Brattleboro’s Seasonal Overflow Shelter to open 11/12/18

BRATTLEBORO, VT – Brattleboro’s Seasonal Overflow Shelter will open Monday, November 12th.  After a successful first season located at the upper dormitory on the Winston Prouty campus (formerly the Austine School for the Deaf) last year, Groundworks’ staff and Board are grateful for the opportunity to return to the space.

This season will operate the same as last season: anyone seeking shelter will have to register for a bed through Groundworks Drop-In Center (at 60 South Main Street) between 9am and noon.  Access to the shelter will only be permitted through transportation provided by Groundworks. The shuttle will leave by 5:40pm from the Drop-In Center, and all guests of the shelter will be transported back to the Drop-In Center by 7am.  There will be no access to the shelter during the day, and walking up to the shelter will not be permitted.

The Seasonal Overflow Shelter continues to be a community-wide effort, operated by Groundworks Collaborative, with support from the Brattleboro Retreat, Winston Prouty, local faith communities, scores of volunteer meal teams, and generous funders.

“This program is the area’s last safety net for the most vulnerable members of our community,” says Josh Davis, Groundworks Collaborative’s Executive Director.

The primary goal of the shelter, which serves adults only, is to provide easily accessible shelter to prevent the possibility that someone could freeze to death.  Capacity will remain at 33 beds.

Groundworks will continue to staff the shelter throughout the season, with two staff on each shift, and two shifts per evening.  This year the shelter welcomes Laura Chapman as the Coordinator, and Eben Hilpert as the Team Leader. We are also thrilled to welcome back three staff members from the prior year.

Those interested in organizing a meal team to serve a prepared meal at the shelter this winter should email meals@GroundworksVT.org for more information and to sign up.

Groundworks Collaborative is the agency created by the merger of the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center and Morningside Shelter.  The organization continues to operate the region’s largest and busiest food shelf, a 30-bed shelter for families and individuals, the Seasonal Overflow Shelter and Day Shelter, while providing housing case management, and a Representative Payee service.  To learn more about Groundworks, visit: GroundworksVT.org

For an interview, please contact:

Josh Davis, Executive Director

Groundworks Collaborative

jdavis@GroundworksVT.org  | 802.490.2951