Chloe Learey is the executive director of Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro and serves as the steering committee chair of the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, as well as on the boards of the Vermont Community Loan Fund and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.
BRATTLEBORO-Brattleboro and the greater Windham region have always been places where neighbors look out for one another. We see it in our classrooms, our local businesses, our health care workers, and in the countless volunteer hours that strengthen food shelves, youth programs, and community events. Caring for one another is part of who we are.
But today, our region faces a growing challenge: Too many families do not have a safe, stable place to call home. Rising housing costs, combined with wages that can't keep pace, are leaving hard-working families - those who teach our children, care for our loved ones, and keep our restaurants, farms, and small businesses running - without secure housing options.
That is why Winston Prouty was honored to announce a transformational $1 million donation to open a family shelter on our campus.
That investment means that parents and children facing homelessness will have a safe place to land, and a chance to regain stability and dignity in a time of crisis. But this is about more than a building - it is about creating hope and about affirming to families that they are not alone.
Every family deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing where they will sleep at night. Housing is not only a moral imperative, but also the foundation of strong schools, a resilient work force, and thriving communities.
The family shelter is a critical first step, but it cannot be the last.
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At Winston Prouty, we are committed to a broader vision: developing affordable workforce housing on our campus. Meeting the immediate need for shelter is essential, but long-term solutions will allow families to thrive and our regional economy to grow. Safe and stable housing ensures that parents can keep jobs, children can succeed in school, and communities can stay vibrant.
We know this work cannot be done alone. This $1 million gift is a powerful beginning, but the road ahead requires partnership - between nonprofits, local government, businesses, and community members across Windham County and beyond. Each of us has a role to play.
Homelessness is not an abstract issue. It touches real families - our neighbors - who could be any one of us if circumstances were different. By investing in housing, we send a clear message: In Brattleboro and throughout our region, we believe every family deserves a place to belong.
This is not only the right thing to do; it is also the smart thing to do. When families are secure, our schools are stronger, our businesses are more stable, and our whole community prospers.
As we take this important step, we invite you to join us. Together, we can make Brattleboro and Windham County a region where families don't just get by, but where they truly thrive.
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