BRATTLEBORO-Come Dec. 6, when the lease runs out, the community art space on Elliot Street known as 69A will be closing.
"We absolutely love our landlords; they're amazing people," says 69A Director Lisa Marie of building co-owner Ashok Kumar.
Artist Katie Bachler and her husband, Scott Berzofsky, took out a one-year lease to "make a community space."
"Our lease is up and they have plans for this space, and the building's for sale," says Lisa Marie. "We understand completely."
The building at 69–71 Elliot St. went on the market in May and is listed for $1.15 million through Southern Vermont Realty Group of West Dover. Listers' records show the building has been owned by Kumar and Amrik Singh, as A&S Realty Trust, since 2008.
A caring place during a time of need
From the original art space, 69A has certainly blossomed to much more.
Amid the final dismantling of the state's motel program in July for those who were unsheltered and the already acute homelessness epidemic in the region, 69A Elliot St. became a safe space for all, offering free coffee, tea, water, Wi-Fi access, various gear and supplies (including tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, and clothing), restrooms, music, and a social milieu.
Bachler and Berzofsky tapped into their savings to rent the space last winter in the aftermath of the national election and last year's contentious local debate over "acceptable community conduct."
Without knowing the exact contours of how the space would actually be used, the former owners of Avenue Grocery did know they wanted to restore a community gathering place in the same spirit of the community convenience store that they briefly ran on Western Avenue in 2017 and 2018.
"We thought something was missing, a place for new ways of being to emerge, to care for each other, [to] provide something else, something emergent," Bachler told The Commons at the time ["A place to care for one another," News, July 8]. "Like a space that could be an alternative to the behavior ordinance. Like a space to organize different ways of being, to learn from each other."
She and Berzofsky, starting slow with a loose group of community members organizing events, including book clubs and art shows, "really wanted to take it slow and not over-prescribe what 69A was going to be."
Lisa Marie eventually opened the "10 to 4" program, referencing the hours 69A is open.
The initiative offered two meals a day, a free store, and "advocating for people to get what they need."
The number of folks served varies from day to day. On Nov. 17, about 73 folks stopped in for various needs. Last week, the facility served 130 people in one day.
The program has occasionally been controversial, with critics concerned that it was attempting to provide social services to a clientele its volunteers were not trained to treat. Others were concerned about altercations that required police help to address, and the space became a concern at several Selectboard meetings this summer.
Lisa Marie says 69A is not a shelter. In fact, she says, "we're not even technically a drop-in [place]."
"We're just a community center," Lisa Marie says. "We just don't have a basketball hoop."
69A serves those who need camping gear, meals, clothing, and bathrooms.
"And sometimes random tourists use the bathroom," says the director.
About 50% of the people who use the facility are housed, and the other half are homeless. Ages range from infants to about 80.
Lots to do, but where to do it?
Lisa Marie is currently training overnight hosts for the new winter shelter, which will open at the Beloved Communuty Church in Brattleboro on Dec. 1 ["Emergency overnight shelter will open in Brattleboro this winter," News, Nov. 12]. She is also gathering domestic violence and panel members for an event and getting a Thanksgiving meal together.
All income has been from donations, until a fiscal sponsor came on board with some support a month ago.
"Everything from the food to the clothes, rent, lights, and internet is all from awesome individuals who love and support us," says Lisa Marie.
Until the group has to move, organizers will endeavor to keep regular hours weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And organizers are looking for a new home.
"We're looking for a space and have had meetings with potential landlords, so we'll see," says Lisa Marie, adding that if a new location isn't found before Dec. 6, she and others will do what they can to help from their cars and walking around.
"Just 'cause the doors on 69A Elliot St. are closing doesn't mean that we're done," she says.
Right now, adds the director, "a lot of people are hurting, scared."
"Winter's coming and it's really cold, and people are sleeping on pavements and benches and doing everything to survive," she says. "And we're going to do the best we can to provide what they need to make that happen."
One person has already died from the cold this winter, she says.
"People dying because they're homeless is an absolute crime. Whether it's not being able to pay a bill, or having an addiction, or running from a domestic situation, none of it deserves death in the end," Lisa Marie says.
Selectboard member Isaac Evans-Frantz attends meetings at 69A and does what he can to bring concerns back to the town.
"I'm deeply concerned for the well-being of the people who have found community and warmth at 69A Elliot St. over the past several months," Evans-Frantz says. "There are hundreds of unhoused people living in Brattleboro, including many who do not have adequate, safe shelter."
He adds that "thousands of people in our community have recently come together in support of democracy and turned out for 'No Kings' protests. There is lots of energy here to show up for the greater good. It's been good seeing people showing up for 69A Elliot St. and other community resources.
"With the news about 69A, this is a great time to pitch in, whether through financial donations, volunteering time, or reaching out to potential spaces where the resource hub could move to."
Evans-Frantz says the town as a whole can make a start to help "by minimizing harm against unhoused community members."
"I've requested that the issues of no-trespass orders and removal of homeless encampments be placed on Selectboard meeting agendas this fall," he says. "All community members have rights and responsibilities when it comes to our town parks, sidewalks, benches, and other public spaces, and we need to make sure that these rights are respected.
"At a time of federal cruelty against people living paycheck to paycheck, and against people in extreme poverty, Brattleboro must do better," Evans-Frantz says.
If you have a space to offer, call 69A at 413-418-8227. To make a donation, visit 69A's GoFundMe campaign.
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.