Katie’s House
Katie’s House & Champlain Place
Katie’s House is a building operated in conjunction with Champlain Place, located at 165 Shelburne Road in Burlington, Vermont. Both places are operated by Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, also known as CVOEO. Champlain Place is a low-barrier shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Their goals are to provide these individuals and families “with the basic needs of food, fuel, and housing support in times of crisis, and helps them acquire the necessary education, financial skills, and assets to build a stable future in which they thrive.”
The role of Katie’s House in this process is a safe space for these individuals and families to have meals, learn educational and financial skills, and to relax, socialize and engage in activities. Katie’s House is located directly next door to Champlain Place. Katie’s Kindness has committed to helping support these initiatives financially and through volunteerism.
Katie would be so honored to know that her name is attached to such a concept, as she had deep passion for helping those in need. As an example of Katie’s Kindness, she took a new coat off her father’s back and gave it to a homeless individual because, in her words, “he needed it more than you did, Dad.”
This memorial foundation was organized solely to continue and advance the passions Katie exemplified in her short lifetime. If you are interested in honoring Katie’s memory by joining these initiatives, please click “donate now” to provide financial assistance, or click “contact us” to send us an email about helping to serve a meal at Katie’s House. Either way of giving is enormously appreciated.
quote from Champlain Place website
No Matter How Big or Small…
“Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
~ Summit Psychological Services
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
David and Lisa Hartnett, on behalf of the Katie’s Kindness organization, presented a check for $10,000 to Katie’s House and Champlain Place Emergency Shelter on Shelburne Road in Burlington, Vermont. David Hartnett, speaking on behalf of the organization, and his wife Lisa, presented the check in honor of their late daughter, Katherine ¨Katie¨ Grace Hartnett. He expressed optimism for much more assistance in the future.
Katie’s House and Champlain Place Emergency Shelter are currently housing fifty four of our communities most in need. In attendance were Scott Boardman and Miro Weinberger, both of whom represented their wives, Carol and Stacy, respectively; and Joan Shannon and her husband, Ken, all of whom have provided generous support for Katie’s Kindness. Hartnett acknowledged many other local supporters, including but not limited to, Harlan and Joan Sylvester, Billy and Phyllis Bissonette, Dan and Amy Feeney, Bill and Kimberly Rockwood, the Pomerleau Family, and the Bove family. Hartnett also acknowledged that the list of supporters is well into the thousands.
Paul Dragon of CVOEO was acknowledged for all of his agency's work to make the combination shelter/house possible. The shelter is being managed wonderfully by Tiffany Rich. Hartnett paid special tribute to his courageous wife, Lisa, and the amazing and critical work of Katie’s Kindness board member, Shelly Barrett.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact Tiffany Rich. The Shelter and House are particularly in need of volunteers from 6-8 p.m., but welcome volunteers at all times. Tiffany can be reached at Katie’s House by calling 802-540-1239. You are also welcome to reach out to Katie’s Kindness at admin@katieskindness.org.
~ Anne Frank