Every year, the Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services, which is part of the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, issues a report on homelessness in our state over the past year. This year’s report has some significant changes – in the way they collected the data over previous years, and in mentioning some ways the state is trying to confront the issue.
Previously, the data gathered included duplication of people who go in and out of shelters, and often to different shelters, thereby being counted two or three times. So, “clients who had shelter stays in multiple programs are now counted once,” according to the report. This means that the numbers look better than they have in other years.
However, the length of stay for many individuals and families has increased. Again from the report: The average stay in emergency and/or domestic violence shelters was 52 days per client. Clients in transitional housing programs stay longer – an average of 129 days.
We certainly have seen this at the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter in Peterborough, as more and more frequently a family needs to be with us for several months and some for over a year.
A total of 4301people were assisted last year in state funded emergency and transitional shelters. MATS is not a state- or federally-, funded shelter, but is privately owned run by volunteers and one paid full-time case manager. We rely solely on donations from businesses, grants, service clubs, churches and local citizens.
The vast majority of those who are homeless in New Hampshire reflect our state’s ethnicity – most are white. Of these, 25 percent were victims of domestic violence, 6 percent were veterans and 16 percent were chronically homeless (HUD’s definition: people with a disability living in a place not meant for human habitation for at least a year). Others that made up the state’s total include those with a known mental illness, a substance addiction, a physical or development disability or HIV/AIDS .
There are 45 shelters in New Hampshire. While the state does manage some transitional shelters of its own, there are others like MATS and Jaffrey’s Shelter from the Storm that are also privately owned transitional shelters. Keene has two emergency shelters funded by the state through Southwestern Community Services; at one time, there were three others but only one, called One Hundred Nights, remains.
The report mentions “an array of services that together with emergency shelters act as a safety net for the most vulnerable in our state”. One such service is the “hot-line” 2-1-1. Last year, 3,502 people who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless were helped by calling this number. In our state, the vacancy rate is almost non-existent for low income housing, while rents are generally high around the state
There are two unique intervention programs available to help people in need find affordable and permanent housing: Housing Security Guarantee Program and Homeless Housing and Access Revolving Loan Fund. The first is a “non-cash voucher that provides a guarantee for the security deposit to a landlord.” The second “provides loans for the first month’s rent and/or security deposit” for those who may not qualify for other programs due to specific guidelines.
For individuals and families who are not able to live independently, there is a HUD program called Continuum of Care; this program provides comprehensive case management for people with disabilities. Such programs exist mostly in Nashua and Manchester, but people can be helped throughout the state as well.
We are very glad that in our region, MATS is available for our neighbors who are struggling to stay solvent.
Wish List: Reliable car; twin mattress and box spring sets; Pampers (sizes 3 and up); wipes; gift card from local stores for our guests to use. Please contact the MATS office at 924-5033 if you wish to donate any of these items. Mailable donations may be sent to P. O. Box 3053 in Peterborough. Thank you!
Hope Pettegrew is a volunteer with Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter.