Rep. David Paige and Rep. Ellen Read | Guest Columnists
Did you know that a recent survey on housing costs found that 87% of rental properties in New Hampshire are unaffordable? The truth is undeniable: affordable housing is the most urgent issue facing our state today. And make no mistake, even if you’re not a renter, this statewide crisis is driving up your property taxes. For renters, finding an affordable place to live is nearly impossible. Many are paying more in rent than they would for a mortgage. When the majority of housing is out of reach, and there’s nowhere else to turn, renters are forced into debt and poverty just to secure basic shelter — or worse, face homelessness. This situation is unacceptable. The priority of legislators in Concord should be expanding access to affordable housing, reducing rent costs, and keeping Granite Staters out of poverty. Yet, instead of focusing on this critical issue, Republicans are, for the fourth time in three years, attempting to change the law that has protected tenants from unjust evictions for the past 40 years.
House Bill 60, which will be presented in the House Committee on Housing this week, would allow landlords to evict tenants without cause, dismantling 40 years of tenant protections. If passed, this bill would expose renters to sudden displacement, regardless of whether they’ve paid their rent on time or abided by their lease terms. We have to address the elephant in the room, vulnerable populations — like families with young children, seniors, and people with disabilities — would bear the brunt of this change. Imagine being evicted from a home you’ve rented in good standing for years simply because your child’s laughter was a little too loud or because a landlord wanted a tenant they deemed more “suitable.”
The consequences of eviction are far-reaching. Without stable housing, children face disruptions in their education, hindering both academic performance and social development. Adults struggle to maintain consistent employment, leading to increased turnover rates for businesses. At the same time, municipalities, already strained by tight budgets, are left to shoulder the financial burden of homelessness through welfare programs and emergency services—costs that ultimately fall to property taxpayers.
Advertisement
Between 2022 and 2023, homelessness in New Hampshire surged by an alarming 52.1%, vastly outpacing the national increase of 12%. This isn’t just a statistic — it’s a humanitarian crisis impacting families and individuals across the state. Behind every number is a person who has lost their home, stability, and sense of belonging. Housing is not a mere commodity; it’s a fundamental necessity. Without it, nearly every aspect of life becomes a struggle.
Those opposed to tenant protections often argue that such policies place undue burdens on landlords. However, this viewpoint overlooks the larger social and economic costs of widespread evictions and homelessness. Existing “for cause” eviction laws already offer landlords a way to address legitimate concerns like unpaid rent or property damage. Allowing evictions without cause only exacerbates the imbalance, leaving every single tenant in New Hampshire vulnerable and unprotected.
Addressing this crisis requires bold action to increase access to affordable housing and protect renters from unjust displacement. Policymakers must prioritize investments in affordable housing initiatives, strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws, and resist attempts like HB 60 to erode tenant protections. These steps are not just ethical obligations but also practical necessities. A healthy housing market benefits everyone by creating stronger, more resilient communities, boosting local economies, and alleviating the strain on public resources and local property taxpayers to pick up the tab.
In New Hampshire, we take pride in our resilience and commitment to community. But resilience alone cannot solve systemic problems. It’s imperative that we advocate for policies ensuring every resident has a safe and affordable home. The time for action is now. Let’s unite to confront this housing crisis with the compassion and resolve it demands, not pass legislation like HB 60 to make the problem worse. Together, we can build a state where everyone has the foundation they need to thrive.
Advertisement
State Reps. David Paige, D- Conway, and Rep. Ellen Read, D-Newmarket, serve as ranking and deputy ranking members of the New Hampshire House Committee on Housing, respectively.
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
Advertisement
At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox
Diane Durgin, 67, is accused of shooting at a Black man who inadvertently drove to her property after a prearranged truck part sale, prosecutors said.
A New Hampshire woman is accused of violating the state’s Civil Rights Act four times after she allegedly shot at a man because he was Black, prosecutors said.
Diane Durgin, 67, of Weare, N.H. could face up to a $5,000 fine for each violation she is found to have committed, the office of New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a press release Tuesday.
Advertisement
Durgin is also charged with criminal threatening against a person with a deadly weapon and attempted first degree assault with a deadly weapon, Michael Garrity, a media representative for the New Hampshire Attorney General, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.
Durgin had a final pre-trial conference last week, Garrity said.
In a civil complaint filed Tuesday, Durgin is accused of threatening physical force against the victim, the AG said. Prosecutors asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction barring Durgin from repeating her alleged behavior and from contacting the victim and his family.
During the morning hours of Oct. 20, 2024, the victim claims, he “mistakenly” drove to Durgin’s home after a prearranged purchase of a truck part with a seller online, prosecutors wrote as part of their request for an injunction.
When the man — whom prosecutors identified in court documents as X.G. — arrived, Durgin allegedly stepped out of her home and approached his car with a gun “holstered by her waist,” prosecutors wrote.
Advertisement
Upon noticing that X.G. was Black, Durgin allegedly “removed her gun and pointed it at X.G.,” prosecutors said in the injunction request.
While X.G. explained that he was lost, Durgin called the victim a “Black mother[expletive],” and threatened to “kill him,” prosecutors allege.
As the victim attempted to drive away, Durgin allegedly took her gun and fired two shots at the fleeing man’s car, missing both times, the AG’s office said.
While on the phone with a dispatcher, Durgin allegedly said she shot the man’s car because the victim is Black, the AG said.
“The guy is Black. And he, he…he says he’s meeting someone here and I think he’s coming here to steal,” Durgin allegedly said.
Advertisement
Police located X.G. and brought him to the Weare Police Department, stopping along the way at the correct seller’s home to complete the truck part purchase, prosecutors wrote in court documents.
To prove a violation of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act, the AG must show that Durgin “interfered or attempted to interfere with the rights of the victim to engage in lawful activities by threatening to engage in or actually engage in physical force or violence, when such actual or threatening conduct was motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability,” prosecutors said.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
