Veterans FIRST's Message of Hope
David Tille, Harbor Care’s Director of Veteran Services, appeared on Good Morning NH with Jack Heath with guest interviewer Alicia Preston on March 11,2022 to discuss veteran homelessness throughout the Granite State.
The agency’s unique blend of client-centered programs and services means that when veterans connect to Harbor Care for housing stabilization or work readiness, they also have access to a full range of healthcare options, including primary care, behavioral healthcare, and dental.
A full transcript of the interview is below or click ‘play’ to listen to the interview now.
David Tille on Good Morning New Hampshire
Alicia Preston: Joining us on the phone now is David Tille. Good morning, sir.
David Tille: Good morning, Alicia. How are you? Thanks for having me.
AP: Oh, thanks for coming on. So, you are the director of veteran services at Harbor Care, which is this fantastic program that's looking to end homelessness for veterans here in New Hampshire. And I believe it works in other states, too. But tell us a little bit about the work you’re doing, what your organization does and what they're doing now.
DT: Sure. Thanks so much. Harbor Care’s Veterans FIRST is the largest provider, in the state, nonprofit supporting our veterans most in need, particularly in housing, but also with supportive services. We have a Health and Wellness Center that helps with mental health, medical needs, dental health, a full pharmacy and we also help with vocational training and placement as well.
We've also got three housing facilities that are transitional housing, and Nashua and Manchester and permanent housing as well, mostly at our Boulder Point facility in Plymouth.
AP: How serious is the veteran homeless situation here in New Hampshire?
DT: Well, over the over the years, there's been tremendous improvement since the VA, HUD and partners like Harbor Care began working closely together. We've seen a reduction of veteran homelessness, reducing that number by half since about 2008. Actually, the city of Nashua actually hit the goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness and we're very proud of that here in New Hampshire, and we're hoping to do that statewide by 2023.
And right now, though, there's approximately about 120 of our neighbors in the Granite State who are veterans experiencing homelessness today.
AP: You know, that sounds like a large number for such a small state, and yet it sounds like a number that is solvable if many hands get involved to help out.
DT: It absolutely is. I checked this morning at our transitional housing facilities and the average day is about a year time before the veteran is in a permanent housing and 80 of those veterans are right in transitional housing right now on the on our count.
We have folks at Harbor Care that are out in the field, out in the communities, that reach out to veterans where they are, whether they are on the streets or in the woods or unsheltered. Less than 10 veterans are currently unsheltered (not in transitional housing).
AP: Oh well, that's good news. Now, how can people assist? I mean, this is an issue that everyone agrees on we want to make sure our veterans are not homeless. How do you raise resources to do this? How can people help?
DT: Oh, thank you. First, if you if you know a veteran that needs help if they're on the verge of homelessness or homeless to give us a call at 882-3616, that's our Harbor Care direct line, and you could ask for me directly on that if.
A critical part of ending Veterans homelessness is getting those units. Often, we actually have the resources to help the veterans, but as you know, the housing market so tight, particularly on the Southern tier part of the state. So, if there's folks that are listening that are landlords that are developers we need units, particularly single bedroom units that are handicapped accessible. That's a way that folks could help out, but also making a donation to help us help our veterans and people can reach out to the same phone line at 882-3616 or through our website, which is harborcarenh.org.
David Tille, thank you for joining us on good morning, New Hampshire, and for this information. We'll repeat it throughout the show so that people know where to go and how to help. Thank you so much.
DT: Thanks so much for having me, Alicia. And together, we're going to end veteran homelessness in New Hampshire.
