The Montpelier Emergency Cold Weather Shelter was open for eighteen nights at UCM, concluding on the morning of Monday, January 12. This “pop up” shelter opens when the forecast is for overnight temperatures below 10 degrees. It is now operating in the basement of Montpelier City Hall in the space formerly occupied by the Teen Center. Montpelier Cold has a paid coordinator, Andrea Stander, and is staffed by volunteers.

The Winter Overflow Overnight Shelter began operating at UCM on the evening of Monday, January 12 and will continue nightly through the morning of April 1. “Overflow” is now open every night at UCM from 8:00 pm until 8:00 am, except on Sunday mornings when it closes at 7:00 am to allow us setup time for worship & programming. Opening hours will be adjusted slightly later on a handful of nights to accommodate pre-scheduled events at UCM. The shelter is staffed by employees of Capstone Community Action, with funding from the State of Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Guests check in for the night at Trinity Church, where there is a nightly warming shelter with food available from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Three shelter staff and up to fifteen guests then come over from Trinity to UCM at 8pm to get set up and settled into the Vestry. From 10pm until morning, two shelter staff are present and awake. The shelter is only using the former Preschool Room, Vestry, and associated restrooms. In the morning, all cots, bedding and supplies are packed up and stored in the coat closet behind the Vestry lift. Coffee to go is offered to shelter guests at UCM each morning, but no meals are served here. Bathrooms and floors are cleaned, and the spaces are left ready for UCM groups or outside renters to use as normal.

If you meet anyone inquiring about staying at the shelter, please direct them to check in at 6pm at Trinity Church. Shelter guests are expected to stay at Trinity and NOT to arrive at UCM before 8:00 pm.

The Executive Team’s article from December 11th provides more background and details about UCM’s hosting of Montpelier Cold and Overflow shelters this winter. UCM is not charging rent to Capstone for use of our space, but we will be compensated for additional expenses incurred as a result of the shelter (utilities, restroom supplies, etc). Our two organizations have a Memorandum of Understanding that clearly states each of our roles and responsibilities.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments. I am so proud that UCM is living out our mission by serving human need in this vital, life-saving way this winter.

~Emily G. Seifert, Office and Rental Manager