136 veterans housed through coordinated community initiative
Manchester, NH - Today, surrounded by veteran service organizations, and community partners, Mayor Jay Ruais and Harbor Care CEO, and veteran, Henry Och, announced that Manchester has met the legacy benchmarks for effectively ending veteran homelessness, fulfilling a commitment Mayor Ruais made when launching the initiative in September 2024.
At the time, 47 veterans were experiencing homelessness in Manchester. Every veteran from that original group has since secured permanent housing. Tragically, one veteran has passed away. Over 130 veterans have now been housed through the initiative.
“Nearly two years ago, we promised to effectively end veteran homelessness in Manchester. Today, with the help of our community partners, we have fulfilled that promise,” said Mayor Ruais. “Over 130 veterans have been housed, including every veteran from the original group. They fought for us. It is only right that we fight for them.”
Effectively ending veteran homelessness does not mean that a veteran will never face a housing crisis, or become homeless. It means Manchester has a system in place to quickly identify veterans experiencing homelessness, connect them with services, and help them secure permanent housing. The goal is to ensure veteran homelessness remains rare, brief, and nonrecurring. The Manchester Continuum of Care has reviewed and certified that this system has met the legacy benchmarks necessary to declare the City of Manchester has effectively ended veteran homelessness.
The initiative began in September 2024 with a coordinated plan developed by Mayor Ruais, Harbor Care, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and community partners.
“The success of this initiative demonstrates what’s possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose,” stated Henry Och, Harbor Care President and CEO. “This effort includes a deep level of collaboration between federal and municipal agencies, non-profit organizations, landlords and developers, business and community leaders. Manchester should be incredibly proud of this milestone.”
“This milestone is worth celebrating because it shows what’s possible when a community comes together around a shared goal. By creating a coordinated, targeted response for veterans, we helped make veteran homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring—and built a model that can help us address homelessness among other populations as well.” said Matthew McCall, Chair of the Manchester Continuum of Care and representative of The Home for Little Wanderers.
The initiative uses current data and regular meetings among service providers to identify veterans in need and track their progress toward housing. Partners work with each veteran to find housing, provide services, and remove barriers that can delay placement.
The coalition also created a Sustainability Fund to help cover expenses such as security deposits, application fees, emergency housing, and identification documents.
“When we launched this initiative, I said that just like in the military, we would not accomplish this mission alone,” Mayor Ruais continued. “Harbor Care, the VA, the Manchester Continuum of Care, our landlords, veteran service organizations, outreach workers, and other community partners made this possible. Our work now is to maintain this system and ensure veterans who face homelessness are quickly connected with housing and support. Additionally, this is a roadmap for how we can tackle homelessness more broadly. We can take the lessons learned from this initiative and scale it to address the larger population. This is exactly what we have done with the elderly and infirmed, families and children along with those suffering from substance use disorder or mental health issues.”
“Over the years, our veterans have heard people say, ‘Welcome home.’ Now, I want to be able to tell them, ‘Welcome to your new home. Today, we can,” Mayor Ruais said.
Manchester, NH - American Medical Response (AMR) reported yesterday that the City of Manchester just experienced its first month on record with no suspected overdose fatalities since 2015. This milestone has been the result of dedicated City and community leadership to evidence-based interventions, coordinated rapid response, and ongoing partnership and collaboration.
“For more than a decade and a half, the opioid crisis has claimed hundreds of lives throughout NH and devastated countless families. Going an entire month in Manchester without a suspected opioid-overdose death—for the first time in 140 months—is an extraordinary milestone” said Chris Stawasz, AMR Regional Director, “It reflects the dedicated work of AMR medics, Manchester Fire and Police, public health officials, treatment and recovery providers, and scores of community partners. We should celebrate this progress while continuing the work needed to make opioid overdose-fatality free months the expectation, not the exception.”
“This milestone represents something incredibly meaningful: lives saved,” said Mayor Jay Ruais. “Manchester has worked relentlessly to confront the opioid crisis in a comprehensive way, and for the first time since this crisis began, we have gone an entire month without losing a life to a suspected overdose. That is a moment worth recognizing, while understanding that even one life lost is one too many. We will build on this progress and remain focused on making Manchester a healthier and safer community. I want to thank our Health Department, first responders, and all our community partners whose work is making a real difference every day.”
“This is an incredible milestone and a testament to the hard work of our first responders, law enforcement, treatment and recovery providers, and everyone on the front lines of this fight,” said Governor Kelly Ayotte. “We know there is more work ahead, but this progress shows that our coordinated approach is saving lives. We will keep working together to get deadly drugs off our streets, strengthen prevention, and make sure Granite Staters in recovery get the support they need.”
Health officials warn that while this is a moment of achievement, the opioid crisis is still posing a public health threat to its constituents and that continued vigilance and support for those in recovery remains essential. Anyone can seek substance use disorder treatment by accessing the NH Doorway program 24/7 by calling 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.
Manchester, NH - Today, Mayor Jay Ruais announced the formation and membership of the Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) Property Task Force, a community group established by the Mayor’s Office to ensure meaningful City input into the future disposition of the property.
The Task Force will focus on issues including transportation and traffic impacts, land use compatibility, neighborhood character, infrastructure, economic development opportunities, historic preservation, and the City's long-term planning objectives.
As the State of New Hampshire prepares to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the property's sale and redevelopment, the Task Force will work closely with residents, neighborhood stakeholders, City leadership, and State officials to identify community priorities and provide recommendations that help inform the RFP process.
Although this property is owned by the State and the City does not have authority over its sale or disposition, this process provides an opportunity for the community to share valuable input and feedback. The Task Force will hold public Community Forums to solicit community input on their expectations for this property. Additionally, the Task Force will incorporate feedback collected during the 2025 Zoning Rewrite Town Halls. This information will be compiled into a formal report, and released to the public, outlining community perspectives on the future of the property.
The Task Force will remain active until the property's disposition is complete, serving as a community group to help ensure Manchester's interests are represented throughout the planning, proposal, and redevelopment process.
Mayor Ruais Released the Following Statement:
“Since the State began the process of selling the SYSC property, I made a commitment to ensure the City of Manchester would have a seat at the table as decisions are made. The creation of this Task Force delivers on that promise. It ensures that as the State moves forward with the eventual sale of this property, Manchester’s voice will be heard and our residents’ interests will be represented every step of the way.”
By establishing the Task Force at this stage, the City is taking a proactive approach to ensure its economic priorities, housing needs, and long-term development goals are clearly articulated and considered well in advance of any final decision regarding the property.
Manchester, NH - At the close of July 2026, the Manchester Streetplus Ambassadors team marked the end of a second successful year in Manchester. Led by Michael Corl, the Ambassadors have been making Manchester a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming City.
From spring cleanup and summer events to fall leaf removal and winter snow clearing, the Streetplus Ambassadors maintain a consistent presence throughout downtown. Over the past two years, the team logged nearly 400 hours of snow removal in addition to its regular cleaning and maintenance responsibilities. This year-round approach ensures that downtown receives consistent attention and helps provide a clean and welcoming environment for businesses, residents, and visitors.
“A clean, safe, and welcoming downtown is essential to keeping Manchester a place where people want to visit, support local businesses, and spend time with their families,” said Mayor Jay Ruais. “The Streetplus Ambassadors play an important role in making that happen every day. Their work has made a visible difference throughout our downtown, and I want to thank Michael Corl and the entire team for their continued commitment.”
The Ambassadors’ work over the past two years has contributed to measurable improvements throughout downtown:
- Graffiti incidents declined by nearly 90 percent, from 822 recorded incidents in fiscal year 2025 to 84 in fiscal year 2026. Consistent graffiti removal improves the appearance of downtown properties and helps discourage recurring vandalism.
- More than 140,000 pounds of trash have been collected since the program began, representing more than 70 tons of waste removed throughout the Central Business Service District.• Oversized debris declined by 85 percent, with items such as mattresses, couches, and office chairs decreasing from 236 collected items to 35. Hazardous waste incidents also declined by 72 percent, from 1,625 to 451.
- More than 47,000 city block faces have been swept during the program’s first two years. This routine maintenance supports a consistently clean downtown for businesses, residents, and visitors. Traffic trends from the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission indicate that downtown foot traffic is increasing and is on track to reach or exceed pre-COVID levels in 2027.
- Nearly 400 hours of snow removal and 130 hours of leaf removal have helped maintain clear and accessible sidewalks while keeping storm drains free of debris and reducing the potential for flooding and pooling.
As these issues have become less frequent, the Ambassadors have been able to place greater emphasis on routine maintenance and preventing problems before they occur. Funded by the Central Business Service District, Streetplus was brought to Manchester in order to improve quality of life in the CBSD, while boosting the City’s attractiveness and economic prosperity.
Manchester, NH - The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday evening to approve a government reorganization that will transfer the City's Parking Division from the Finance Department to the Manchester Police Department.
The reorganization is part of a broader effort Mayor Ruais outlined in his Inaugural Address to streamline City government by strengthening efficiencies, while increasing oversight and accountability to protect Manchester taxpayers.
This reorganization naturally aligns with the enforcement functions of the Police Department. Additionally, it creates the organizational capacity within the Finance Department to establish a centralized purchasing division, a key government reform initiative designed to better leverage our City’s purchasing power and save taxpayer dollars.
Mayor Jay Ruais Released the Following Statement:
"I want to thank the Board of Aldermen for approving this move, which, when combined with our other efforts will create a more transparent, efficient, effective, and accountable City government. This reorganization advances that initiative by better aligning City operations while allowing us to implement centralized purchasing, one of the more important operational reforms we have undertaken. This will improve the way our government operates while delivering greater value for Manchester taxpayers."
This reorganization builds upon a series of recently approved initiatives Mayor Ruais has outlined. These include the creation of a central purchasing position, restoring the Charter-mandated Independent City Auditor, approving a comprehensive twelve-month programmatic audit plan of City Departments, and reforming several of the City’s finance policies.
Manchester, NH - Mayor Ruais today issued the following statement regarding Governor Ayotte’s nomination of General Allen Aldenberg to serve as Acting Child Advocate.
“I have never worked or served with a finer human being than General Aldenberg. Over the course of his more than 20-year career with the Manchester Police Department, he saw firsthand where the system was falling short of protecting our kids, and I know he will bring that knowledge and steady leadership to the Office of the Child Advocate while Governor Ayotte searches for a permanent replacement.”
This is the latest step taken toward making Manchester government more transparent, efficient, effective, and accountable to taxpayers.
Manchester, NH - Mayor Jay Ruais thanked the Board of Aldermen for approving a new Central Purchasing Manager position within the City's Finance Department.
This new position builds upon a broader reform agenda which began with restoring and funding the Charter-mandated Independent City Auditor for the first time since 2018. Since its restoration, the Auditor has completed reviews of the Manchester School District, City procurement practices, and contracts, identifying opportunities to strengthen internal controls, improve efficiency, and reduce unnecessary spending.
The Auditor also developed a comprehensive twelve-month audit plan, approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which includes programmatic audits of major City departments such as Public Works, Fire, Central Fleet, and Human Resources. These audits will help ensure departments are operating efficiently, following best practices, and making responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
In Mayor Ruais’ Inaugural Address, he called for the centralizing of purchasing across City Departments. This position directly advances that effort by implementing reforms that improve oversight, standardize purchasing practices, and deliver better value for taxpayers. By standardizing procurement practices under a single office, the City expects to improve oversight, strengthen accountability, negotiate more effectively with vendors, and maximize its purchasing power.
Based on discussions with the Independent City Auditor and the Finance Department, centralized purchasing has the potential to save Manchester taxpayers up to $1 million through more strategic procurement practices and operational efficiencies.
"Good government means constantly looking for ways to improve how we serve our residents," said Mayor Ruais. "I have committed to reforming City government to make it more transparent, more efficient, more effective, and more accountable to taxpayers. The Board's approval of this position is another important step toward delivering on that commitment. Centralizing purchasing will strengthen oversight, create consistency across departments, reduce costs, and save taxpayer dollars."
The City will immediately begin recruiting for the Central Purchasing Manager position.
Manchester, NH - Last night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to ratify two new contracts with the Manchester Police Patrolman's Association (MPPA) and the Manchester Association of Police Supervisors (MAPS), marking a significant investment in the City's public safety workforce and the future of the Manchester Police Department.
Mayor Jay Ruais thanked the Board of Aldermen for its support, with special recognition to Aldermen Burkush, Goonan, and Dexter for serving on the City's negotiating team. He also thanked MAPS President Robert Megowen and MPPA President Neil Penttinen for their professionalism and collaboration in reaching the agreements.
Police staffing has emerged as one of the City's most pressing public safety challenges. For years, Manchester has fallen behind comparable communities in police compensation, contributing to more than 30 vacancies within the Manchester Police Department, with an additional 18 officers currently eligible to retire.
These staffing shortages place increased demands on existing officers, contribute to overtime costs, and make it more difficult to maintain proactive policing efforts such as neighborhood patrols, traffic enforcement, and community policing. These agreements are designed to address those challenges by improving the City's ability to recruit new officers while retaining the experienced personnel already serving the Manchester community.
"Nothing is more fundamental to local government than public safety," said Mayor Jay Ruais. "These agreements reflect our commitment to supporting the men and women who put on the badge every day to protect our community. By making Manchester more competitive with surrounding communities, we are investing in the future of our Police Department and the safety of our residents."
As a result of the dedication and heroism of the men and women of the Manchester Police Department, Manchester has seen significant reductions in overall crime. Specifically, in 2024 Manchester’s total crime rate decreased by 16% compared to 2023 and decreased 35% compared to the 10-year average. In 2025, Manchester’s total crime rate fell by 4% compared to 2024 and was 36% lower than the 10-year average.
"Public safety begins with having a fully staffed, well-trained, and well-supported police department," Mayor Ruais said. "Increasing pay for our police will help us attract the next generation of officers, retain the experienced professionals who already serve our city, and continue the progress made in keeping Manchester a safe place to work and raise a family."
Manchester, NH - Mayor Jay Ruais issued the following statement regarding his upcoming annual two week required training for the Army National Guard:
"I have always felt that public service is the highest of callings. From 9 July through 26 July, I will be completing my annual military commitment with the New Hampshire Army National Guard. I look forward to continuing our efforts upon my return.”
Manchester, NH - The City of Manchester has once again been recognized as one of the best-run cities in the United States, earning the No. 3 overall ranking in WalletHub’s annual Best-Run Cities in America report for the second year in a row.
The ranking evaluates how effectively local governments deliver services and produce results for residents across a broad range of categories, including financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure.
Manchester ranked third among more than 140 cities nationwide, continuing a trend of national recognition for the City's performance and quality of life.
"Being named one of the best-run cities in America is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of many, including our City employees, community partners, and residents who make Manchester such a special place to live, work, and raise a family," said Mayor Jay Ruais. "This recognition comes at a time when Manchester is making real progress on some of our community's biggest challenges. Crime has continued to fall, we’re expanding housing opportunities, addressing homelessness through a comprehensive response, while making our City run more effectively and efficiently, delivering results for our taxpayers among other key initiatives. While more hard work remains, this ranking is a testament to the progress our City is making and the bright future ahead for Manchester."
WalletHub's annual rankings compare cities across a variety of performance measures to identify communities that effectively deliver services and achieve strong outcomes for residents.
The full WalletHub Best-Run Cities in America report is available at: Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America in 2026