Harbor Care to Host Annual NH Veteran Stand Down September 19
Mayor Ruais to Provide Update on Manchester’s Veteran Homelessness Initiative
Manchester, NH – Harbor Care, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor, and more than 50 community organizations, will host the 21st Annual New Hampshire Veteran Stand Down on Friday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eversource Energy Park in Manchester.
Eversource is the lead sponsor for the free event, which is open to all former service members/veterans and military families. For more information, visit www.harborcarenh.org/stand-down.
A pre-event gathering at 9:30 a.m. will include several guest speakers, including Henry Och, President & CEO of Harbor Care; Mayor Jay Ruais of Manchester; Bob Coates, President of Eversource; and Kevin Forrest, Medical Center Director at VA Manchester Health Care. Alan St. Louis will perform the national anthem.
At last year’s event, Mayor Ruais committed to ending veteran homelessness in Manchester by the end of his term in January 2026. With Harbor Care and community partners, the initiative has made strong gains. This year, the Mayor will update the Stand Down audience on what has been accomplished—and what’s next. Harbor Care effectively ended veteran homelessness in Nashua in 2017.
NH Veteran Stand Down is a one-day resource and service expo designed to connect former service members with housing, healthcare, benefits, employment, and other vital support. More than 50 partner agencies will be onsite, offering direct services, such as:
- Housing and employment resources
- Pension and benefit claims assistance
- Healthcare screenings and referrals
- Mental health and substance use support
- Financial assistance, food, clothing, and more.
The Stand Down is modeled on the military tradition of a temporary base camp where troops could rest, receive supplies, and connect to essential services before returning to duty.
Harbor Care is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness through housing, healthcare, and veteran services. As an innovative nonprofit organization, Harbor Care assists more than 5,000 adults, children, and families in New Hampshire each year. The organization provides transitional and permanent housing; medical, dental, and mental healthcare; substance use treatment; HIV/AIDS support services; and veteran services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Learn more at www.harborcarenh.org.
