Project Hope's Expanded Services For Those In Need

October 8, 2025

The head of our year-round homeless shelter talked about the new services offered at the expanded facility. Please keep scrolling to listen to our conversation on my weekly radio show.

Windham earned a fabulous award for our continued efforts at creating a sustainable and environmentally resilient community! I'll break down what we have done to earn this prestigious honor.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Let's Talk About It: Project Hope
  • Windham Earns Sustainability Award!
  • Calling For a Special Session
  • Open Mic Nights

 
 

Let's Talk About It: Project Hope

We discussed the expanded year-round services offered at Windham's only adult homeless shelter on my weekly radio show "Let's Talk About It." Avery Lenhart, executive director of Project Hope, explained that while the shelter provides a clean and warm place to stay, especially in the winter, its main mission is to help individuals find stable housing.
Both facilities on Valley Street are currently under renovation or will soon undergo improvements to better serve the community. Once completed the updated spaces will include a computer room where guests can search for housing, apply for food stamps, and access other benefits such as Social Security. 

The shelter will also provide:

  • Heat
  • Cots
  • Showers

  • Washer and dryers
  • Mental health services
  • Vaccines

Click on the video below to listen to the entire show.
Avery Lenhart shares more on the services at our year-round homeless shelter.
 

Windham Earns Sustainability Award!

Congratulations to Windham for earning a Silver-level certification from Sustainable CT for our work to improve our environment through equity, resilience, efficiency, and so much more! Silver Certification reflects our commitment to advanced initiatives in sustainable practices and community engagement.

As a proud member of Windham's Sustainability Team, it is an incredible honor to be recognized for meeting such high standards!

To earn this distinction, Windham demonstrated significant achievements including:

  • Hosting the Just Food Lecture Series, bringing community education on sustainable food systems and local agriculture
  • Expanding community gardens and supporting food-access initiatives
  • Improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings (lighting upgrades, HVAC retrofits)
  • Launching bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure projects
  • Developing climate resilience strategies (flood planning, tree canopy expansion)
  • Undertaking waste reduction and recycling enhancements

Sustainable CT is a statewide municipal certification program that recognizes the sustainability achievements of local governments. Communities must complete sustainability actions to get certified that cover a wide range of areas.
 

Calling For a Special Session

I was proud to stand with some of my colleagues in full support of the coalition Connecticut For All as they called for a special legislative session to address the impacts of federal cuts on our communities. They're pushing the governor to use state surplus funds to help working families who are struggling after losing some essential services. 

Advocates are also calling on us to pass legislation in a special session that would enact stronger protections for the immigrant community. The timing is key because federal immigration enforcement continues to tear immigrant families apart across Connecticut and the United States.
 

Open Mic Nights

I am thrilled to share that you are invited to a new series of events showcasing local artists in our community. The Windham Community Center will host Open Mic Nights every second Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. through December for evenings of poetry, spoken word, and self-expression. The campaign kicks off on Thursday, October 9.
 
Step up to the mic or simply come to listen and support local voices. No registration is required.