Elizabeth Bridgewater is executive director of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust.
BRATTLEBORO-We at Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) believe housing is about more than four walls and a roof. It is about creating places where people feel safe, connected, and supported.
At the Snow Block in downtown Brattleboro, we are seeing what is possible when residents, staff, and community partners work together with intention.
The Snow Block is home to a growing network of neighbors who are actively building community. With support from WWHT, residents have been participating in restorative circles facilitated in partnership with Interaction and the organization’s Restorative Practices Program.
These circles create space for honest conversation, shared problem-solving, and stronger relationships. They are helping shift how people engage with one another and how challenges are addressed — moving from isolation and frustration toward trust and collaboration.
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These efforts are already translating into positive, resident-led activity.
When a resident asked for help creating a flyer to encourage regular game nights, the team at the Housing Trust was glad to assist. Today, Friday evenings at the Snow Block often bring neighbors together for games, conversation, and connection.
Many weeks, a member of the Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team (BRAT) joins in, creating an informal and welcoming setting to build relationships and foster a shared sense of responsibility for the community.
This approach reflects a broader commitment we made as an organization. WWHT owns 912 rental homes across Windham and Windsor counties, and we provide property management and support services to the majority of our Brattleboro area properties.
In our most recent strategic plan, we identified community safety and well-being as a top priority.
We trained our full staff in restorative practices, began showing up consistently for supportive circles in our buildings, strengthened partnerships across Brattleboro through our participation in the One Brattleboro Group, and deepened our collaboration with the Brattleboro Police Department through regular meetings.
This work is informed by data as well as relationships. Beginning in the fall of 2024, we began to track every call for police services at our properties. This helps us better understand how police activity at our properties fits into the larger context of what’s going on in town, and it helps us better understand what types of support residents need and where the greatest needs are concentrated.
We found that our buildings account for 3% of the total annual police calls in Brattleboro, and only a few locations account for the majority of the calls. In many cases, these calls are for wellness checks or assistance with conflict among residents, allowing us to better align resident services and intervene early with the right supports.
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The real measure of success, however, is what happens between neighbors. When people come together around a table to play a game, share a meal, or talk through concerns, they are laying the groundwork for a healthier, safer community.
These moments may seem small, but they are powerful. They are how trust is built. They are how belonging takes root.
At the Snow Block, residents are showing that community does not happen by accident. It is created — through presence, partnership, and a shared commitment to looking out for one another.
And when community grows, so does safety, stability, and hope.
This Voices Viewpoint was submitted to The Commons.
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