Ben Carson US Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Visit

HUD Secretary Ben Carson visited Harbor Homes’ Veterans FIRST facility in Manchester on November 12. He met with resident veterans to ask them about their experience of homelessness, what they found most difficult and what was most helpful for them as they regained housing. 

Upon hearing our local veterans’ stories, he noted that simply housing the homeless isn’t enough. Often people fall into homelessness due to trauma, and are further traumatized by life on the street. Carson used Harbor Homes’ Veterans FIRST transitional housing facility — which provides wrap-around services to help formerly homeless vets get back on their feet — as an example of what communities across the country need to replicate. 

Carson also noted how partnerships between government and nonprofits work together in New Hampshire to provide services within our communities. He mentioned that although veteran homelessness across the country has declined 2% in the past year, it declined 20% in New Hampshire. Greater Nashua eliminated local veteran homelessness by reaching “Functional Zero” in 2017. Functional Zero is a powerful new concept that’s helping communities make giant leaps forward in ending veteran homelessness.

Along with local veterans, Ben Carson also met with Harbor Care’s CEO, Peter Kelleher; Director of Housing, Heather Nelson; and Compliance Officer, Michael Zechman. Carson and Kelleher met again later in the day for a round table discussion at St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Goffstown. 

Please watch this quick and fun video about how Functional Zero helps veterans in our community.