The third and final meeting of the Mayor’s Task Force to address Homelessness convened March 25, with about 40 community leaders gathered at the city health department to go over updates from the various sub-committees, and to consider next steps.
A newer New Horizons is in the making. It will take funding from all sources – a capital campaign, along with federal and state dollars, and an attitude adjustment in the community about the goals.
“Them” have the belongings they can carry, lack of treatment for health and addiction, no stability, and no money. “Us” doesn’t want to see “Them” clustering about as they try and conduct their business, or enjoy a night out. “Them” are a reminder of what is wrong in Manchester, the state, and the country, and “Us” don’t want to see that. I get it.
Last week’s meeting was book-ended around the theme of homelessness and panhandling, and growing concern from several residents and business owners over they city’s need to address the problems during public comment.
The report reveals continuing increases in the number of children identified as homeless in New Hampshire’s public school system. Over 4,000 students were identified as homeless during the 2016-2017 school year, an increase of almost 21 percent from just two years ago.
This year’s event is set for Dec. 8 at a new location, Ste. Marie Parish, 378 Notre Dame Ave., on the city’s West Side behind Catholic Medical Center. Caroling and hot chocolate distribution begins at 9:30 a.m. outside the church.
Next time I’m standing at a corner on Elm Street, sharing a slice of meat-lovers pizza and an orange soda with a homeless person on a Friday night talking about sports or family or about the missteps we’ve taken in life, I’m going to ask if they see more of a willingness from their fellow Mancunians to thumb a quarter their way, or slide a buck into a cup as they both look away.
Disregarded long enough, a man questions his existence. Disregarded long enough, a man hates himself. Disregarded long enough, a man stops acting like a man, forgets he is a man, loses sight of his human nature.
In early 2017, desperate, and in an increasing abusive relationship, Tori and her young son Camren packed up their few belongings and left their home in Concord. “We literally had no place to go,” she says. “But we knew we couldn’t stay where we were. We had to get someplace safe.”
Upon completion of the free program, graduates become part of a network of skilled leaders focused on improving the quality of life in communities across New Hampshire.