Ayear ago, when Suzanne first moved into the Snow Block, it marked the beginning of a hard-earned reset. After decades spent living in a 5-bedroom house on three acres of land in Massachusetts, followed by three years in rural New Hampshire, she arrived in Brattleboro carrying the weight of a deeply personal upheaval. The transition from rural quiet to a downtown apartment was jarring. 

“It was a big, big adjustment,” she admits. “To be honest, I was scared to death. Part of it was coming from a domestic violence situation, but I also wasn’t used to living in a downtown environment.”

Suzanne found support immediately, from both inside and outside her building. “I did express the situation I had just come from,” she says. “There were people on my floor who reached out to me and really went out of their way to help me. And when I mentioned my concerns to the police, I really felt like they kept an eye on me. That really made me feel a lot safer.”

A retired social worker, Suzanne spent her career bringing people together, and it didn’t take long for that instinct to resurface. When the idea of a resident game night surfaced during one of the early Circle meetings, she stepped forward. With support from Joyce on the Housing Trust staff, Suzanne worked through the logistics of building participation: finding a time, encouraging neighbors and keeping things welcoming. Residents from multiple floors began to show up for a variety of games — dice games, dominoes, Uno — with each gathering helping to build community and strengthen connections.

Even as participation dropped off over the winter months, as the spring approaches, Suzanne looks forward to reviving it. “I have hope,”  she says. “It’s still a good idea.”

“I love to go,” she says. “And Rachel (the facilitator) is amazing.” She recalls one particularly impactful session that brought together residents, Housing Trust staff, Brattleboro police and community representatives. “Just having that conversation — where tenants could share concerns directly with people who could respond — that was really effective.”

At the same time, she understands why some residents remain skeptical. Trust, she notes, builds slowly, especially in a community that has faced real challenges. “People want to see that something comes out of those meetings,” she says. “Something concrete. And that takes time — but I have faith.”

Suzanne creates miniatures:
this particularly meaningful creation includes
tiny heirlooms worked into the details.

That sense of realism, balanced with optimism, defines Suzanne’s view of Snow Block today. When she first arrived, the environment felt overwhelming and, at times, unsafe. But over the past year, she has seen meaningful change — both in building and in relationships among residents.

“It feels much safer now,” she says. “And what I’ve noticed is that people are starting to know each other. There are little pockets of community forming.”

Looking ahead, Suzanne’s hopes for the Snow Block are straightforward. “I want people to feel safe,” she says. “And I want us to keep building on this idea that we’re all in this together.”

Candace has lived in her modest, two-story Guilford home since 1998. She bought it during a challenging period in her life, when stability and a sense of place mattered most. What she found was a sweet little house full of possibility.

Over the years, that possibility has been realized through persistence, care and the resources of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust — particularly the Green Mountain Home Repair Program. Now 79, Candace reflects on a long journey of maintaining and adapting her home — one that took on new urgency after she experienced a stroke.

“I had to move downstairs,” she explains. “There wasn’t a bedroom, but I did have a half bath.”

Through the Green Mountain Home Repair program, Candace was able to renovate her home for safety and independence. The project transformed her first floor, adding a walk-in shower with grab bars, accessible fixtures, and a washer and dryer — critical upgrades that allow her to live comfortably on one level. Additional work, including insulation improvements and basement upgrades, made the home safer and more energy efficient.

The project was also a testament to collaboration. Program staff helped coordinate funding and logistics, while Candace’s ex-husband, a finish carpenter, and his wife contributed significant labor and materials. “They did an immense amount of work,” says Candace. “And they bought me the washer and dryer. It’s much more accessible now, and is also very pretty. It’s made such a difference.”

For Candace, the impact of the Housing Trust goes far beyond the physical improvements. Having worked with the organization over many years – through homeownership education, earlier repairs, and now this latest renovation – she describes a deep sense of trust and gratitude.

“I got to work with Jerry again, and that was such a blessing, I can’t tell you,” she says. “He is so steadfast, clear, prompt, professional and empathetic. He is a gem. And I’ve worked closely with Tara, too — she is another jewel. They helped find the funds, fulfill the grants, and give me options that would best serve me.”

Candace says the importance of clarity is essential for a process that can be complex and overwhelming for a homeowner.  “There’s just a lot to manage, especially at my age,” she says. “They took the time to explain everything and gave me the courage to move forward.”

Today, Candace’s home stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when thoughtful investment meets personal resilience. More than a repaired house, it is a place where she can continue to live safely and independently.

“This program is allowing me to stay here, in my home, and age in place,” she says. “I feel very fortunate.”

For Russell and Scott, home is no longer a place of uncertainty — it’s a place of ease, connection and quiet gratitude.

After years in a remote and increasingly unaffordable farmhouse in South Royalton, the two knew they needed a change. At 90, Russell continues his work as a translator and editor, while Scott, 72, lives with lasting complications from a serious back injury that ended his teaching career.

The opportunity to move to Central & Main in Windsor came through Russell’s daughter, who lived across the river in Cornish, and encouraged them to explore the new development. From their first conversations with Stacy at Stewart Property Management, the process was seamless.

“From there, it was smooth sailing,” Russell says. “We’ve been here nine months now, and we are very content.”

Their apartment offers both comfort and functionality, including a small extra room that Russell uses as an office, allowing him to continue a decades-long career translating books on art and working with publishers around the world. Daily life has become much easier. Living in town means close access to shopping, services and healthcare, and even small conveniences, like covered parking in the winter, have made a difference.

“I don’t have to shovel snow anymore,” says Russell. “That is very nice.”

Just as meaningful for them is the sense of community they have found. While residents bring a range of personalities and backgrounds, Russell and Scott have made several good friends in the building.

“We made instantly good friends with the people across the hall. It has been
very helpful.”

Russell says he is especially grateful for the affordability. “I think the mission is wonderful. To have such a lovely apartment at a very reasonable rent — it means everything. My income is quite modest, and I’m very grateful to be here.”

He is equally appreciative of the people who helped make their move possible.

“They’ve been very good to us,” he says of the Housing Trust and property management staff. “It’s been a very positive experience.”

Russell and Scott’s story is a simple one: a move from hardship to comfort, from isolation to connection. At Central & Main, they have found all of that and more — peace of mind, and a place to call home.

What does it mean to be a mission-driven organization? For Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, it means integrating our mission into every decision, every strategy and every operation. It means measuring success not only in homes built, but in the strength and stability of the communities those homes support. Every project, partnership and program is grounded in a clear purpose: to ensure that people across southeastern Vermont have access to safe, permanently affordable housing. In 2025, that commitment was put into action in significant ways — through new construction, preservation, resident services and advocacy — demonstrating what it means to truly deliver on the mission.

A major milestone came with the opening of Central & Main Apartments in Windsor, adding 25 permanently affordable homes in a walkable downtown neighborhood. The development represents years of planning and partnership, and today provides energy-efficient apartments where residents can live close to jobs, services and community life. For Windsor, the project reflects more than new construction; it represents an investment in the long-term vitality of the town and the people who call it home.

In Putney, the organization broke ground and made significant progress on constructing Alice Holway Drive, a new neighborhood that will bring another 25 homes to the village center. This development will help expand housing choices in a community where affordability challenges have made it increasingly difficult for working families and older residents to remain.

WWHT’s work in 2025 also demonstrated the power of reclaiming and repurposing underutilized spaces. In Springfield, a once burned and blighted lot was transformed into a beautiful, energy-efficient Shared Equity home for a local family. Supported by funding from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program, the project resulted in a Zero Energy modular home within walking distance of the high school and downtown amenities. More than a single home, this effort served as a successful pilot—bringing together WWHT’s strengths in new home development, homebuyer support, and stewardship of the Shared Equity program, with additional projects already in the pipeline.

And through its Shared Equity Homeownership Program, WWHT continued helping households achieve stable, affordable homeownership while ensuring these homes remain affordable for generations to come. In addition to the Springfield home that was built, several homes within the program changed hands during the year, creating opportunities for new buyers while preserving long-term affordability. Currently, the program stewards 152 homes across the region. 

In 2025, the program served 188 actively engaged participants — adults and children — by year’s end. A core component of the model is the development of individualized Healthy Living Plans, created in partnership with residents to identify personal goals and improve overall wellbeing. Participation in these plans grew significantly, with 94% of full-benefit participants completing a plan by the end of the year — reflecting deeper engagement and more personalized support. 

Access to care and community resources also expanded meaningfully. Over the course of the year, 75 referrals connected residents to healthcare providers, mental health services, food access programs and legal assistance. Mental health support, identified as one of the most significant needs among participants, became an increasing focus, with on-site services reducing barriers to care and encouraging sustained engagement.

Beyond individual services, SASH-For-All fostered a strong sense of community. The program coordinated more than 157 events and activities, including wellness clinics, resource workshops, and community gatherings that reduced isolation and strengthened connections among residents. Partnerships with local organizations also expanded access to food, healthcare and other essential supports.