Harbor Care Aims to End Chronic Homelessness
It starts with the dignity of a home.
Harbor Care has created a successful model to prevent and end homelessness – integrating stable housing with vital supports: primary care, dental care, and mental health care, substance misuse treatment, employment services, and other wraparound supports.
September 17, 2020 - Nashua – Harbor Care announced its goal to effectively end chronic homelessness in Nashua by the end of 2020. On September 1, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made available 26 new housing vouchers to Harbor Care to provide permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals and families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
Harbor Care, in collaboration with the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care community partners, confirmed there were 21 individuals chronically homeless in Nashua, as of September 22. Harbor Care has the ability to house every eligible person who meets HUD’s definition of chronically homeless with the 26 new housing vouchers. HUD’s definition generally defines people who are chronically homeless as individuals who have remained homeless for more than one year, or have experienced homelessness at least 4 times in three years.
“We have an incredible opportunity to end chronic homelessness in Nashua,” states Peter Kelleher, Harbor Care CEO. “Right now, we have the ability to provide permanent housing for some of our most vulnerable community members. It will take collaboration with our fellow service providers, and community support, including participation from local landlords, to achieve this goal.”
Harbor Care is no stranger to such ambitious goals. Over the last decade the organization has effectively ended homelessness in Nashua for both veterans and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Over the past six months, and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harbor Care has been laser focused on providing housing for people who are chronically homeless. This includes providing 36 individuals with permanent housing this year.
“More than just housing, to effectively end homelessness, a community must also have a solid system in place so that when someone becomes homeless, they can quickly and efficiently access the services and supports needed to find sustainable success,” states Kelleher.
Harbor Care has created a successful model to prevent and end homelessness – integrating stable housing with vital supports: primary care, dental care, and mental health care, substance misuse treatment, employment services, and other wraparound supports. It starts with the dignity of a home.
To help ensure these supports – critical to an individual’s long-term success – are available after a person moves into their new home, Harbor Care has launched a fundraising initiative, Dignity of Home, with a $200,000 goal. Thanks to community support, the campaign has raised more than $125,000, including presenting sponsor CGI Business Solutions’ match of the first $10,000 raised.
“CGI Business Solutions is thrilled to be the lead supporter of Dignity of Home,” states CGI founder and principal, Dan Cronin. “Having a safe place to live is foundational to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and our community. Together, we can end homelessness in Nashua.”
“CGI Business Solutions is thrilled to be the lead supporter of Dignity of Home.” — Dan Cronin, CGI founder and principal
“Having a safe place to live is foundational to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and our community. Together, we can end homelessness in Nashua.”
The Ending Homelessness Committee, a group of concerned citizens who have long been committed to this effort, have now offered to match the next $5,000 in donations to help Harbor Care reach its fundraising goal.
Key supporters of the campaign thus far include Merrimack County Savings Bank, Eaton & Berube Insurance, Lowell Five Bank, Impact Fire, Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, Winer & Bennett, St. Mary’s Bank, Law Warehouses, Hamblett & Kerrigan, Sheehan Phinney, Melanson Heath & Co., Amerihealth Caritas, and Pennichuck Corp.
In addition to community financial support, landlords are critical to this initiative’s success.
“We need landlords as partners to open their doors to these individuals,” states Kelleher. “Without their active participation, ending chronic homelessness becomes even more challenging.”
Harbor Care (formerly Partnership for Successful Living) provides critical housing, health care, and supportive programs that are foundational to the success of 5,000 community members who are currently, or at-risk of becoming, homeless. Headquartered in Nashua, Harbor Care is one of the largest providers of supportive housing for NH's homeless populations. Our unique Health & Wellness Center for the homeless provides primary, behavioral, and oral health care for individuals and families, and substance misuse treatment services. To learn more about Harbor Care, visit: harborcarenh.org
