Our New Home
“What’s going on with your new building?” “Where can people find shelter now?” “Where can I drop off donations?”
We have been fielding many questions over the past year, as our new home has been getting a new look. The Lester E. and Phyllis M. Foster Foundation generously gifted the building at 433 Valley Street to the Windham Region No Freeze Project in 2022. It was our first permanent home after 20 years of renting spaces to shelter people on cold winter nights.
This permanent location was just the beginning of our transformation. Now, as Project HOPE of Eastern Connecticut, we have evolved into a year-round, full-day housing and homeless services program offering expanded support to help guests rebuild their lives.
Grants from the CT Department of Housing and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helped us purchase 459 Valley Street and renovate both buildings. During 433 Valley renovations, 459 Valley temporarily housed our shelter services, while our administrative staff relocated to Main Street.
We anticipate that 433 Valley will open in August, offering dignity and privacy to our shelter guests. Each floor of the building will feature double-occupancy micro-units, each with its own bathroom and storage areas. The building features an elevator, and two microunits are wheelchair accessible.
We anticipate opening 459 Valley Street in mid-winter 2026. Once our campus is complete, people in need of our services will have access to:
- A Technology Resource Centerto support job searches, housing applications, and digital literacy;
- Health Services, where clinical partners can provide on-site care;
- Hygiene Services, open daily and offering showers, laundry, and personal supplies;
- Meeting Spacesfor partner agencies to consult privately with guests.
In this welcoming space, we will help people gain the independence, confidence and skills needed to move out of shelter and into permanent housing. More than bricks and mortar, these buildings are a foundation for hope.