ADVOCACY - July 2008
SCARY STATISTIC
Renters in NH have to earn 16.3% more than they did in 2007 - and 47% more than they did in 2000 - just to pay the rent and utilities on a 2-bedroom apartment, the
highest increase for any non-metropolitan area in the country, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition's latest report. (
www.nlihc.org/oor/oor2008/)
- from New Hampshire Magazine, May 2008
NASHUA TELEGRAPH SERIES HIGHLIGHTS HOMELESSNESS IN NASHUA
Thanks to the Nashua Telegraph for their recent series on homelessness in the Nashua area in the May 25, 26, and 27 editions and also available online at
www.nashuatelegraph.com . It is a complicated and serious issue that needs to be addressed and the paper did a good job of doing that. The following is an excerpt from a letter sent by our executive director, Lisa Christie, in response:
"...You (the Telegraph) certainly provided a glimpse into a world that many of our neighbors really do not realize exists. I would like to add a story... You would not have had the opportunity to talk to this man becaues you would have had a hard time finding him. He is currently homeless, staying at our shelter and is working.. a third shift job.... trying to get his life back together. He had a young son that he was back in touch with and trying to be a dad to. When he came to the shelter, he had no ID and we helped him get his birth certificate and then identification. Our employment advocate (Tom Lopez) helped him find a job with a temp agency. Then he was hired permanently with full benefits where the temp agency had placed him.... Next..he...added a part-time job to his schedule. He hoped to soon have enough saved to be able to leave the shelter. It seems all of his time is spent either working or sleeping or trying to visit his child.... His story mirrors many of the folks who wind up homeless and at our shelter, and rounds out the picture of homeless individuals in Nashua."
BISHOP GUERTIN STUDENTS RESEARCH POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
We received several calls from students at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua doing research on poverty and social justice. We welcome inquiries such as these and we can do presentations at schools, religious organizations, civic groups, etc. Contact Eileen Brady at
eileen@nsks.org , 889-7770.
INCREASE IN FOOD STAMPS NEEDED - NUMBERS RECEIVING FOOD STAMPS AT RECORD HIGH
With the increases in the cost of food; the concerns for childhood obesity, which is exacerbated by high costs for fresh fruit and vegetables and a diet of cheaper food products; and the high number of people struggling with costs even though they are over the limit for food stamp eligibility, an increase is long overdue. Check out your congressional delegation's stands on this issue - let them know this is a concern. This is part of congress' plan to jumpstart the economy - the second stimulus package plan.
AN IMAGE OF NH'S RESOURCES
While sitting in yet another meeting about the state budget, guessing which group of needy (financially, medically, or age-related) NH folks will be looking at cuts in services, I saw an image of what we in NH have become. As the 7th (give or take a few) wealthiest state in the US, we have a lot of resources to help people. As a worker at a non-profit agency, we see the continuing generosity of those who donate to help the people we see, so we know that NH people can be generous. Yet we do not see the desperately needed housing being developed, the health care reforms, the educational needs being addressed as they need to be. There is a disconnect somewhere between the generous residents and decisions that are made.
The image is of a large house, with 14-15 spacious rooms that represents our society. In a cramped basement space with no windows, there are increasing numbers of people trying to fit themselves in. There is plenty of space in the building, but it is off limits to these folks since they cannot come up with the financial resources to use them. We are seeing more people trying to squeeze into the room, pushing others out as they struggle. Since there are no windows, it is hard for others to see what is going on directly. We know it is not this simple, but sometimes this is how it feels.
NEW CANDIDATES AND INCUMBENTS - WHERE DO THEY STAND ON HOUSING?
Each week, new people are coming forward to join the campaigns for 2 seats in the federal House of Representatives and 1 seat in the Senate for which there are elections this November. When you have an opportunity to speak with any of these folks, please ask about housing for the lowest income households in our area. The head of Housing and Urban Development has just resigned, congress is caught up with the foreclosure disaster, and many people are focussed on the presidential election. We hope that persons who have been homeless, those paying from 70-90% of their incomes for rent, and people living in inadequate or unhealthy situations don't get lost in the shuffle.
IMPORTANT HOUSING PROGRAM ON CHANNEL 11 WEBSITE
There will be a program on NH public television's website,
www.nhptv.org; the program aired the week of April 14 and is another look at the complicated issue of housing in NH.
The program is Communities & Consequences, based on the book by Peter Francese, a demographic trends analyst, and Lorraine Stuart Merrill, the new NH commissioner of agriculture. The book outlines the slowing growth and rapidly aging population of NH. Go to their website
www.communitiesandconsequences.org for more information. It is an important contribution to the local discussion on housing needs in our state.
MORE THANKS TO STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS
Low pay ($100 a year), long hours, and multiple, complicated issues make being a member of the NH's legislative bodies a challenge. Many thanks to those hard-working local people who, while not changing everything for poor people overnight, have offered some proposals that could ease the burdens, for which we are grateful.
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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS BECOMING MORE CRUCIAL
We are participating with the United Way and the local Asset-Building Coalition to do more outreach to those who cannot pay for their own financial advisors. With the predatory lenders moving into poor neighborhoods and home ownership dreams being mismanaged, this advice is more valued than ever. Some local efforts are:
* (with childcare offered) at the Main Street Methodist Church
*another with growing numbers at the Nashua Pastoral Care Center
*Department of Health and Human Services offers services for elderly and disabled low-income residents to help with budgeting.
Even though it is impossible to live in this expensive area on the little that some folks can acquire, as many of the people who come here for help say, "Every little bit helps." If anyone knows of other programs that might be helpful, please contact me at
eileennsks@verizon.net. Thanks.
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SOME WAYS TO BE INVOLVED
Get on the NSK&S advocacy email list
Contact our congressional delegation to support the following:
Go to website and click on "contact"
Rep. Paul Hodes (District 2) Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (District 1)
Tel 202 225-5206 Tel 202 225-5456
Go to website and then click on "Write your representative"
Get involved with local efforts to end homelessness - see www.nashua-coc.org and check out the plan. The Ending Homelessness Committee welcomes citizen involvement - contact eileennsks@verizon.net for more information.
We belong to the NH Children^s Alliance, which is an advocacy group for issues that affect children. Go online to www.ChildrenNH.org/nhcan.php to read about the action steps for 2006.
We are available to speak to religious organizations, schools, and other groups:
Contact Eileen Brady - eileennsks@verizon.net or 889-7770 at the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter
