Rutland Housing Authority

Pros

• Rutland Housing treated him well.
• The staff are great.
• Maintenance personnel are great and respectful.
• The staff are good people.
• Some units are very nice.
• The staff are very nice and pleasant.
• It is a great place to live.

Cons

• They claim they were denied housing because of a 35-year-old criminal history.
• The Sheldon Towers building is described as having turned into a crack house.
• There have been break-ins nearby, attributed to drugs and money.
• Some residents allegedly engage in illegal activities to supplement their income.
• Staff are accused of confusing paperwork and denying applications for stupid reasons.
• The organization is accused of using personal agendas instead of professional service.

Review

The stories coming from Rutland Housing and its Sheldon Towers paint a picture of a community that can feel like two different worlds at once. On one hand, there are residents who speak with warmth and admiration for the people who work there, and who insist the experience has been consistently positive. In particular, a long-time resident who has been with Rutland Housing since 2015, originally from Syracuse, NY, says they were treated well from day one. They describe the staff as great, the maintenance crew as respectful, and they emphasize that the entire staff has always been good to them. When asked about Sheldon Towers, this resident says it's great to them and encourages others to ask about it, signaling a strong personal sense of satisfaction with their experience and the people who run the property.

But another thread runs through these reviews that introduces serious concerns about access, safety, and process. A reviewer who has never lived in any of their properties but whose father did for twenty years draws a stark contrast. They disclose that they are a paraplegic and were denied rental because of a criminal history from 35 years ago, conveying a sense of dismay at a policy that they feel unfairly targets disability and past mistakes. The frustration is rendered even more pointed by their cry, "I'm a paraplegic. What danger am I to anyone?!?" In their view, while there are some nice units, Sheldon Towers has deteriorated in their eyes into what they describe as a crack house. They recount witnessing break-ins and observing a neighborhood where drugs and money seem to drive illegal activity. They contend that some residents may be contributing to the issue through illegal means, and they call for a shift from personal agendas to professional service as a remedy. It's a plea for safer surroundings and more professional management.

A different voice adds another dimension: frustration with the housing application and approval process. This reviewer has applied for housing for four years and feels that they have been unfairly blocked, with their family facing homelessness because of seemingly avoidable administrative failures. They accuse staff - including two named individuals, Heather and Shelly Spooner - of confusing paperwork and denying benefits for "stupid reasons" because the staff did not perform their jobs properly. They describe having to reapply repeatedly, with the process dragging on for what feels like many cycles, even as they insist that they had witnesses confirming their situation. The tone conveys bitter disappointment and a sense of powerlessness against a system that appears to fail them despite the apparent urgency of their need.

There are glimpses of more positive, interpersonal experiences within the same general framework. One reviewer who has visited a friend at the property reports that every time they called or came up to the site, the people they encountered were "very nice and pleasant." They offer thanks to an individual named Vilbrin, suggesting that kindness and courtesy from staff members can be a meaningful part of the experience for visitors and perhaps residents alike. This positive note offers a counterbalance to the harsher criticisms, signaling that the human side of management can shine even when other aspects of the system feel fraught.

Short affirmations also punctuate the set of reviews, with phrases like "Great place to live" and simply "Houses!" appearing as bright, concise endorsements amid the longer, more complex narratives. Taken together, these snippets suggest that satisfaction is not monolithic within Rutland Housing. Some residents feel supported and valued; others feel mistreated or ignored, especially around safety concerns, tenancy eligibility, and the paperwork that governs who gets housed and when.

Altogether, the collection of comments reveals a housing experience that is highly variegated. For some residents, Rutland Housing and Sheldon Towers offer a dependable, respectful environment with responsive staff and a sense of community. For others, the same environment exposes serious gaps: perceived discrimination in housing decisions, concerns about safety and drug-related activity in the buildings, and frustrating administrative hurdles that can leave families in precarious situations for extended periods. The threads about staff like Heather and Shelly Spooner, the repeated appeals, and the contrasting reports of neighborly kindness all point to a complex reality in which the quality of experience can hinge on personal interactions, specific staff assignments, and the particular building in question.

Looking ahead, these reviews suggest a few clear avenues for improvement. Consistency in administrative processes and clearer, more equitable criteria for tenancy could help reduce the frustration around denials and paperwork. Strengthening safety and oversight at Sheldon Towers might address the concerns about break-ins and illegal activity that some residents report. At the same time, recognizing the positive interpersonal aspects - courtesy, responsiveness, and genuine care from certain staff members - could form the foundation for building a more uniformly positive experience across all properties. The overall takeaway is that Rutland Housing embodies both strong personal connections and significant systemic challenges, and both realities deserve attention from leadership, residents, and the broader community.

This part of Rutland, Vermont offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living needs. With several physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals in close proximity, residents have easy access to medical care. Additionally, cafes, restaurants, and theaters provide opportunities for leisure and entertainment. The presence of parks allows for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Places of worship are also conveniently located for spiritual fulfillment. Transportation options such as Amtrak and taxi services make getting around the area convenient. Overall, this part of Rutland offers a well-rounded community with resources that can meet the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Physicians

• Champlain Valley Eyecare (0.1 miles)
• Oral & Facial Surgery Associates (0.4 miles)
• Green Mountain Oral Surgery - Sherilynn Stofka DDS (0.4 miles)
• Avada Hearing Care Center (0.5 miles)
• Convenient Medical Care PC (0.5 miles)
• Rutland Optical (0.8 miles)
• CHCRR Pediatrics (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Beauchamp & O'rourke Pharmacists (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Wilcox Medical (0.6 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Wilcox Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Rutland Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.4 miles)
• Juice Amour (0.8 miles)
• Leaf Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Back Country Cafe (9.2 miles)
• The Depot Cafe & Bake Shop (10.3 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Jones Donuts & Bakery (0.6 miles)
• Subway (0.6 miles)
• Applebee's (0.7 miles)
• Little Harry's (0.8 miles)
• Rutland Restaurant (0.9 miles)
• Strange Fellows (1 miles)

Parks

• Whites Playground (0.6 miles)
• Main Street Park (0.6 miles)
• Rotary Field (0.7 miles)
• Meadow Street Park (1.4 miles)
• Gifford Woods State Park (8.8 miles)

Theaters

• Flagship Cinemas Rutland (1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (1 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (1 miles)
• Roy's Taxi (1.5 miles)
• Cape Air (6 miles)

Hospitals

• The Rutland Hospital (1 miles)
• Rutland Regional Medical Center (1.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Alliance Community Fellowship (1.1 miles)
• Church At Rutland (1.7 miles)
• Wallingford Congregational Church (10 miles)
• Church of Our Savior (10.4 miles)
• Federated Church (10.5 miles)
• A Grace & Faith Family Church (14.3 miles)
• Revive Church (14.3 miles)