Vermont Business Magazine The Speranza Inn, a program of Downstreet Housing & Community Development, officially celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Staff, guests, donors, community and funding partners, and neighbors gathered to commemorate the incredible work that has been accomplished in the past year at the Speranza Inn.
Downstreet acquired the former Quality Inn in Barre in April of 2025. Since then, Downstreet has undertaken an occupied rehabilitation on the property, transforming the aging building into the Speranza Inn—a 41-room service-integrated hotel that addresses the immediate needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Central Vermont.
Today, the Speranza Inn's transformation is complete, marking not only the end of construction, but also the beginning of its role as a lasting community cornerstone in Central Vermont.
“The Speranza Inn is an essential community resource, where our dedicated staff provide people with safety, dignity, and support as they work toward stable, permanent housing,” says Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet.
“Here at the Speranza Inn, we work hard to create a sense of community. Through a trauma-informed lens, we connect guests with the services they need, assist with housing applications, and provide safe community space for preparing and eating meals,” says Kathi Partlow, Director of Homeless Services.
Throughout the occupied rehabilitation, the Speranza Inn provided accommodations to 236 households, many of whom stayed for several months while working toward permanent housing and greater stability. With construction now complete, Downstreet and the Speranza Inn staff look forward to continuing to meet the needs of current and future guests while expanding the food pantry, emergency assistance fund, and guest transportation services.
Those interested in supporting the Speranza Inn during this exciting next chapter are encouraged to connect with Downstreet’s experienced staff at downstreet.org/speranza-inn.
Dignity starts with a door, and the Speranza Inn is a vital step toward creating greater stability, equity, and dynamic housing solutions in Central Vermont. Downstreet extends its gratitude to everyone who came together to invest in the Speranza Inn.
About Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Downstreet Housing & Community Development is a non-profit organization that strengthens the communities of Central Vermont by creating permanently affordable homes, promoting equity and inclusion, and connecting people to the resources and services they need to thrive. Since 1987, Downstreet has been enriching neighborhoods in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties through real estate development projects, homeownership programs, supportive services, and a rental portfolio that provides safe, healthy, mixed-income rentals to nearly 1,500 individuals in apartments and manufactured housing communities.
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Vermont Business Magazine