The UWLC mission is to foster community assets to advance the common good of Lamoille County. We serve all residents of Lamoille County, a rural community in northern Vermont. UWLC fosters community assets to advance the common good of Lamoille County. Our programs include New Foundations (transitional housing program for single parents), the Lamoille Firewood Program (66 cords of wood distributed to income eligible neighbors) and an Emergency Assist Fund (in 2021 $35,500 was granted to over 600 community residents with emergency assistance due to COVID-19 or economic crisis.) We have created a robust Resource Page on our website that is updated almost daily and is utilized by local organizations, schools and individuals. We link community partners with resources and assets, mobilize resources for and in partnership with our community and advocate for equitable access to resources for all our community members. UWLC supports numerous community collaboratives focusing on hunger, housing, and economic development. Other focus areas include enhancing communications, supporting local housing initiatives, and creating a Volunteer Center to promote civic engagement and disaster preparedness. In 2021 UWLC became a lead organization for the Working Communities Challenge (WCC) grant for Lamoille County. Funded by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, this three-year, $315,000 grant addresses poverty and improves employment opportunities while focusing on workforce transitions and reducing systemic barriers to work. Integral to WCC is the creation of a Working Bridges program, a partnership with employers to focus on giving employees the resources they need to gain, keep, and grow in stable employment; this is done by bringing human services support directly to the employee onsite at the workplace. As an organization that is acutely aware of the short housing supply in Vermont, UWLC will provide housing for the VISTA.