Community Rises to Meet $200,000 Challenge

Community Rises to Meet $200,000 Challenge—Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation Issues Final $200,000 Match to Help Close COTS Capital Campaign for new Waystation Shelter

BURLINGTON, VT — COTS announced today that it has successfully met the $200,000 Challenge Grant from the Hoehl Family Foundation, thanks to an incredible outpouring of support from the community. In a powerful show of commitment to the mission of ending homelessness, donors rallied to meet the match, bringing the campaign one major step closer to the finish line.

Now, the Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation has stepped up with a new $200,000 challenge, encouraging the community to dig deep once more to close the campaign’s final funding gap.

This final $400,000 will help complete COTS’ campaign to renovate a building at 58 Pearl Street into an expanded Waystation adult overnight shelter. The campaign supports essential upgrades to shelter facilities, expanded year-round capacity, and critical services that help individuals move from homelessness to stable housing.

“This project is about much more than bricks and mortar, it’s about dignity, hope, and a fresh start,” said Jonathan Farrell, Executive Director of COTS. “Meeting this next $200,000 challenge will allow us to expand shelter, improve accessibility, and provide the wraparound services that empower people to rebuild their lives. We are so grateful to the Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation and to every donor who has helped us get to this point.”

The Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to long-term solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.

“We’re inspired by the life-changing work COTS does every day, helping individuals and families not just survive, but move forward into permanent housing,” said Tom Gauntlett, President of the Buffum Foundation Board. “We’re proud to support this campaign and hope this challenge will inspire others to help COTS cross the finish line.”

Once completed, the new Waystation will open in December 2025, creating a transformative resource for Burlington’s most vulnerable populations. In 2026, COTS plans to convert its existing Waystation into permanent affordable housing, further expanding its impact in the community.

To contribute to the campaign and help unlock the $200,000 Buffum Foundation match, visit our Waystation Campaign page.