First Homeless Veterans find Housing as part of Mayor’s new Initiative
MANCHESTER, NH – Less than two weeks after launching a new initiative to effectively end homelessness in Manchester for retired military service members by January of 2026, Mayor Jay Ruais announced today four homeless veterans have new places to call home.
“The support for this program has been amazing,” said Ruais, “The fact we’re less than two weeks in and already housed four veterans with safe and reliable apartments is beyond gratifying. As I said at our kickoff event at the NH Veterans Stand Down, we’ve set our sights high because in Manchester we don’t shrink from a challenge and we don’t shirk our responsibilities. Even one homeless military service member is too many. It’s only right we put a reliable roof over their heads given everything they have sacrificed for our country. We are making progress and changing lives.”
Ruais went on to thank Harbor Care and the city landlords committing units to the initiative as well as the community partners who are helping to house veterans all across the city.
Harbor Care CEO Henry Ochs added, "We are proud to be working with the City of Manchester in ending Veteran Homelessness. Our early success in housing four Veterans demonstrates the power of effective community collaborations and leadership under Mayor Ruais. Harbor Care is confident that Manchester will be able to effectively end Veteran Homelessness in the city."
Note: Landlords and non-profits groups interested in joining the mayor’s initiative to help house homeless veterans can email mayor@manchesternh.gov
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Mayor Ruais announces Ward 5 Town Hall Meeting
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced the following event:
WHAT: Ward 5 Town Hall Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, October 8th from 6:00pm-7:00pm
WHERE: Beech Street School, 333 Beech Street
NOTE: Ward 5 Alderman Tony Sapienza and Ward 5 School Board Member Jason Bonilla have also been invited.
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Board of Aldermen Approves Mayor’s Proposed Ordinance Becoming First
Municipality in NH to Regulate Syringe Service Programs
MANCHESTER, NH - Mayor Jay Ruais won approval on Tuesday night for his proposed ordinance requiring oversight of Syringe Service Programs (SSP), and mandating an exchange of needles take place in order to minimize the number of discarded syringes. SSPs were authorized in New Hampshire in 2017 per RSA 318-B:43 under which municipalities are not permitted to prohibit the operations of these programs. Manchester is now the first municipality in New Hampshire to require oversight and set guidelines for how these programs must operate. The Board of Aldermen voted 12-2 in favor of this ordinance.
Ruais stated, “I firmly believe we cannot allow for the unregulated flow of syringes into our city because this has had a negative impact on the quality-of-life in Manchester. Our parks and our streets must be safe, clean and accessible for all residents, businesses and visitors. This ordinance is long overdue, and while it will not solve the problem overnight, it represents an important first step toward increasing our quality of life while maintaining our commitment to public health. We are making every effort to address the concerns of our residents to rid our city of discarded syringes. In addition to this ordinance, our Parks and Health Departments have partnered to do regular pickups throughout the city, and our downtown street cleaning crew is also engaged in daily monitoring and collection. We are not where we want to be, but we are making progress.”
Ruais continued, “I want to thank the Aldermen for their support of this ordinance, and their commitment to being responsive to the concerns of their wards. Additionally, this would not have been possible without the efforts of our Solicitor’s Office, Public Health Department, and community partners who put a great deal of work in moving this initiative forward. Working together, we can truly make a difference in our community. Lastly, I continue to be encouraged by the decline in reported overdoses (23%) and overdose fatalities (25%) this year over last, and will continue to engage in all our efforts to further reduce these tragedies in our city.”
The new ordinance will do the following:
- Requires an exchange of syringes to minimize the number of discarded syringes.
- Requires the SSP to register with the City in order to ensure transparency, and accountability while providing the City with detailed data and information regarding their operations, including: the location, program schedule, and personnel and volunteers of the participating organization.
- Outlines the locations at which they are permitted to operate to ensure they are not operating in our parks or around our schools, playgrounds, libraries or State-licensed daycare facilities.
- Mandates that SSP’s distribute educational materials on disease prevention and substance misuse treatment options.
- Explicitly prohibits safe injection sites.
- Mandates that needle disposal containers must not be visible to the general public from any publicly-owned space or right of way.
- Outlines necessary criteria for any fixed location.
- Imposes penalties on those found in violation of this ordinance with fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 with each day of violation constituting a separate offense.
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Mayor reports overdose numbers for month of August continuing yearly decline
City on track to record 23% fewer overdoses and 25% less overdose deaths than 2023
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced overdose numbers in Manchester for the month of August. Overall, the city is on track to record 23 percent fewer suspected overdoses and 25 percent less opioid-related deaths for the year.
“Through the first 8 months of 2024, the number of suspected opioid overdoses in Manchester continues to be significantly less than last year and is trending towards the lowest amount of suspected opioid overdoses since the record low 2020 year,” said Ruais. “American Medical Response (AMR) recorded 37 suspected opioid overdoes in Manchester during August 2024 and one suspected opioid death which is one of the lowest monthly totals this year.”
Ruais added, “While the nature of the opioid epidemic can be unpredictable, these numbers and the trends they are creating are very encouraging. We know there is more work to be done, but my heartfelt thanks are with our first responders, Health Department and community partners and all those who are committed as we are to ending the opioid epidemic. The news that the city is on track to record 23-percent less suspected overdoses this year than 2023 and 25-percent fewer deaths is real progress.”
Commenting on the August numbers, Public Health Director Anna Thomas said, “This continued success is a testament to the hard work by the staff of the City of Manchester Health Department, our first responders and community partners. This unified front is surpassing the pace of national trends. By deploying evidence-based practices and coordinating our collective efforts, we are saving lives and meeting people where they are at. We are cautiously optimistic that Manchester’s future will be healthier for it.”
AMR Data for Manchester as of 8/31/24:
August 2024 Overdoses 37 Overdose Deaths 1
Jan.- Aug. 2024 Overdoses 356 Overdose Deaths 29
2023 Totals Overdoses 695 Overdose Deaths 58
2024 “Projected” Totals Overdoses 534 (- 23%) Overdose Deaths 44 (- 25%)
In New Hampshire, anyone can seek substance use disorder treatment by accessing the NH Doorway program 24/7. Call 2-1-1 at any time of the day or night, or visit www.thedoorway.nh.gov. If you believe someone is overdosing call 9-1-1 immediately.
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Mayor Ruais Announces Initiative to Effectively End Veterans’ Homelessness
Goal is to support military service members and their families
with permanent places to live
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced his goal of effectively ending veterans’ homelessness in Manchester by the end of his term in January of 2026. The ambitious project has the support of state and local government leaders, along with veterans’ support groups and city landlords. The announcement came at the NH Veteran Stand Down event held at Eversource’s Energy Park.
Ruais put the urgency of the situation in perspective, saying, “We have set our sights high because in Manchester we don’t shrink from a challenge. We don’t shirk our responsibilities and we know anything is possible if we put our minds to it. There are currently 47 former military service members experiencing homelessness in Manchester. Many of them are connected to veteran service organizations and are in transitional housing units waiting for a permanent housing opportunity to come along. Some, unfortunately, may be doubling up with a friend or family member while others, sadly, may be residing on our city streets and parks.”
“To achieve this milestone for our homeless military service population, Manchester will be operating off of a full accounting of these individuals at all times, maintaining quality, real-time, comprehensive data on the veterans’ experiencing homelessness,” said Ruais. “And we will follow the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) benchmarks to ensure we reach this designation. Community stakeholders have been meeting and partnerships are forming to collaborate on achieving this goal. Lessons learned from the success of this initiative will be scaled up to address homelessness on a broader level.”
Some of the steps taken thus far include: Landlord recruitment, prioritization of service members by the Continuum of Care, expansion of the stakeholders’ group and the finalization of a journey map for an individual to achieve housing. Additionally, a bi-weekly meeting will be held by the Veterans Subcommittee of the Continuum of Care to track progress and ensure accountability.
Ruais concluded saying, “Even one homeless military service member is too many. It’s only right we put a reliable roof over their heads given everything they have sacrificed for our country. It brings to mind the famous quote: A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount up to and including their life.”
The mayor thanked the landlords and all of the community and state partners who have thus far pledged support for the initiative.
Governor Chris Sununu added his full support for the initiative saying, “New Hampshire is the #1 destination for veterans across the country, and with today’s announcement by Mayor Jay Ruais, our commitment to standing tall to support those who stood tall for us is stronger than ever. With local supports like these from the City of Manchester, coupled with the transformative investments being made in New Hampshire’s first-of-its-kind Veterans Campus in Franklin, we are taking bold steps to do right by our veterans.”
Other major stakeholders echoed the governor’s sentiments:
NH Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities
“During the Revolutionary War, George Washington wrote to a New England governor and observed that ‘the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by this country.’ Now, more than ever, we must individually and collectively understand that we share a moral obligation to end veteran homelessness. Today’s announcement is an important step forward. We look forward to collaborating with the City of Manchester, by sharing our knowledge and resources, to end veteran homelessness.”
Matthew McCall, Continuum of Care
“As we work to address the challenges that keep our citizens trapped in homelessness, one of the key strategies is looking at subgroups of the homeless community and the unique circumstances, challenges, and opportunities there are to address their housing and support needs. Ending homelessness for veterans, for individuals who have served our community and country through great personal sacrifice, is an obligation we must fulfill. No one who serves our country should find themselves homeless and unsupported. It is efforts like this, bringing together veterans, providers, and city support that are needed to end homelessness. The CoC is proud to be part of supporting this historic intervention to end homelessness and the conditions that create homelessness for those who served this great nation. The people of Manchester should be proud to have a city that would take on such a vital goal.”
Henry Och, CEO, HarborCare
“As an organization that serves more than 450 veterans each year, and as a veteran myself, breaking the cycle of veteran homelessness is paramount to Harbor Care’s mission. We effectively ended veteran homelessness in Nashua and together we can do the same in Manchester. Harbor Care is proud to be working closely with the mayor and community partners to achieve this important milestone.”
Manchester Landlord commitments to date (10)
- Ledgeview Commercial Partners
- Hausmeister Property Management
- The Denis Group
- Choice Realty
- Red Oak Properties
- Elm Grove Companies
- Signature on Elm
- The Welcome Home
- LA Classic Property Management LLC
- Amaskeag Residences
Current Stakeholders actively working to support initiative (12)
- The Office of Governor Chris Sununu
- United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
- VA Manchester Healthcare System
- NH Army National Guard (NHANG)
- Harbor Care
- Liberty House
- Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority (MHRA)
- NH Housing and Finance Authority (NHHFA)
- Families in Transition
- Veterans, Inc.
- Easter Seals
- Swim with a Mission (SWAM)
Note: Any landlords or non-profits interested in joining this initiative, please email mayor@manchesternh.gov
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Increased Enforcement and Engagement Center Programs continueto show progress in Manchester
Unlawful behavior in parks lead to arrests and citations
Housing, rehab, and employment numbers for Homeless are up
MANCHESTER, NH - Mayor Jay Ruais announced today the latest data shows the city continues to see real results with programs for the homeless at the Engagement Center, along with increased citations and arrests for illicit behaviors in city parks.
“As I’ve said from the beginning, we must implement a comprehensive response to address homelessness. Which is why, since January, we have implemented 13 different initiatives to combat this challenge. Now, three months in, we have data that supports our progress. Since July 12, when additional police details were added to combat hot spots of illegal activity in our parks, there have been 95 arrests and 308 citations issued by law enforcement for unlawful behaviors,” said Ruais. “Additionally, since June, our Engagement Center at 39 Beech Street has continued its incredible work with 20 homeless individuals finding a place to live, 25 getting ID’s or other vital documents, 12 obtaining jobs, 5 entering into Detox or Rehabilitation programs and 458 being connected with providers for health care or other important services.”
Ruais noted, “I’ve long said, if you need help and want help in the City of Manchester, it exists. However, if you’re here to ignore our ordinances or break our laws, you will be arrested or cited as the situation dictates. The data is showing that our dual efforts of holding offenders accountable and offering help are improving the quality of life in Manchester. I want to thank our police, first responders and community partners who are working so diligently to make this progress possible. While progress is being made, we know full well that more work remains, and with that in mind, we will be implementing additional initiatives soon.”
Jake King of East Coast Evolution Leadership manages the Engagement Center (EC). He added, “I’m very proud of the work being done at the center and how so many individuals, organizations, and agencies have come together to make it all happen. Manchester is a diverse and beautiful community of people and when we are united in our efforts, we get things done. Some of Manchester’s chronic homeless are actually getting housed through the tireless effort of the EC staff, the providers, and the city departments, and it’s only going to get better.”
From Park Enforcement Officers and Community Policing Activity: 7/12/24 - 9/5/24
Arrests – 95
Citations - 308
Engagement Center Totals for June/July/August: 2024
Housed - 20
ID's / Vital documents - 25
Detox/Rehab - 5
Employed - 12
Provider Connections – 458
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Mayor Ruais announces Ward 6 Town Hall Meeting
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced the following event:
WHAT: Ward 6 Town Hall Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, September 5 from 6:00pm-8:00pm
WHERE: McLaughlin Middle School, 201 Jack Lovering Drive
NOTE: Ward 6 Alderman Crissy Kantor and Ward 6 School Board Member Dan Bergeron have also been invited.
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Mayor Ruais announces Ward 8 Town Hall Meeting
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced the following event:
WHAT: Ward 8 Town Hall Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00pm-7:00pm
WHERE: Memorial High School, 1 Crusader Way
NOTE: Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza and Ward 8 School Board Member Jessica Spillers have also been invited
Mayor Ruais lauds city street cleaning teams for their impact after only one month
Businesses, residents and visitors seeing big improvements in downtown area
MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today lauded the city’s new street cleaning team for making a big difference in the downtown area after only one month on the job. The workers, known as Ambassadors, wear distinct royal blue shirts and start their day early, taking care of trash, needles and waste. They also interact frequently with the public, providing directions, responding to requests, and meeting with local businesses.
“The attention our Streetplus teams are paying to improving the cleanliness of Manchester’s Central Business Service District (CBSD) is amazing,” said Ruais. “In only one month, they picked up 3,150 pounds of trash, 52 needles, and 34 piles of human/animal waste. Additionally, they’ve recorded 57 one-on-one contacts with the public that help make our city even more friendly and responsive. As a result, we’re getting very positive feedback from residents, businesses and visitors.”
Economic Development Director Jodie Nazaka got the Streetplus program running and could not be more pleased with the start saying, “Maintaining the safety, cleanliness, and welcoming atmosphere of Downtown and the Millyard in Manchester requires exceptional support. By introducing this nationally recognized cleaning and hospitality service, we’re creating a safer and cleaner space for residents and visitors to enjoy. The results speak for themselves.”
James McGee, Operations Manager of the CBSD Cleaning Program added, “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work our Ambassadors are putting into maintaining the streets of the CBSD. Their commitment to keeping our community clean and welcoming is truly inspiring, and their positive impact is evident every day.”
Mayor Ruais noted the program is currently in its 90-day startup period with more staffing and equipment on the way. Once fully operational, Streetplus Ambassadors will provide a range of services, including litter, debris and graffiti removal, plus power washing, along with sidewalk, pedestrian pathway and tree well cleaning.”
Board of Mayor and Aldermen Approves transfer of $200K from Affordable Housing Trust Fund to build affordable units for women experiencing homelessness
Expenditure made possible due to sale of city lots which raised $1.13M
MANCHESTER, NH – The Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) voted unanimously last night to send $200,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to create 8 new units of affordable housing for women who are currently unhoused, a move made possible by the $1.13 million in sales generated from the recent auction of 15 vacant city lots. Since January, Ruais has spearheaded this effort to identify city owned vacant parcels which would then be sold with the proceeds going to the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The mayor thanked the Aldermen for their unanimous support for this initiative, saying, “Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive response, which we've tackled with the implementation of 12 different initiatives since January. The Board’s vote of confidence reflects the city’s determination to meet homelessness head on and increase affordable housing. The 8 units that will be made available for currently unhoused women at a rate of $800 a month is an incredible start. This is a microcosm of what we need to build city-wide. The lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges to solving homelessness. It creates a bottleneck in our shelters, and it stops people from getting off the streets permanently. That’s what we are building on and working towards,” Ruais stated.”
Ruais went on to thank the city departments that were instrumental in this process, and concluded by saying, “Looking ahead, we anticipate the vacant lots that were sold will be developed, then put back on the tax roll to generate revenue that was previously lost. We will continue to look for opportunities to put surplus into service in the future.”