs that increase access to affordable housing for all.

Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to solve. By volunteering, donating, advocating, educating yourself, and supporting affordable housing initiatives, you can help to fight homelessness in your community and make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. If you would like to learn more about how you can help, please reach out to our director, Chloe Collins, at director@bcchvt.org

Partner Spotlight: Goodwill

This week, we’re highlighting another one of our amazing network partners, Goodwill of Bennington! Located at 215 North St in Bennington, Goodwill is best known for reselling used goods. We often purchase furniture and supplies for our shelters here! However, did you know that Goodwill also offers a huge range of employment services?

A recent expansion of the Bennington Goodwill location in 2022 provided spaces for Mission Services, the department of Goodwill that is dedicated to helping job seekers find employment. With this new expansion, the Bennington Goodwill location can now offer local residents a variety of employment services such as assistance applying for jobs, help with writing resumes and cover letters, and practice to improve their interviewing skills. Additionally, Goodwill offers a variety of training programs including certificate programs in Customer Service and Custodial Work. They can also provide training in the “soft skills” that are crucial to maintaining employment, which includes things like workplace etiquette, proper attire for the workplace, and getting along with coworkers. Most of these services are provided for free!

If you have any interest in learning more about the services that Goodwill provides, check out the website for their Southern Vermont locations at https://www.goodwill-berkshires.org/programs/. If you would like to sign up for a class, you can reach out to Kathy Anker at (413) 442-0061 x14.

This time of year, we’re also doing a lot of spring cleaning! I know we certainly are. Don’t forget that in addition to BCCH, Goodwill also accepts a wide range of donations including lightly used clothing, children’s toys, and furniture. Thank you for all you do, Goodwill!

Why Do Some People Become Addicted to Drugs?

For well over a hundred years now, the prevailing wisdom has been that certain drugs are so chemically addictive that if you use them repeatedly, your addiction to them is guaranteed. There's a now-famous PSA from the 80s about a rat that chooses cocaine over food and water consistently until it dies. With the opioid epidemic raging across America, it's crucial to understand why some people become so addicted to drugs. However, new perspectives are changing how we think about drug addiction.

In his book "Chasing the Scream," Johann Hari explores the complex social and psychological factors that contribute to drug addiction. According to Hari, addiction is not solely a result of an individual's biology or personal choices, but is instead deeply connected to social and environmental factors.

One of the key ideas presented in "Chasing the Scream" is the notion that addiction is often a response to deep emotional pain and trauma. Many individuals who struggle with addiction have experienced significant trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or violence. Drugs can provide temporary relief from the pain and distress associated with these experiences, creating a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break.

Additionally, Hari argues that social and economic factors play a significant role in drug addiction. He notes that individuals who live in poverty or who experience social isolation and disconnection may be more vulnerable to addiction, as drugs can provide a sense of community, connection, and purpose. This is particularly true for marginalized communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, such as communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.

Hari also challenges the traditional understanding of addiction as a disease, arguing that addiction is not solely a result of chemical imbalances in the brain but is instead a response to social and environmental factors. He notes that many individuals who struggle with addiction have underlying issues, such as mental illness or trauma, that are often overlooked or untreated.

If the most predictive indicators of addiction are trauma and isolation, we can use that knowledge to make our society one that is more connected and that has more resources for addressing and overcoming trauma. Remember that rat from the 80s PSA? A Canadian Psychologist looked at it and noticed something interesting: the rat was alone in its cage with nothing except food, water, and cocaine. That psychologist recreated the experiment but this time, made a rat utopia. The rat had lots of yummy food, lots of fun toys, and lots of other rats with whom to interact. The end result? Few of the rats used the cocaine and none of them used it compulsively. As Johann Hari says, “addiction isn’t a disease. Addiction is an adaptation. It’s not you—it’s the cage you live in.”

If you’d like to learn more, check out this Ted Talk from Johann Hari himself: www.youtube.com

How Do Homeless Shelters Benefit the Community?

Homeless shelters provide a vital service to communities by offering a safe and supportive environment for those who are experiencing homelessness. Here are some positive impacts that homeless shelters can have on their communities:

1.) Meeting Basic Needs: Homeless shelters provide individuals with the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing. This helps to ensure that individuals are able to maintain their health and well-being, and reduces the risk of illness and injury.

2.) Providing Support: Homeless shelters often offer a range of services, such as counseling, job training, and medical care. This can help individuals to address the root causes of their homelessness and to develop the skills and resources needed to become self-sufficient.

3.) Reducing Crime: Homeless shelters can help to reduce crime in their communities by providing a safe and supportive environment for individuals who might otherwise engage in criminal activity in order to survive.

4.) Building Community: Homeless shelters can serve as a hub for community engagement and outreach. They offer opportunities for volunteers to get involved and contribute to the well-being of their community. Additionally, homeless shelters often collaborate with other community organizations to provide a range of services and resources to those in need. BCCH is fortunate enough to have many community partners with whom we collaborate.

5.) Improving Public Health: Homeless shelters can help to improve public health by reducing the spread of communicable diseases and providing medical care to those who might otherwise go without.

Homeless shelters have a positive impact on their communities by meeting basic needs, providing support, reducing crime, building community, and improving public health. They serve as an important resource for those experiencing homelessness and help to strengthen the fabric of communities by bringing people together to address a pressing social issue. If you live in Bennington County and are experiencing housing insecurity, please reach out to us at (802)442-2424.

The Benefits of Volunteering

Have you ever thought about volunteering? Volunteering for a non-profit organization can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Here are five great reasons you should consider volunteering for a non-profit:

1.) Personal Growth: Volunteering provides an opportunity for personal growth and development. It allows individuals to learn new skills, develop new interests and hobbies, and gain confidence. It also helps individuals to develop interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership.

2.) Social Connections: Volunteering provides an opportunity to meet new people and make new social connections. It allows individuals to form relationships with like-minded individuals who share the same values and interests. Volunteering can also help individuals to expand their social network and build new friendships.

3.) Sense of Purpose: Volunteering can provide a sense of purpose and meaning to an individual’s life. It allows individuals to give back to their community and contribute to a cause that they are passionate about. Volunteering can also provide a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from helping others.

4.) Professional Development: Volunteering can provide valuable professional development opportunities. It allows individuals to gain new skills and experiences that can be useful in their careers. It can also provide an opportunity to network with professionals in their field of interest. Volunteering makes for a great addition to any resume and can sharing your experience in an interview may set you apart from other applicants.

5.) Improved Mental Health: Volunteering has been shown to have a positive impact on an individual’s mental health. It can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Volunteering can also provide a sense of purpose and belonging that can improve an individual’s overall well-being.

Volunteering for a non-profit organization can be a rewarding and enriching experience for individuals. It provides an opportunity for personal growth, social connections, sense of purpose, professional development, and improved mental health. If you think that you’d be interested in volunteering for the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, we’d love to talk to you! Between our various shelters, we can always use help cleaning, maintaining the property, and providing rides for guests to important appointments. If you’d like to learn more about volunteering, reach out to our director, Chloe Collins, at director@bcchvt.org

New Family Shelter is Open!

After years of planning, building, and collaborating, our new family shelter is now open! Located just a couple of blocks from the heart of downtown Bennington, our family shelter hosts nine apartments, including one with handicap access. The apartments are within a recently renovated historical building and we’re so thrilled with how they look.

Although our new family shelter just opened a few weeks ago, all nine apartments are already filled. Better yet, there is an overlap with our old family shelter and for the rest of the winter, we are able to offer expanded housing to Bennington County’s most vulnerable residents. We are so thrilled to offer this expanded housing, especially after December when we were turning away 3-5 people per day who were seeking beds.

While we are able to offer expanded housing through the end of winter, our current housing crisis causing this increased need shows no sign of stopping - and neither are we. BCCH is actively exploring multiple avenues to permanently expand our housing capacity, but we can’t do it alone. If you would like to help, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today.