Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing is a non-profit organization that has been serving Windham County since 1995. In 2006 BAAH was recognized by the Vermont Agency of Human Services “for extraordinary contributions to the well-being of Vermonters.”
We have no paid full-time staff. Our programs are implemented by volunteers: members of the board as well as other organizations with complementary goals.
BOARD MEMBERS
Anthony Girard – President, Treasurer, AIH, HIP
Anthony has lived in the Brattleboro area since 1998 with a brief foray to North Carolina. With a passion for sustainability, he co-founded Higley Hill Farm in Wilmington while serving as Carpenter, Daily Operations Manager and Director of Facilities at the Brattleboro Retreat from 2008-2015. His focus was on providing local organic food year-round, selling greens and other vegetables at the Brattleboro Winter and Summer Farmers Markets, and creating safe, healing, and holistic built environments for patients at the Retreat. Anthony moved on to Vice President at GPI Construction where he focuses on Social Services, Education, and Healthcare construction, managing the Great River Terrace project for the WWHT, the new Groundworks Collaborative Drop In Center, and managing work at the Brattleboro Retreat and Southwestern Vermont Health Care facilities in addition to many others. He enjoys sailing, cross-country skiing, and all things outdoors.
Jake Bursky – Vice President, HIP, CCHP
Jake is from the Brattleboro area and remains deeply committed to serving the local community. Jake’s first job was with Youth Services as a Peer Outreach Worker, and that foundation laid the path toward his current work. He has worked in many social service agencies throughout the state and has engaged with community partners from Newport to Bennington, and everywhere in between. Jake’s full-time role is the SASH for All Coordinator with Brattleboro Housing Partnership, and he spends every spare minute riding his bike, cooking food, playing drums, and in the garden.
Timm Harris, AIH, CCHP
Timm was born in Los Angeles; Timm lived there, in Greece, Texas, and Maryland. He earned his BA at Cal State Northridge and two master’s degrees at UCLA. After three years in the Peace Corps (Nicaragua), Timm started working in development assistance overseas, with non-profits and USAID. He specialized in strategic planning, project design, monitoring and evaluation, and resource allocation – mainly in the areas of economic growth, education, and democratic governance. He raised his family (four children) in Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Morocco, Mali and Ghana. Upon ‘retirement’ in 2005, Timm and his wife Ursula Nadolny, with sons Yuri and Alec, moved to Guilford. Timm continued to consult overseas on short assignments until he finally did retire in 2015. Timm is on the Boards of BAAH, Youth Services, and SEVCA.
Jerry Freeman, HIP
Jerry has lived in the Brattleboro area since 1961, minus a few years in Burlington VT for work experience and while attending college at UVM. After brief stints in real estate and insurance related to his father’s Brattleboro business, Jerry became a self-employed carpenter and remained so for 20 years full time, then part time in the 18 years since while also working at Windham and Windsor Housing Trust as a home repair project manager. Jerry’s interest in home repair and maintenance drives his passion to help lower income homeowners keep and maintain their homes in these times of ever-increasing upkeep costs. It is an ongoing challenge. Jerry and his wife Tonya live in nearby Bernardston Mass with their black lab Georgie, and enjoy time with family, especially grandkids, and doing outdoor projects at home.
Mary Dickman, HIP
Mary Dickman is a Bank Manager with M&T Bank in Brattleboro Vermont. Mary has been in her role at the bank for 23 years and specializes in developing business relationships. M&T has a long history of community-focused banking. M&T provides the opportunity for Mary to give back to the community. Mary is an active member in the community through volunteerism for local non-profit organizations.
Emily North, CCHP
Emily North is the Financial Assistance/Housing Case Manager at SEVCA, a community action agency serving residents of Windham and Windsor Counties. In her work, she supports housing opportunities for clients who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Emily grew up in New Hampshire but has lived in Vermont for twenty-eight years. She started her career in education, including teaching at the Community High School of Vermont. She’s an avid orchardist who enjoys reading and knitting.
Kate Barry, AIH
Kate Barry is a Realtor with eXp Realty and the owner of The Kate Barry Team, a leading residential and commercial real estate business in Southern Vermont. In addition to her real estate work, Kate invests in and operates local businesses The Tower Bar & Lounge—that serve as community gathering spaces in downtown Brattleboro. She is deeply committed to sustainable community development and creating opportunities for housing access in the region. Kate is proud to call Brattleboro home and is passionate about supporting the town’s growth, vibrancy, and resilience through her professional work and civic engagement.
Kayla Bernier-Wright, AIH
Kayla was born and raised in Brattleboro and lived there until college. She attended Smith College in Northampton, MA. Kayla has a long history of community engagement & volunteerism stretching back to high school and continuing to today. Her focus on housing began when she joined the staff at Windham & Windsor Housing Trust in early 2020. She has grown in her role to assist first-time homebuyers, moderate- and low-income homeowners looking to remain in their homes, and now as a Case Manager for HomeShare Vermont. She purchased a home in nearby Bellows Falls and loves spending time with her family which consists of her husband, two young sons, 3 rowdy dogs, and many extended family members who have also stayed local.
Greg Labshere, HIP
Gregory Labshere is a Windham County entrepreneur and business owner with a background in carpentry and construction. Originally from Connecticut, he relocated to the Brattleboro area in 2018 and has since become an active member of the local business community. Greg’s experience in construction began in high school, working alongside his father for a local construction company. Through this experience he developed practical skills in carpentry, renovation, and property improvement, while gaining an appreciation for the importance of safe, well-maintained housing. His professional work has given him insight into the housing challenges many individuals and families face in the region. Greg is passionate about helping others and believes strongly in serving the community through acts of service and compassion. His Christian faith is central to his life and guides his commitment to supporting those in need. Outside of his professional work, Greg enjoys music, traveling, sports, and Bible study. He is honored to contribute his experience and perspective to support the mission of expanding and strengthening affordable housing opportunities in the Brattleboro area.
EMERITUS MEMBERS
Annette Cappy
Pat Burke
Gary Goodemote
Melissa Snow
