Good Samaritan Haven is proud to announce the official opening of Turret House, a newly renovated year-round emergency shelter in Montpelier, Vermont. The facility will provide safe, stable, and supportive spaces for adults experiencing homelessness—offering a place of rest, dignity, and connection for some of Washington County’s most vulnerable residents.
Turret House will become the fourth year-round shelter in Good Samaritan Haven’s central Vermont network, which now operates full-time, year-round emergency shelters in Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, and Montpelier. This expansion ensures that our region has distributed access to coordinated care for those experiencing homelessness.
The diversity of environments across our continuum of care allows us to meet individuals where they are and to place them in the setting best suited to their unique circumstances—whether that’s related to gender identity, physical needs, emotional or mental health, or their stage of recovery.
Guests will benefit from case management, housing navigation, benefits assistance, recovery and wellness programming, and skill-building opportunities designed to help them transition toward permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency.
Centering Gender Equity in Shelter Network Design
The new shelter represents more than a brick-and-mortar expansion. It marks a meaningful step toward addressing gender inequities in housing, homelessness, and recovery services. With data showing that women and gender-diverse individuals remain underrepresented in shelter and treatment systems statewide, Turret House has been intentionally added to our network in a way that centers a more balanced distribution of emergency resources.
“Moving towards a new way of approaching homelessness from a perspective of gender experience could be absolutely life-changing for those we serve,” said Bev Allen, Crisis Interventionist at Good Samaritan Haven. “I feel strongly that we can stand behind our decision to modify our networkwide gender distribution to increase access for those who identify as female, transgender, and non-binary. I think the community of Montpelier will wholeheartedly support this humanitarian, equitable step forward.”
Commitment to Community Partnership
Good Samaritan Haven remains committed to maintaining strong relationships with neighbors, city leaders, and community partners. Open communication and accountability will guide operations at Turret House.
“Our goal has always been to create a shelter network that reflects the values of this region,” said Julie Bond, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Haven. “With Turret House, we’re strengthening the safety net for all Vermonters while also acknowledging that people experience homelessness differently. We want every guest to feel seen, safe, and supported.”
Bond added, “We’re deeply grateful to the City of Montpelier and our state and nonprofit partners for helping transform this longtime community landmark into a welcoming home. This is a space built on hope—a place where healing and stability truly begin.”
This project was made possible through the support of the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Evernorth, and generous private donors. Their investments have transformed this property into a lasting community resource that will strengthen Vermont’s safety net for years to come.