Northfield Savings Bank Supports Downstreet Housing & Community Development’s Work at the Speranza Inn with Generous Donation

Downstreet Housing & Community Development is pleased to announce a generous donation of $25,000 from Northfield Savings Bank (NSB) in support of the Speranza Inn. This $25,000 gift comes as one of NSB's year-end contributions aimed at addressing Vermont’s ongoing housing crisis. 

           

Located in Barre, VT, the Speranza Inn is a 41-room hotel and service hub that provides vital support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Central Vermont. Downstreet began an occupied rehabilitation of the building in April of 2025 after purchasing the former Quality Inn property with support from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Since opening, the Speranza Inn has provided shelter to approximately 119 households and connects residents with critical wraparound services including case management, mental health supports, and housing navigation.

Donations like the one made by Northfield Savings Bank, which has been matched by an anonymous family foundation, will help finalize renovations to the Speranza Inn that have been ongoing since spring. Downstreet hopes to raise a final $15,000 for the Speranza Inn by year-end to meet our fundraising goals.

“Access to safe, stable housing is foundational to the health of our communities,” said Joseph Bator, President & CEO of Northfield Savings Bank. “Northfield Savings Bank is proud to support Downstreet Housing & Community Development’s work at the Speranza Inn in Barre, ensuring this 41-room facility remains a vital shelter resource with robust onsite services. This investment reflects our commitment to helping neighbors stabilize, recover, and move toward permanent housing solutions across Vermont.” 
 
“Northfield Savings Bank has been a steadfast partner to this community, and their support for the Speranza Inn comes at exactly the right moment,” said Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet Housing & Community Development. “Their generosity helps make it possible for people in crisis to have a warm, reliable place to stay during one of the hardest housing periods Vermont has ever faced.” 
 
Northfield Savings Bank presented a check to Downstreet on December 5, 2025, at 9:00am at the Speranza Inn, located at 173 South Main Street in Barre.  
 
To learn more about the Speranza Inn, visit our page here, and to support our final fundraising goals for this vital Central Vermont resource, visit our giving page here.