About Tri-Town Shelter Services

Tri-Town Shelter Services, Inc. is a fifteen bed facility providing temporary housing, compassionate care, competent case management, and the effective coordination of services resulting in personal growth and productivity.

A committee to develop an emergency shelter was formed in 1984 by a group of concerned citizens from Vernon, Ellington and Tolland. These Tri-Town residents, after a demographic and needs assessment, began to recruit a board of directors and secure funding. The board consisted of twenty-one people from social service agencies, churches, area businesses and town government. In 1986 their third attempt to secure funding was successful. In September the State of Connecticut responded with a grant and the Shelter was temporarily located in the Convent of St. Bernard's Catholic Church. On October 3, 1987, after nine months of renovation, the shelter relocated to One Prospect Street, where it remained for sixteen years. This facility utilized a single level, dormitory style of living arrangement.    

In September of 2001 the current building was purchased with renovations completed January 2003. This facility offers semi-private and private rooms on two floors. The first floor houses the Shift Supervisor's office, common kitchen, men's lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms while the second floor houses the Executive Director's office, women's lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a multi-purpose room which serves as a personal computer lab, learning lab, workforce readiness and retention classroom, and is the on-site location for our mentors to meet with their matches for acquiring the skills-set needed to succeed in today's world.   

In 1993, the shelter name was change from Tri-Town Emergency Shelter Services to Tri-Town Shelter Services, Inc. to more accurately describe the services provided. More than just a "bed and a bowl of soup," the shelter is a safe and supportive place where staff and residents work together on the contributing factors resulting in homelessness.

Tri-Town Shelter Services, Inc. is currently overseen by a Board of Directors. Since 1986 the program has been led by a Board of Directors and full-time Executive Director. There are 6 shift supervisors, 5 part-time staff and 1 part-time bookkeeper. Although there have been many changes through the years, our mission has remained constant.  While residents are in a safe environment, with the support of compassionate and competent staff, they have the opportunity to reclaim responsible control over their lives while experiencing hope, healing, and wholeness.