WMUR – December 17, 2024
By MARIA WILSON
https://www.nhceh.org/home/research/state-of-homelessness-in-nh-annual-report/
MANCHESTER, N.H. — New Hampshire had the highest percentage increase in its homeless population compared to any other state in 2023, according to a new report. The New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness said its report showed there was a 52% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Granite State. Officials said that’s the biggest surge experienced by any state. The national average was up about 12%.
The numbers are based on a point-in-time count, which looks at the number of people experiencing homelessness during a single 24-hour period. Researchers found that one out of every five people who were homeless at that time were under 18. However, the report showed improvement among one group: homeless veterans. Last year, there were about 20% fewer homeless veterans in New Hampshire. At the Nashua Shelter and Soup Kitchen, executive director Jane Goodman said these numbers reflect what they’re seeing day-to-day.
“We know [homelessness] has gone up. We see it every day. We see it in the demand for our services,” Goodman said. Jennifer Chisholm with the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness said it’s a concerning trend with long-term consequences. “Adults who have experienced homelessness throughout their lives, by the age of 50, they start showing medical signs of things that 70-year-olds experience. And so, it can have a literal life or death impact,” Chisholm said.
However, volunteers and staff at the soup kitchen are doing their part by providing food and a place to sleep for those in need. “I don’t feel homeless when I’m here. I feel like I have a place to be and a place to sleep,” Saiviona said. While many of the statistics are grim, Chisholm said it’s important to focus on what’s next. “The hope is always zero. One person homeless is one too many,” she said. “One thing I think is benefiting New Hampshire is that I think people are understanding this crisis, that it’s not always the people you imagine.”