A Look Back on 2025: Reflections from COTS’ Executive Director
The New Year invites both reflection and hope. It is a time to look back on what we accomplished and to look ahead to what is possible. As we reflect on the past year, we are struck first and foremost by the scale of what our community achieved together.
In January, we opened a low-barrier seasonal Warming Station that provided a safe and welcoming place for people to rest each night. While we planned for 30 beds, we consistently served 40 people nightly and ultimately welcomed 191 individuals there. For many, the Warming Station was more than warmth. It was safety, dignity, and stability during the coldest months of the year.
Throughout the year, our housing and support teams strengthened and expanded their work across the community. Our Family Supportive Housing team reorganized internally and now supports more than 70 families. Our Retention team grew and made meaningful strides in helping tenants remain stably housed. Our Housing Navigation team expanded as well, and together we housed 86 households during our fiscal year ending September 30. This progress came despite significant challenges faced by our guests and ongoing federal constraints beyond our control. Our permanent housing programs remained fully utilized, and positive community activities continued to take root.
One of the most celebrated accomplishments of the year was the creation of a brand new Waystation and the expansion of our year-round shelter capacity from 36 to 55 beds. The new space includes a consultation room, kitchen facilities, more private living areas, and full accessibility. Construction began just 12 days after the Warming Station closed and was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
Our Daystation experienced record levels of use, with 700 unique visitors in November alone. The staff there rose to meet increasingly complex needs, supported by strong partnerships and the addition of a dedicated consultation room for service providers. Our Family Shelter continued to serve families with steadiness and care during a particularly challenging year. Smith House quietly and effectively supported many individuals as they transitioned from shelter to housing while building essential life skills.
Alongside programmatic growth, our organization remained financially strong thanks to the overwhelming kindness and generosity of our community. Community support was evident through well-attended public events including our Annual Meeting, the COTS Walk, Back to School Bonanza, Waystation ribbon cutting, and Phonathon.
This year, we began the process of strategic planning by gathering input from staff, guests, tenants, donors, volunteers, and community partners. Looking ahead, that strategic plan will guide our work over the next three years. It focuses on strengthening our core by supporting staff, telling our story, and improving internal systems. It aims to reduce pressure by creating more pathways to housing, enhancing the client experience across services, and deepening key partnerships. It also commits us to building for the future by fully utilizing our program spaces, increasing funding stability, and remaining open to new possibilities.
Planning continues for the next phase of The Wilson, including adding new first floor housing units in the former Waystation space, and creating a new shared kitchen, and community space.
Key community partnerships continue to grow as well. Our formal collaboration with Turning Point at our adult programs has launched and will expand in the new year. Community Health Centers and UVM Health are now providing regular on-site services, strengthening access to care. At the state level, we are actively engaged in advocacy efforts focused on improving shelter systems and expanding mental health, health care, and substance use supports where they are most needed.
The world around us can feel unsteady, and the challenges facing our community continue to grow. Yet this year has shown what is possible through compassion, collaboration, and commitment. We have much to be proud of as we look back on 2025, and much to look forward to in 2026. We are deeply grateful to our staff, partners, donors, and community members who make this work possible, and we look ahead with resolve and hope.
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