Vermont Business Magazine A $100,000 grant to COTS from the National Life Group Foundation will support the state’s largest homeless agency as it redevelops its flagship building in Burlington and continues to expand its services. The Committee on Temporary Shelter’s construction project at 95 North Avenue in Burlington will offer 14 affordable apartments when it’s completed, along with a new permanent home for the COTS Daystation program. COTS will also move its administrative offices and program space for family services and homelessness prevention back into the building.
National Life made a presentation to COTS to support the 95 North Avenue project. Left to right are Beth Rusnock, president of the National Life Group Foundation; Rita Markley, COTS executive director; Ross Sneyd, National Life Group Foundation vice president; and Becky Holt, COTS development director.
“We are extremely grateful for the work COTS does to prevent homelessness and to help so many families,” said Mehran Assadi, president and CEO of National Life Group. “We’re delighted to support the 95 North Avenue project because it will offer those families so much more in the years to come.”
“Thank you to National Life Group for their generous investment in the work COTS does. Through their support of COTS and the 95 North Avenue project, National Life is helping create much-needed housing for people facing homelessness in our community, while helping many more families and individuals find a home or avert the crisis of homelessness through effective prevention,” said Rita Markley, COTS executive director.
Assadi said COTS’ track record with projects such as the successful Canal Street Veterans Housing in Winooski – which created 16 transitional apartments for veterans and 12 permanent apartments – was one of the reasons the National Life Foundation was eager to support the project.
National Life also agreed to become the title sponsor for COTS Walk, the largest fund-raiser for the agency. This year’s COTS Walk is May 1 in Burlington.
About National Life
At National Life, our story is simple: For more than 167 years we’ve worked hard to deliver on our promises to millions of people with our vision of providing peace of mind in times of need. It’s our cause, stemming from a deep passion to live our values to do good, be good and make good, every day. Learn more at NationalLife.com.
About COTS
COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) is the largest service provider for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in Vermont. COTS offers emergency shelter, prevention assistance, support services, and transitional and permanent housing for those who are homeless and marginally housed. COTS’ mission values the dignity of every human life; recognizes that housing is a fundamental human right; and acknowledges that permanent housing, not emergency shelters, is the solution to homelessness. www.cotsonline.org.