12/10/2012
Citizens Bank Foundation provides $5,000 grant to Windham & Windsor Housing Trust of Brattleboro
Funds will support HomeSteady 2013 counseling program
Burlington, Vt. (December 10, 2012) – The Citizens Bank Foundation announced it has provided a $5,000 grant to Windham & Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) of Brattleboro, Vermont, to support its HomeSteady program. The program provides local residents with pre- and post-purchase counseling for budgeting, credit and delinquency intervention. The grant will also provide funding for WWHT counselors to assist homeowners affected by Tropical Storm Irene with counseling for disaster-related credit issues. It will ease access to HUD Disaster Recovery funding to assist with rebuilding, repair or help with a down payment. These services are provided free of charge to the general public.
"The primary mission of this program is to help local residents achieve housing stability, while restoring human dignity, neighborhood pride and a sense of community," said Connie Snow, Executive Director of Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. "The ongoing recession and high unemployment, combined with last year’s storm, created instability for many area homeowners. We are grateful to the Citizens Bank Foundation for its ongoing support that has helped Vermont residents obtain housing and improve financial self-sufficiency."
"Windham & Windsor Housing Trust is a respected organization for its can-do spirit and ability to respond to community challenges with innovative housing solutions,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, Vermont. “By offering counseling services for homeownership as well providing support for those who need help with home repairs, Windham & Windsor is building a stronger community for the residents of Brattleboro."
Incorporated in 1987 in response to a lack of affordable housing, WWHT has created nearly 800 units of affordable housing. It has served nearly 1,200 residents, 30 percent of whom are children.
About the Citizens Bank Foundation
Citizens Bank Foundation is a subsidiary of the Citizens Charitable Foundation, which is a charitable contributions vehicle of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The foundation’s support is focused on human services, affordable housing and economic development. RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
