>> THERE’S A CONCEPT WITH
RESPECT TO HELPING THE HOMELESS
CALLED HOUSING FIRST. IT MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN IT BECAUSE
THOSE INVESTMENTS PAY DIVIDEND
SO THE WHOLE PREMISE OF HOUSING
FIRST IS YOU GET PEOPLE INTO
STABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN YOU GET THEM TO WORK
WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND CASE
MANAGERS.
EMPLOYMENT TRAINERS, ALL OF THAT
COMES TO THEM AFTER YOU GET THEM
STABLE HOUSING AND STABILIZE
THEIR FOOD INSECURITY.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BETTER SERVE
PEOPLE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, DOING
HOUSING FIRST IS A LOT CHEAPER
THAN USING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PRISONS TO TAKE CARE OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.
IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT POLICE
ARE OFTEN TRAINED TO DEAL WITH.
AND IT IS MUCH, MUCH MORE
EXPENSIVE.
IT’S $35,000, $37,000 A YEAR TO
LOCK SOMEONE UP IN PRISON.
WE COULD DO HOUSING FIRST FOR
LESS THAN HALF OF THAT AND GIVE
PEOPLE GOOD PRODUCTIVE LIVES
WITH THE HELP OF CASE MANAGEMENT
SUPPORT.
>> FIRST, WE’VE GOT TO
CAPITALIZE EVEN MORE ON OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND IN THE
STATE BUDGET.
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EXISTING
MILL BUILDINGS AND OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND TO WORK
TOWARD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MAKE SURE WE LEVERAGE THOSE
FEDERAL AND PRIVATE TO WORK FOR
DOLLARS US TO DO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THAT’S NUMBER ONE.
WE DID THAT IN THE BUDGET BUT WE
NEED TO BUILD OFF OF IT.
NUMBER TWO IS WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS ARE FULLY
FUNDED, INCLUDING THE RAPID
REHOUSING PROGRAM.
AND THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL WE
KNOW WORKS.
AND AS A FORMAL LEGAL AID
ATTORNEY WORKING IN HOUSING
MATTERS INCLUDING LEADING THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE LEGAL ASSISTANTS FOR
FOUR YEARS WORKING TO COMBAT
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, WORKING
TO ADVANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN THE
STATE.
WE HAVE A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN
THE STATE.
IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE RIGHT
NOW BECAUSE GOVERNOR C
