Nonprofits Create Community is NIA’s theme for 2026, as we celebrate the ways that nonprofits come through for their communities in spite of all the challenges facing them. In this series, meet some NIA-insured nonprofits who share their stories of creating community in their own words.
Meet the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless of Bennington, VT
Roxanne M Carelli, Executive Director of Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, explains:
“Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless provides shelter, housing navigation, and case management to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Bennington County, helping people overcome barriers to housing and achieve long-term stability and independence.”
How does your nonprofit and your mission create community for the people and places you serve?
Ensuring that every person is welcomed, respected, and supported.
“The Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless (BCCH) creates community by providing safe shelter, housing navigation, case management, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout Bennington County, Vermont.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and the opportunity to live with dignity, stability, and hope.
Each year, we serve individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, including housing instability, poverty, domestic violence, health concerns, and other barriers to self-sufficiency.
Through our emergency shelters, transitional and permanent housing programs, day services, food assistance, and individualized case management, we help people meet immediate needs while working toward long-term stability.
Creating community means more than providing services, it means ensuring that every person who comes through our doors is welcomed, respected, and supported.
Our staff work alongside clients to develop individualized plans, connect them with resources, build life skills, and help them achieve their goals. We also collaborate with local businesses, healthcare providers, schools, social service agencies, faith communities, volunteers, and government partners to create a coordinated network of support.
We envision a community where everyone has access to safe, stable housing and the opportunity to thrive.
Homelessness affects the entire community, and addressing it requires a collective effort. By helping individuals and families secure housing, improve economic stability, and strengthen community connections, BCCH not only transforms lives but also contributes to a healthier, safer, and more resilient Bennington County.
Every person who finds stability through our programs strengthens the fabric of our community and helps create a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
What are your nonprofit’s biggest challenges or obstacles to creating community?
Meeting an increasing demand for services with limited resources.
“Like many nonprofit organizations, one of our greatest challenges is meeting an increasing demand for services with limited resources.
The need for safe, affordable housing continues to grow, while rising housing costs, low vacancy rates, and economic pressures make it increasingly difficult for individuals and families to secure and maintain stable housing.
Another challenge is ensuring that we have the staffing, funding, and community resources necessary to provide comprehensive support to those we serve.
Many of our clients face multiple barriers, including financial hardship, health concerns, transportation challenges, and limited access to affordable housing. Addressing these complex needs requires significant collaboration and sustained investment.
Creating community also involves combating the stigma that can surround homelessness. We work to foster understanding and compassion by educating the public about the realities of homelessness and by highlighting the strengths, resilience, and potential of the individuals and families we serve.
Despite these challenges, our community continues to demonstrate remarkable generosity and commitment.
Through partnerships with local organizations, businesses, volunteers, donors, and public agencies, we are able to expand our impact and create pathways to stability and opportunity.
These collaborations remind us that solving homelessness is not the responsibility of any one organization — it is a community effort, and together we can create meaningful and lasting change.”
A broker’s take on community in action.
Before a nonprofit can help build community, they need insurance — and brokers are their guide to helping them find coverage, maintain it, and, if needed, make a claim on it.
Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless partners with Gary Thomas, a broker with Lonergan & Thomas, who helps them get the most value from their NIA coverage.
As their broker, Thomas shared his insight into the benefit Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless brings to the community:
“Working with the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, we have seen firsthand the commitment they bring to serving individuals and families in our community.
What stands out to me is that their work goes well beyond providing shelter — they help people navigate difficult circumstances and work toward long-term stability and independence.
As their insurance partner and a member of the Bennington community, we are proud to work with an organization that has such a meaningful impact on the people and community we all serve.”
