New Hampshire

Unhoused families living in NH hotels face deadlines to find new homes

Published

1 year ago

April 1, 2023

Unhoused families living in NH hotels face deadlines to find new homes

Bruce Allaire not too long ago received some excellent news.

His mother and father, who had been staying on the fourth flooring of the Consolation Inn in Manchester for almost a yr, lastly discovered an residence: A backed one-bedroom in Hooksett, and simply in time for a looming deadline.

They had been residing on the Consolation Inn courtesy of the New Hampshire Emergency Rental Help Program, which paid motels across the state to open their doorways to unhoused folks with federal pandemic-assistance funds. The state offered extra funding in December. However now this system is ending, with an April 1 deadline for adults, and June 15 for households with kids.

“My mother and father are protected and safe,” mentioned Allaire, who helped file the mandatory paperwork and made calls to housing companies for them. However he’s not feeling relaxed.

“I don’t wish to say I’m content material, as a result of that’s actually not the suitable phrase,” he mentioned.

That is as a result of Allaire and his girlfriend, Coven Covey, are additionally residing on the Consolation Inn, with their almost two-year-old son. They usually have to depart by June 15.

The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, which oversees this system, says that of the roughly 700 households within the lodge program, 500 of them face the April 1 deadline. Officers say it’s not clear what number of of them have discovered new housing.

Neighborhood Motion Applications, like Southern New Hampshire Providers in Hillsborough County, say they’re working to assist folks residing within the motels in that search. They even pay for the primary month’s hire and safety deposit.

However discovering reasonably priced housing is a tough job. Proper now, emptiness charges in New Hampshire are at 0.5%; A wholesome market is nearer to five% emptiness. In the meantime, the median hire for a two-bedroom residence has elevated by greater than 45% prior to now decade, and housing specialists say the mixture of those traits has exacerbated the state’s homelessness disaster.

Allaire says three generations of his household had been residing collectively in a three-bedroom residence in Manchester till final yr, however they had been evicted as a result of the owner determined to renovate. Since then, Allaire says he, Covey and their son bounced round three completely different motels in two completely different cities, and couch-surfed at household and buddy’s properties till they landed on the Consolation Inn.

“It is a actually humbling expertise to not know the place you are going to sleep the subsequent evening, not figuring out in case your child’s going to have one thing to eat,” he mentioned.

Allaire mentioned that he and Covey had been working till somebody totaled their automotive, which made it tough to get to their jobs. He credit native assist teams, similar to Waypoint and Southern New Hampshire Providers, for extending a lifeline for his household. He says they put him in contact with household assist companies and helped them get on waitlists for backed housing.

“I am simply extremely grateful. I simply can’t say it sufficient,” he mentioned.

He says he’s additionally grateful to be staying on the Consolation Inn, though it might probably get a bit of crowded residing in a single room that has to primarily operate as two bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge and a play area. Covey mentioned they’ve tried to make it as comfy as attainable for his or her son by establishing a nook with toys and blankets.

“That nook is his spot,” Covey mentioned, “so he appears like he has his personal space, though we’re in a confined area.”

She mentioned their greatest precedence is to make their son — who has spent a lot of his life residing in motels — really feel comfy and protected.

“The change is overwhelming,” she mentioned. “[We] did sufficient on our half to make him really feel regardless of the place we’re, if he is with me and pa, that that is dwelling.”

They’ve additionally discovered group on the Consolation Inn with the opposite lodge residents — a few of whom they knew from earlier than, together with a number of shut mates and family. Allaire says they throw potluck dinners utilizing sizzling plates of their rooms, take walks and manage group occasions within the parking zone — even a “trunk or deal with” Halloween for the children final fall.

“It was solely right here within the parking zone, however it was nonetheless good to have all people coming collectively,” Allaire mentioned.

He and Covey dressed up their son as considered one of his favourite characters, Mickey Mouse.

“He saved taking a look at himself within the mirror like, ‘Wait a minute. This does not look proper right here.’ However he preferred it,” Allaire mentioned.

Because the April 1 deadline approached, Allaire mentioned most of their mates on the Consolation Inn haven’t discovered new locations to remain. He mentioned his mother and father are the fortunate ones.

He and Covey are hoping they’ll get their fortunate break too: that they’ll quickly get off one of many housing waitlists, land new jobs and discover an residence that may really feel like dwelling.

For now, Covey has purchased an indication that she’s held on the door of their lodge room.

“It says, ‘Our household is like branches of a tree. We might develop in numerous instructions, but our roots stay as one,’ ” she mentioned.

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New Hampshire

12 Places in New Hampshire People Would Escape to if Society Collapsed

Published

6 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Press Room

12 Places in New Hampshire People Would Escape to if Society Collapsed

It’s a scene straight out of The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, A Quiet Place, and every other post-apocalyptic show or movie in existence.

A large, catastrophic event happens, whether that’s the spread of a dangerous virus, aliens invading the Earth, or a natural disaster unleashing chaos. Society as we know it collapses. Your daily life and future plans have come to a grinding halt, and your only focus becomes surviving and protecting your loved ones.

There’s a reason why films and programs about this topic continue to be produced. The concept of survival in the face of uncontrollable events is a universal one, and every human being can journey into their imagination and wonder what they would do if such a disaster were to happen.

Would you hide in your home and hope for the best? Journey to a rural, uninhabited area and live out the rest of your days on the land? Maybe you and your buddies would invade a grocery store, Walmart, or Costco to wait things out in relative security. Or if you’re like this writer, you think you’d somehow kick the bucket in 0.5 seconds and that would be that.

We decided to go on Facebook and ask our readers where in New Hampshire they would escape to if society collapsed. The answers ranged from serious to humorous, but either way, let’s see what people said (and fingers crossed we never have to find out for real).

12 New Hampshire Places People Would Escape to if Society Collapsed

Gallery Credit: Megan

Places in NH You Could Escape the Zombie Apocalypse According to Granite Staters

Best Places in New Hampshire to Hide if There Was Ever a Zombie Apocalypse

See the best places to hide in New Hampshire if a zombie apocalypse ever took place.

Gallery Credit: Logan Sherwood

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New Hampshire

Heath: Our kids deserve better

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Press Room

Heidi Carrington Heath
| Guest Columnist

On Friday nights at our offices in Portsmouth you’ll hear the sound of laughter coming from one of the many classrooms in our building. You are likely to see a group of middle and high school students working on an art project, debriefing their school week, or talking about their latest crush. They come from diverse families and backgrounds across the Seacoast (and beyond). What ties them together is their experience as LGBTQ+ youth and students. They have an opportunity to be seen, heard, and held in a community of their peers. It is my incredible privilege as the Executive Director of Seacoast Outright to help create space for community and joy in a time when our kids (and their families) are increasingly under attack.

I have long been proud that New Hampshire has consistently, and clearly, supported the rights of LGBTQ+ Granite Staters, and in particular, those of our LGBTQ+ youth. In 2018, Governor Sununu signed a landmark transgender anti-discrimination bill into law. This bill offered critical protections in housing, public accommodations, and more for transgender Granite Staters. He also signed a bill that banned the harmful practice of conversion therapy for minors. Governor Sununu did the right thing then. My question is: what about now, Governor?

The last two years have seen unprecedented attacks on LGBTQ+ youth. We stand on the precipice of the passage of multiple pieces of devastating legislation for transgender youth and their families in New Hampshire. Despite a resounding defeat last May, we are again facing a bill that forcibly outs students to their parents. The legislature is considering multiple bans on the participation of transgender girls in sports, and a major dismantling of the 2018 non-discrimination protections our Governor was eager to sign just five years ago. But this time around, Sununu has been silent.

On behalf of LGBTQ+ youth and families across the Granite State, I want to be loud and clear: nothing has changed since 2018, Governor Sununu. Instead, the national climate for LGBTQ+ youth has gotten more hostile, not less.

Middle school and high school are hard enough already – for all kids. Being trans in this climate makes it even harder. They don’t need politicians bullying them by allowing these dangerous bills to become law.

There is a deep and profound cost to the dehumanizing rhetoric we are seeing at the State House and the silence we are seeing from Governor Sununu. We see its impact every day at Seacoast Outright. Our kids and their families are terrified and struggling. We have lost youth in the LGBTQ+ community in New Hampshire to suicide in the last year as a result of having to watch their personhood be debated by those who are charged to protect and care for them.

The Trevor Project recently released a statistic that 47% of transgender and non-binary youth believe their chances of living to 35 are low. My heart breaks when I read that data, and yet, I understand why it can feel that way. They see too few adults working to protect and care for them, and far too many doing the opposite.

All of our kids deserve to be safe at school. They deserve confidential access to safe adults to process their coming out stories and identities on their own terms. They deserve access to spaces and places they need to thrive.

All of our kids deserve the protective factors that come with being part of a team sport. What young person doesn’t hope for a deeper sense of belonging, the camaraderie of their peers, and a chance to excel at something? This is an essential piece of growing up.

Instead, we are on the cusp of making schools less safe and taking away access to sports. Our kids deserve better than this, Governor Sununu. Seacoast Outright’s kids, your kids, and all of the children of the Granite State deserve better.

This is an opportunity to remember your own words from 2018: “Discrimination – in any form – is unacceptable and runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die Spirit. If we really want to be the Live Free or Die State, we must ensure that New Hampshire is a place where every person, regardless of their background, has an equal and full opportunity to pursue their dreams and to make a better life for themselves and their families.”

At our Outright parents and caregivers group we ask the question: who are you here for? I’ll ask that same question to you, Governor. Who are YOU here for? Our state’s LGBTQ+ youth deserve to know. It’s time for you to speak up now. Granite Staters are waiting.

Heidi Carrington Heath (she/hers) serves as the Executive Director of Seacoast Outright, NH’s oldest LGBTQ+ organization. Seacoast Outright serves, supports, and advocates for LGBTQ+ youth across New Hampshire. Heidi is passionate about building a Granite State where all of NH’s kids can thrive. She lives in Exeter.

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New Hampshire

Accused Aggravated Assaulter, Wanted In Georgia, Arrested By NH State Police: Roundup

Published

20 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Press Room

Accused Aggravated Assaulter, Wanted In Georgia, Arrested By NH State Police: Roundup

CONCORD, NH — An early morning traffic stop late last month on Interstate 89 led to a Brazilian national being arrested on warrant out of Georgia on assault charges from late 2019.

Around 2:15 a.m. on March 28, a state trooper driving north on Interstate 93 in Bow saw an SUV speeding in the middle lane in front of their cruiser. The trooper caught up with the 2023 Kia Sportage, clocked the vehicle going 81 mph in a 55 zone, and pulled the driver over.

The driver was identified as Arthur Bello Veiga, 26, of Rumford Street in Concord, from a Brazilian passport and driver’s license, the trooper wrote in an affidavit. Veiga also had an expired Georgia driver’s license, the report stated. After running Veiga’s information, an active extraditable warrant was found for his arrest for failure to appear in November 2019 on aggravated assault and aggravated battery felony charges out of the Chatham County Superior Court in Georgia. He was accused of assault in 2018 when he lived in Savannah, GA.

Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Veiga was then arrested on a fugitive from justice charge as well as speeding and taken to the county jail. He was arrested later that morning.

Congrats, Lt. Cote, And Good Luck!

Find out what’s happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Say What?

Troop A Blotter

Maekenna Nichole Spence, 22, of Westbrook, Maine, was arrested at 9:23 p.m. on March 31 on a reckless operation charge in Seabrook.

Jennifer Ann Goss, 54, of Greenland was arrested at 12:47 a.m. on March 31 on a driving under the influence charge in Portsmouth.

Alan Lawrence Garcia, 30, of Rochester was arrested on a warrant at 9:54 p.m. on March 30 in Dover.

Nathan E. Kimball, 34, of Dover was arrested at 3:10 p.m. on March 30 on a felony operating after being certified as a habitual offender charge in Newington.

Keyan Charles Scott, 23, of Hudson was arrested at 7:06 a.m. on March 30 on a DUI charge in Raymond.

Troy Andrew Canney, 24, of Barrington was arrested at 1:56 a.m. on March 30 on DUI and DUI-adult more than 0.08; minor more than 0.02 charges as well as yellow-solid line, directional signals, and front lights fail-turn on lights when required violations in Dover.

John Anthony McManus, 18, of Westwood, Massachusetts, was arrested at 8:14 p.m. on March 29 on manufacture-possess a false ID, transport alcohol by a minor, speeding-25-plus over the 65 limit, and unlawful possession-intoxication charges. Also charged was Erik James Sheehan, 18, of Westwood, MA, on a manufacture-possess a false ID. They were charged in North Hampton.

Tyler O. Zimmer, 30, of Rochester was arrested at 6:27 p.m. on March 29 on suspension of vehicle registration and uninspected vehicle violations in Somersworth.

Courtney L. Boston, 31, of Rochester was arrested at 4:55 p.m. on March 29 on driving after revocation or suspension charge as well as uninspected vehicle, driver’s license prohibitions, and change of address-name violations.

Michael R. Dowling, 62, of Hampton was arrested at 11:30 a.m. on March 29 on a driving after revocation or suspension charge after an incident in Hampton.

Noah Charles Hanscom, 21, of Barrington was arrested at 7:06 a.m. on March 29 on driving after revocation or suspension, operating with an expired license, and speeding-26-mph over the limit of 55 mph of less in Newington.

Nytasha Lee Hooks, 22, of Sanford, ME, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. on March 28 on a reckless operation charge in Hampton.

Jovan F. Hussey, 24, of Haverhill, MA, was arrested at 4:32 p.m. on March 27 on operating without a valid license and speeding-26-plus mph over the limit of 55 or less charges in Portsmouth.

Troop B Blotter

Oscar Nale Nieves, 37, of Manchester was arrested at 3:14 p.m. on March 31 on driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, operating without a valid license, and two driving after revocation or suspension charges in Bedford.

Amanda L. Warren, 36, of Lawrence, MA, was arrested on a warrant at 3:10 p.m. on March 31 and operating without a valid license, motor vehicle not equipped with an alcohol interlock device, disobeying an officer, driving without giving proof, driving after revocation or suspension-subsequent, and two driving after revocation or suspension charges as well as uninspected vehicle and defective equipment violations in Londonderry.

Corey J. Weymouth, 38, of Derry was arrested on a warrant at 8:09 a.m. on March 31 in Brentwood.

Robert Joseph Stack, 34, of Manchester was arrested at 8:24 p.m. on March 30 on a driving after revocation or suspension charge and a following too closely violation in Manchester.

Louis A. Walbourne, 43, of Manchester was arrested on a warrant at 12:35 p.m. on March 30 in Manchester.

Jonathen D. Petrie, 32, of Bedford, MA, was arrested at 2:45 a.m. on March 30 on reckless conduct-deadly weapon, resisting arrest or detention, disobeying an officer, reckless operation, and negligent driving charges as well as failure to move right for emergency vehicles, lane control, driving on a divided way; crossing a median, traffic control device, and two yellow-solid line violations in Manchester.

Marcia M. Whitney, 52, of Hillsborough was arrested at 10:08 p.m. on March 29 on a possession of a controlled drug charge in Manchester.

Thomas James Belcher, 36, of Hillsborough was arrested at 8:19 p.m. on March 29 on DUI and controlled drug: controlled premises where drugs kept charges in Manchester.

Emmanuel Jimenez, 22, of Thorndike, MA, was arrested at 6:13 p.m. on March 29 on driving after revocation or suspension, operating without a valid license, and transport drugs in a motor vehicle charges as well as a failure to use required turn signal violation in Bedford.

Jason M. Donovan, 47, of Cornish, ME, was arrested on a bench warrant at 6:04 p.m. on March 29 and a driving after revocation or suspension charge in Bedford.

Mercy Gaetano, 42, of Manchester was arrested on two bench warrants at 10:11 p.m. on March 27 in Derry.

Sandy Kathrin Andrews, 22, of Nashua was arrested at 11:47 a.m. on March 26 on reckless operation and negligent driving charges after an incident in Bedford.

Troop D Blotter

Lauren Elizabeth Harrington, 32, of Bradford was arrested at 8:30 p.m. on March 31 on DUI and reckless operation charges in Concord.

Joshua Allen Woods, 24, of Newport was arrested at 8:20 p.m. on March 31 on an operating without a valid license charges in Sunapee.

Zachary Bouffard, 30, of Concord was arrested at 2:58 a.m. on March 31 on DUI, aggravated DUI-30-plus mph, and speeding-25-plus mph over the 65 limit charges in Bow.

Calvin Atwood, 49, of Manchester was arrested at 11:47 p.m. on March 30 on driving after revocation or suspension, possession of a controlled drug, and transport drugs in a motor vehicle charges as well as a defective equipment violation in Bow.

Arleigh C. Dinning, 39, of Concord was arrested at 10:41 p.m. on March 30 on DUI and DUI-second offense charges as well as a lane control violation in Northfield.

Christopher A. Plourde, 31, of Dorchester was arrested at 10:03 p.m. on March 30 on DUI and conduct after an accident charges in Dorchester.

Jessica B. Reeves, 29, of Concord was arrested at 5:53 p.m. on March 30 on DUI and speeding-25-mph over the 65 limit charges in Bow.

Colby Jordan Reid, 22, of Laconia was arrested on a reckless operation charge in Sanbornton at 6:45 p.m. on March 29.

Sergio Lucas De Farias, 30, of Milford, MA, was arrested at 4:26 p.m. on March 29 on driving after revocation or suspension and operating without a valid license charges in Warner.

Arthur Bello Veiga, 26, of Savannah, Georgia, was arrested at 2:13 a.m. on March 28 on an arrest prior to requisition and speeding-26-plus mph over the limit of 55 or less charge in Bow.

Shaun Christopher Trader, 42, of Webster was arrested at 7:19 p.m. on March 25 on a DUI charge in Webster.

Shannon Charlotte Iriana, 43, of Boscawen was arrested at 9:50 a.m. on March 25 on a bench warrant in Lebanon.

Other Arrests

Charlie F. Robbins, 34, of Albany was arrested at 1:30 p.m. on March 31 on transport drugs in a motor vehicle, controlled drug: controlled premises where drugs kept, possession of a controlled drug, and falsifying physical evidence charges in Conway.

Joseph Peter Vaillancourt, 36, of Rumney was arrested at 3:05 a.m. on March 27 on DUI, aggravated DUI-attempt to elude police, disobeying an officer, theft by unauthorized taking-$1,501-plus, driving after revocation or suspension, resisting arrest or detention, criminal mischief, and two reckless conduct-deadly weapon charges.

Branden Lemay, 25, of Campton was arrested at 3:43 p.m. on March 26 on DUI-second offense, DUI-second offense-adult more than 0.08; minor more than 0.02, and aggravated DUI-0.16-plus charges as well as open container and possession of marijuana violations in Campton.

Sarah E. Rivers, 35, of Augusta, Maine, was arrested at 8:44 p.m. on March 19 on aggravated driving under the influence-passenger under 16, driving after revocation or suspension, and speeding-26-plus mph over the limit of 55 or less charges in Jefferson.

Melinda Ann Kennett, 58, of Groveton was arrested at 3:45 p.m. on March 19 on eight tampering with public record-false entry and eight computer off; unauthorized access-less than $1,000 charges. She was arrested in Lancaster.

Murcia Borges Soares, 39, of Manchester was arrested at 2:30 p.m. on March 13 on a tampering with public record-false entry charge after an incident or investigation in Concord.

Wyatt Paul Hugg, 19, of Charlestown, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. on March 12 on tampering with public record-false entry and unsworn falsification, written-electronic statement charges after an incident or investigation in Concord.

Do you have a news tip? Email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.

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