A Beacon of Hope in Barre: Speranza Inn Opens Its Doors to Neighbors in Need

In a quiet but powerful transformation on South Main Street, a once privately owned hotel has found new purpose as a cornerstone of Central Vermont’s homelessness response.

Now known as the Speranza Inn—Italian for “hope”—the former Quality Inn is offering just that to some of the region’s most vulnerable residents. Purchased in April 2025 by Downstreet Housing & Community Development, the 42-room facility has reopened as a service-integrated homeless service hotel, combining 24/7 staffing with wraparound care for individuals and families who would otherwise have nowhere to go.

With Vermont now facing the fourth highest rate of homelessness in the country, the timing could not be more urgent.

“We are providing more than shelter from the elements,” said Kathi Partlow, Director of Homeless Services at Downstreet. “The Speranza Inn is a place where people can begin again—with dignity, support, and a path forward.”

Each guest receives more than just a roof and a room. Downstreet’s model includes on-site case management, access to mental health and recovery supports, job and housing search help, and a safe, private space for healing and planning. And for some, it’s lifesaving.

One local family arrived at Speranza after losing everything in a house fire. They had no other options—until staff welcomed them with warmth, compassion, and a room of their own. Today, the family is back to a daily routine, working toward permanent housing with help from the Inn’s team.

The ripple effects of this work go beyond individual lives. Reducing homelessness helps ease pressure on emergency rooms, shelters, and police departments. It improves community health and safety. And it fosters a sense of shared responsibility and resilience.

“The Speranza Inn is not just a building,” said Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet. “It’s a place of care and possibility—for individuals, for families, and for the whole community.”

As construction crews continue renovations, passersby have noticed the building’s new cheerful blue exterior and a steady hum of activity. The improvements—part of a major occupied rehab project—will ensure long-term livability and include private rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, a communal kitchen, and access to a stocked food pantry. An emergency fund will also help cover basics like winter coats, hygiene supplies, and bus passes.

Of the 42 rooms, 30 are reserved through the state’s emergency housing system, with the remaining 12 available post-rehab for urgent referrals from hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies. The Inn remains fully operational throughout construction.

For Downstreet, a nonprofit with nearly four decades of experience in affordable housing, the project is an extension of its mission at a time when the organization cannot build housing fast enough to meet local affordable housing needs. The organization serves Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties with permanently affordable rental housing, shared equity homeownership, and housing-based support services.