Commentary by Jon Hoover, Assistant Executive Director

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Groundworks operates numerous programs, and it is true that our shelter programming is our biggest expense. While it’s fair to say that running shelters is a big part of our business, it’s not our passion or mission. What motivates our staff, from Shelter Advocates to the Executive Director, is helping people—specifically helping people in some of the most vulnerable circumstances.

We look forward to the day—and it may take years for enough housing to be available—when our shelter on South Main Street can be converted to a general-use community center and our shelter on Royal Road is available for brief stays to help people get back on their feet.

Building Resilience, Together

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A thriving downtown and safe community are goals we all share. The path to achieving these aims runs directly through addressing the root causes of homelessness and poverty—not around them. When we all have stable housing, access to services, and our basic needs met with dignity, we are better positioned to thrive as members of our community. Our work at Groundworks isn’t just about providing immediate assistance—it’s about creating lasting positive change that benefits everyone who calls Brattleboro home.

Morningside House

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Groundworks is planning to replace the 30-bed Morningside House with a new 40-bed shelter designed for an enhanced, refined, and safer shelter program.

Groundworks’ Outreach Team

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Groundworks’ Outreach Team launched in February and is engaging with unsheltered people in the community; facilitating service connections related to housing, and specialized health care needs, obtaining identification, and providing support with basic needs such as critical camping gear, food, and clothing, etc.

Foodworks is home to a new ArtLords mural — VTDigger

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The ArtLords, known for painting their war-torn capital of Kabul with Taliban-censored messages of human rights and social justice, have created their first permanent mural in the Green Mountain State on Groundworks Collaborative’s Foodworks building.
By Kevin O’Connor  |  VTDigger  |  August 16, 2023

For homeless people, a human connection — The Commons

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By Joyce Marcel  |  Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Photo by Randolph T. Holhut/THE COMMONS— Issue 723

BRATTLEBORO — Brooks Memorial Library is on the front line of the town’s and region’s homelessness conundrum.

With the exception of Groundworks Collaborative, the library is the one place in town where people who are unhoused can find shelter from the weather, have access to the internet, write a letter to a family member, get help finding the services they need, get a few books to take out, use a clean bathroom, drink some cool, clean water, and find a kind word when they really need one.

“We try to know everybody by name,” said Library Director Starr LaTronica. “There’s some people that don’t want to tell us their name, and that’s fine. But we try and sort of keep an eye on people.”

The library prides itself on offering homeless people a human connection.

Food shelves experience shortages, more need – Brattleboro Reformer

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Reporting by Chris Mays, Brattleboro Reformer  |  June 28, 2023
Photos by Kristopher Radder

BRATTLEBORO — Lately, on a day before receiving an order from the Vermont Foodbank, Foodworks on Canal Street can look pretty bare.

“There is a natural ebb and flow to our inventory,” said Andrew Courtney, director of Foodworks.

However, the Brattleboro-based Groundworks Collaborative’s food shelf program and other partners in the Vermont Foodbank network are getting less food.

The Tragic Loss of Leah Rosin-Pritchard

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Groundworks Collaborative lost a beloved staff member—the Coordinator of Morningside House—in the tragic events of April 3rd at that shelter.

Leah Rosin-Pritchard is irreplaceable. She was a wonderfully strong, positive, beautiful and compassionate person who gave generously of her spirit and skills in support of all Morningside House residents and her professional colleagues.  There are no words to express the depth of loss felt by her Groundworks teammates and our hearts go out to her family and friends.
 
We can unequivocally say that Groundworks will not be the same without Leah.  Our staff and our program participants are grieving.  We are, at the same time, personally and organizationally impacted, and we are focused on supporting each other while continuing to provide food, shelter, and supportive services to people who need us.