Our Doors Are Open
Project HOPE of Eastern Connecticut unveils newly renovated shelter
Guests occupy semi-private spaces in a facility designed for safety, dignity, and support
Willimantic, CT — [October 27, 2025] — Project HOPE of Eastern Connecticut, formerly the Windham Region No Freeze Project, has completed extensive renovations to its shelter space located at 433 Valley Street in Willimantic, and will be opening the completed facility to the public for the first time. An open house and ribbon-cutting event is happening on Wednesday, October 29, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.
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The client-centered facility, which will begin welcoming guests in late October, was designed to meet the emotional and physical needs of adults experiencing homelessness so they can feel safe enough to focus on health, employment, and personal growth.
The 6,200 square foot space offers each guest safety, dignity, and privacy, allowing them to heal from the trauma and uncertainty of homelessness. In this comfortable and modern space, guests will gain the independence, confidence, and skills needed to move into permanent housing. Welcoming all unhoused adults, the two-floor facility features 10 semi-private micro-units, each with a private bathroom and storage area. The ADA-compliant building includes an elevator and two units that are wheelchair accessible. Guests may access indoor and outdoor common spaces 24 hours a day, every day, year-round.
“Throughout most of our history, we operated strictly as a ‘no freeze’ shelter that opened only during the coldest months in overcrowded congregate settings,” said Avery Lenhart, executive director of Project HOPE. “To heal and re-enter society, people need a place where they feel safe and supported. We are thrilled to be able to offer this healing environment in our community.”
Expanded Services for Guests
The new shelter offers:
- Semi-private rooms with bathrooms, showers, and personal storage
- Safe isolation space for sick guests to recover and prevent community spread
- On-site health services in partnership with local providers
- Showers and laundry for community members not entering shelter
- Private meeting spaces for partner agencies
- A Technology Resource Center where guests can apply for critical documents, conduct job searches, and build digital skills
The shelter’s central location provides easy access to key community partners: Generations Family Health Center is across the street; Windham Hospital is adjacent; Windham Area Interfaith Ministry and Covenant Soup Kitchen are within walking distance.
Transformation Through Community Partnership
The Lester E. and Phyllis M. Foster Foundation of Windham generously gifted the 433 Valley Street building in 2022, giving Project HOPE its first permanent home after 20 years of renting seasonal spaces.
Grants from the Connecticut Department of Housing and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funded the purchase of the neighboring 459 Valley Street and renovations at both buildings. During construction, the shelter temporarily moved to 459 Valley, and the administrative offices relocated to Main Street. Renovations on 459 Valley are now underway, and once completed, the space will provide permanent offices for Project HOPE.
A Call for Community Support
Project HOPE is actively raising the final $400,000 needed to complete renovations at both sites. As a grassroots organization, Project HOPE continues to rely on community support for both capital projects and ongoing operations.
“Operating a year-round shelter requires higher staffing levels and utility costs, and building ownership brings new maintenance responsibilities,” explained Lenhart. “We need our community’s partnership to sustain this life-saving program, especially at a time when government funding is unpredictable.”
Trends in Homelessness
“The need for homeless services grows daily. A shortage of affordable housing, rising costs, soaring utilities, and other economic pressures are putting more people at risk,” Lenhart continued. “In Connecticut, the largest group of people experiencing homelessness is currently adults without children, with some notable increases among older people. In the past year, homelessness among people aged 55 to 64 increased 20 percent, and among those 64 and older, the increase was 33 percent. We are seeing the same trend here in eastern Connecticut and are urging state leaders to address these root causes.”
About Project HOPE of Eastern Connecticut
Shelter is not a destination. It is a bridge.
Since 2003, Project HOPE has advocated for, supported, and sheltered thousands of unstably housed adults in eastern Connecticut, offering both immediate relief and a path forward. Project HOPE, formerly the Windham Region No Freeze Project, provides adults experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter, supportive services, and community connections that foster lasting independence.
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Media Contact:
Paula Shepard
860.202.1090
paula@imageinkpr.com
