Manchester aldermen allocate funds for mobile crisis unit, transitional housing
Mar. 6—Manchester aldermen voted this week to allocate additional funds to go toward a mobile crisis unit and additional transitional housing, part of ongoing efforts to reduce homelessness and substance abuse in the state's largest city.
Aldermen approved two major initiatives Tuesday night — transferring $201,000 in opioid abatement funds to Hope for NH Recovery for a mobile crisis unit and case manager, and allocating $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust fund to create up to 30 transitional housing beds.
"We are making real progress addressing homelessness and reducing drug overdoses, so now is not the time to take our eye off the ball," Mayor Jay Ruais said. "I've always said, we must address this in a comprehensive fashion, and these three initiatives do that with a focus on law enforcement, addressing the underlying drivers while providing for affordable housing."
Ruais said Manchester currently has 230 transitional beds, creating a "major barrier" in moving individuals from shelters into stable housing.
"Expanding capacity is important to breaking this cycle," Ruais said.
The St. Anne's Parish building at 231 Merrimack St. has the potential to house up to 30 individuals in 16 rooms, increasing transitional housing capacity by 13%, Ruais said.
"For $250,000, this proposal will create more than three times as many beds, while lowering rents to an amount not to exceed $750.75 per month — delivering significantly greater impact at a lower cost per resident," he said.
Ruais said the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund was created "precisely to support initiatives like this, projects that expand housing opportunities" for those in need.
"The administration manual for the fund specifically states 'AHT funds can be used for projects that provide temporary or permanent housing to low or moderate-income households as that term is defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development,'" Ruais said.
Affordable housing in Manchester is currently defined as costing between $1,200 to $1,800 per month depending on unit size.
"This initiative allows us to provide stable, affordable housing while keeping costs sustainable for both tenants and the city," Ruais said.
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund currently holds nearly $1.15 million, with additional revenue expected from spring parcel auctions.
"This ensures that funding this initiative will not compromise future projects, making now the ideal time for investment," Ruais said. "This model is about strategic placement, not just housing availability. We will identify individuals ready for stable living arrangements, ensuring they have the best chance for long-term success."
Residents will sign 18 — to 24-month leases at the high barrier transitional living facility, with "rules in place," officials said. A high barrier facility is defined as a place that provides services but also has rules that must be followed to stay there.
"At the end of their term, they will have had the opportunity to address underlying challenges and save up for their own place, much like what is done at Liberty House," Ruais said. "Once a resident moves on, another individual will be placed in their unit-continuing to reduce the number of people in shelters and on our streets. This is precisely the type of continuum Manchester needs."
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