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.