The importance and impact of our mission has never been more clear. In 2021, we saw new people flooding into the communities we serve, some with abundant resources that enabled them to purchase a home with little to no debt. Others came with modest resources and some came with nothing at all, fleeing life threatening situations in their home countries far away. Whatever their reason for coming to Vermont, when they arrived in this unique and beautiful place, they landed in the middle of a full-blown housing crisis that has been impacting Vermonters for years. A tight real estate market got tighter and it became even harder for anyone without significant resources to find a housing opportunity that met their needs.

I’m proud that the Housing Trust provides concrete solutions to the region’s housing challenges and that we continue to evolve and adapt to meet new challenges as they arise. We updated our strategic plan in 2021 and although many of our goals remain the same, some of our strategies have shifted. Most notably is that we added a new team of resident support staff who are tasked with helping residents build community, resolve conflict and access resources. We also increased our housing development capacity to move projects at a faster pace. Finally, we centralized our human resource functions into a new position so that we can better focus on the wellbeing of our staff and nurture a vibrant and inclusive organizational culture.

On the ground, we also accomplished a lot. We advanced three housing development projects that will result in 82 new apartments. 27 are currently being constructed on the site of the old Bellows Falls Garage, 25 apartments have been permitted in Putney, and another 30 are in the design phase and permitting phase in Windsor Village. We also implemented phase 2 of the rental rehab program and brought another 72 vacant apartments back into use and we helped 58 new homebuyers purchase their first homes.

We know that a stable home provides a sense of safety and wellbeing, a place to plants roots and the opportunity to build community. So much of what we accomplished in 2021 supports this and the stories in this report beautifully illustrate it. From Ellen’s story about being the grandmother of the neighborhood to Meghan’s story about buying the home that has been in her family for generations, the impact of our work is clear. We continue to be inspired by the people who benefit from our services and by the people in our community — donors, institutional funders, community partners and legislators — who support our efforts. Together we are making a difference in the lives of everyday Vermonters and paving the way for a strong and resilient community.

We are deeply grateful for this. Thank you.

“Being effective can involve being invisible too,” says Ellen. “I was afraid of being invisible at first — I wanted to be recognized. But gradually I found gratification in the actual practice of being me and caring about my neighbors — stopping to chat. It helped me get over myself. Starting with where I live, having lives revealed to me has been enough. It’s deepened my understanding of my own life, and opened up possibilities. I’ve come to realize when you work together, good things can happen.”

“I have the solution,” says Ellen. “Don’t send in the police; send in the grandmothers.”

This year, his patience was finally rewarded, and he moved his few belongings and his pet bird, Beebee, into his own one-bedroom apartment at 50 Canal Street. He even received a donated bed, thanks to the resourcefulness of his leasing agent, Katherine, who coordinated with a community member from Dummerston Cares, and delivered the bed herself.  

John sees the upsides and the challenges of living in a shared home.  “You’re not sleeping outside – you have a place to go, and that is a big positive.  But it can be noisy at times, housemates change, and there’s very little privacy.  There were times I didn’t get much sleep.”

In his new apartment next door on Canal Street, sleep comes easier for John. He loves that his neighbors are quiet, and the atmosphere is peaceful. “Once in a while I’ll wake up and wonder where I am,” says John. “I’m still getting used to it.”

He loves the full kitchen, with the microwave, and full-size freezer and refrigerator, and says he is getting back into cooking. “I’m not a bad cook. I love that I can cook whenever I want.” He also loves the spaciousness of the apartment, the on-site laundry facility, and the huge yard including a garden. 

Most of all, John is grateful for the privacy his new home affords. “I’ve noticed my attitude has changed,” he says. “I feel a lot happier.” He adds, “I still go visit the old place sometimes. I have some good friends there. It was really important for me to have a place close by.”  

John believes that access to stable housing should be a top priority, and is hopeful that, in time, his friends at 34 Canal Street will also find their own housing. He stays connected with them, lends a friendly ear, and commends the WWHT staff for beginning monthly meetings with residents to address their concerns.

John claims that caring for Beebee — who can’t walk or fly — gives him purpose. He is a “bird-whisperer” of sorts, recognizing the birds he still feeds every day in the adjacent church lot when they return each year. 

He is happy his new apartment is close by. It mattered, he shared, for keeping up with his feathered friends. “I’m always happy to see them. I guess I prefer the company of animals to people, sometimes,” he jokes.

Megan says what she loves the most is that she is carrying on the legacy of the house that has belonged to so many family members. “I grew up visiting this house — grandparents, two sets of aunts, uncles, cousins — even my mom lived here for a while before she passed. When we finally closed, it just felt quite magical.” 

As Director of Parks Place Resource Center, an agency that connects people with life-changing resources, Megan’s work often intersects with WWHT. She says she sings their praises every chance she gets. “Honestly, I don’t think enough people know what a gem Windham & Windsor is,” she says. “There’s no reason to attempt or go into this process blind or scared. You don’t have to do this alone. Just to know that there are people trained that know every step of the way is just phenomenal.”

Windham & Windsor Housing Trust thanks our many supporters for their incredible generosity in 2021. The important work we’ve been able to accomplish this past year would not have been possible without you! Listed below are our current supporters — individuals, businesses, agencies, organizations, and foundations — who have made gifts between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.

A special recognition to the tragic loss of a beloved community member, Tom Yahn, in early 2021. His dedication and commitment to equitable and thriving communities was remarkable. He inspired many throughout his life to join in the mission of supporting a vision of Vermont where everyone has access to a decent home and education. Many have given in his loving memory, the tributes are listed next to the names below and his impact rippled across the whole state through his work and wonderful presence.