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Housing Resources

Housing

The City of Manchester's efforts to create LEAD safe housing through the funding provided by previous HUD LEAD Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grants (LHRD) have been inventoried and listed in this report:

City of Manchester - LEAD Safe Housing Registry

The City of Manchester's goal is to have a fully balanced housing market of rental and homeowner occupied housing. For those individuals and families who cannot access housing through conventional markets or public housing, the City supports the provision of both emergency and transitional housing. Through the support of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, the City promotes fair housing and discourages unlawful housing discrimination.

Due to a limited supply of existing housing and the limited production of new housing, it is difficult to obtain affordable housing in the City of Manchester. The demands that have been placed upon the citizens of Manchester due to the current housing market prompted Mayor Baines to appoint a Housing Task Force to study the problem. The Task Force has been meeting since the Summer of 2001 and is scheduled to report their findings and recommended strategies to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in the Summer of 2002. Additional information is located on the Housing Task Force within this website.

City Resources Available For Housing

Financial assistance for housing activities in Manchester is primarily provided through the use of federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Federal funds include the Community Development Block Grant Program, the HOME Program and to a lesser degree Emergency Shelter Grant monies. The use of these funds is restricted to activities which provide affordable housing or shelter to low income people. Additional information on these programs may be accessed through the appropriate links listed below.

In addition to Federal funds the City also has an Affordable Housing Trust fund which is available for housing initiatives. The use of these funds are somewhat flexible in that there are no federal strings attached. The City allocates all of these funds on an annual basis as a part of the Community Improvement Program process and on a project specific basis through out the year. Developers are encouraged to contact the Department to discuss potential proposals.

In addition to City resources, Manchester housing initiatives leverage monies from other sources. The majority of the leveraged funds are administered by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and they include but are not limited to HOME funds, the Affordable Housing Fund, tax exempt bonds and Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Specific Housing Activities Supported Through The City’s CIP

To increase the availability of affordable housing, provide security deposits and rental assistance, eliminate lead based paint hazards, advocate for individuals being discriminated against and provide shelter to the homeless, Community Improvement Program funds have been allocated to several local non- profit organizations.

The organizations include but are not limited to:

Major projects during the past five years have included the following:
  • NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire - 459 Granite Street Renovation Project - The proposed development will result in the substantial rehabilitation of the residential property located at 459 Granite Street in Manchester, N.H.  The four unit rental property will remain a four unit property.  The proposed project will create quality affordable rental housing opportunities for income eligible families.
  • Families In Transition – 267 Wilson Street Renovation Project (2nd & 3rd floors) - The redevelopment of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the former Hoitt’s furniture building located at 267 Wilson Street resulted in the creation of 19 units of transitional housing.  The housing units will provide women with a safe environment to recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
  • Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority - 168-194 South Main Street Supportive Housing Project - The construction of twenty single bedroom supportive housing units on the site located at 168-194 South Main Street.  The units are being leased to persons with episodic mental illness receiving a supportive service package provided by the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester.