BRATTLEBORO — After nearly 20 years of service and dedication to Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing (BAAH), one of its founders has retired from the organization's volunteer board.
Byron Stookey - described by his colleagues as “steadfast, tenacious, unyielding, determined, inspirational, resolute, and meticulous” - led BAAH from its infancy in 1995 to a tax-deductible nonprofit organization serving greater Brattleboro with a number of initiatives, including three current programs.
• The Save Our Homes loan program makes no-interest loans to people facing housing emergencies.
• The Apartments-in-Homes program helps homeowners who have underutilized space in their homes create a modest and affordable apartment for rental.
• The Mobile Homes Loan Program makes low-interest loans to Tri-Park residents for repairs or improvements to their mobile homes.
BAAH also advocates with the town and the state for policies and programs that support housing affordable to the people who do the bedrock work of the community.
In a show of admiration and gratitude, the BAAH Board has created the Byron Stookey Scholarship Award, an annual prize to a deserving college-bound BUHS graduate who has innovative ideas and/or compelling projects to enhance the Brattleboro community. It will begin this year.
“Applicants should demonstrate a drive that, like Stookey, exemplifies social justice and support for our local community,” the organization says.
The board acknowledged the scholarship to Stookey at a dinner in his honor on Jan. 15, which assembled past board members and Stookey supporters to make contributions to the scholarship fund.
In an email thanking the Board, Stookey - for whom the entire scheme was a surprise - responded, “I was overwhelmed by [the] party, especially by the amazing scholarship pledge! Nothing could please me more than to help a high school student who has worked hard and cared about others. If the scholarship could be awarded even once, I'd be overjoyed!”
Then he added, “Now get back to work!”