Thank You for a Safe and Healthy 2020
Between Greater Nashua’s highest and lowest earning census tracts, there is a two-decade gap in life expectancy. Your gifts are changing that.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, and most importantly those we serve, Harbor Care thanks you for your support of the many life-changing programs utilized by our community’s residents.
In 2020, Harbor Care served 6,000 community members, in Nashua, Manchester, Keene, Plymouth, Salem, Antrim, Claremont, and many other communities around the state.
Throughout New Hampshire, low-income families are forced to choose between medical expenses, housing, and other essentials. In Greater Nashua there is a two-decade gap in life expectancy between the highest and lowest earning census tracts.
Harbor Care is working to change this. Our goal is that all members of our community have access to healthcare, housing, and other essentials. We’ve had a remarkable number of successes in 2020. Here are only a few:
Ending Chronic Homelessness: Within Greater Nashua, Harbor Care has effectively ended homelessness among key demographics, including veterans, those living with HIV/AIDS, and soon, those experiencing chronic homelessness. In the past 15 years, our supports—hundreds of units of housing via subsidized apartments for families, group homes with 24/7 staffing, and long-term reintegration programs—reduced chronic homelessness an incredible 95% in Greater Nashua. In 2020 we launched the Dignity of Home campaign to complete the mission. Because of incredible community support for Dignity of Home, we were able to move 54 individuals who were chronically homeless into permanent housing. Now there are only 20 people on average who remain chronically homeless in Nashua. We expect to bring an end to chronic homelessness in 2021.
Opioid Crisis: We are on the front lines of Greater Nashua’s opioid crisis, and through our substance use disorder treatment services, have helped reduce the both the overdose rate and the death rate to their lowest numbers in years. November opioid overdoses in Nashua were the lowest ever since the state began tracking them in 2015.
COVID-19: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, under the guidance of federal and state recommendations, all our services remain open to clients. We repurposed our mobile clinic van for safe COVID-19 testing. We hosted two COVID-19 testing clinics and three seasonal flu clinics at Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center during November and December alone, and plan more for the future. We’ve provided close to 1,000 COVID tests this year.
Your support helped to reduce chronic homelessness in Nashua by an incredible 95% over the past 15 years.
Envision Center: In October 2020, Harbor Care became New Hampshire’s first Envision Center. David Tille of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development certified Harbor Care in a ceremony at our clinic at 45 High Street in Nashua. EnVision Centers are designed to act as service hubs, bringing community supports together to create greater service continuity and integration for individuals in need. Harbor Care is uniquely situated to provide services across all four platforms and to a broad range of clients: military veterans and their families; low-income residents; those struggling with homelessness, physical and mental health issues, substance use disorder and HIV/AIDS.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: Harbor Care received $150,000 in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding to build capacity to provide HIV-specific primary health care at the Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center. Ryan White program funds will help Harbor Care build the infrastructure needed to provide primary healthcare which will ensure viral suppression and reduce transmission in our HIV/AIDS patients. Primary care services will be fully integrated with our HIV Case Management and Peer Support services, our behavioral and oral health care services, Medication Assisted Treatment, substance use disorder treatment services, and housing supports that already exist within Harbor Care. This model of wraparound HIV/AIDS care does not currently exist within NH.
The Partnership for Successful Living is now Harbor Care: In 2020, the programs of The Partnership for Successful Living — Harbor Homes, Healthy at Home, Keystone Hall, Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force and Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center — became Harbor Care. The new name reflects the history of the organization, which began in 1980, as well as revealing service delivery of the future with integrated programs. Clients entering through any door will be able to access integrated services in housing, veterans’ assistance, healthcare, behavioral care, dental care, pharmacy, substance use and recovery services, in-home healthcare, and HIV/AIDS-specific assistance.
You Made This Happen, Thank You!
All services our clients received this year are because of the generosity of our donors and funders. Because of your support, we are able to provide services to residents throughout New Hampshire. Our community’s commitment to some of our most vulnerable community members is deeply appreciated.
The gifts of community members like you keep our programs up and running throughout the year. Please consider making a donation during this holiday season. Thank you.