I’ve heard elected officials in Manchester responding to criticisms about their mishandlings of the homelessness crisis by saying “homelessness is a complicated problem”. For those of us who face the horrific consequences of these mishandlings out on the streets it certainly can be complicated. However the solution is quite simple.
The city’s winter warming station is scheduled to close next Friday. I understand it has been serving between 25-60 people daily, depending on the weather. One of those people, for a time, was Lexi Ramirez.
The median cost for a two-bedroom apartment in New Hampshire is about $1,584. To afford it, someone would have to earn about $31 an hour. With the minimum wage at $7.25 an hour, someone working 168 hours a week — every hour of every day — could not afford the rent. To kick off an occasional series on homelessness, Melanie Plenda talks with Jennifer Chisholm, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness, about the problems and solutions related to homelessness in New Hampshire.
As someone who was homeless myself – three years ago – I have a unique understanding of the homelessness crisis that our Board of Mayor and Aldermen don’t have. Since I worked remotely before moving up to New Hampshire in February 2016, I was able to continue working while I stayed at the New Horizons shelter at 199 Manchester Street.
This past election cycle, Mayor Ruais promised a different approach to the homelessness crisis. Unfortunately, he seems poised to repeat some of the immoral and ineffective policies of past administrations.
Over the weekend a group of about 30 people, many of whom have been living homeless in the city for well over a year, returned to a nomadic existence. They were moved several times by police who have been citing them for various violations of city ordinances that address sidewalk encumbrances and public/private property.
Although it will not eliminate the great need that currently exists, it is a step in the right direction according to the city’s Director of Homeless Initiatives Schonna Green. The amount of footwork involved in such forward motion requires a lot of attention to detail. It is work mostly done behind the scenes, and often involves delicate negotiations that can easily be derailed.
To my surprise, help came from an unexpected source. After the first orange sticker, rock bottom hit. I was ready to end my life. Each day became harder than the last. I wound up in the ER one Sunday night, not knowing what would happen in the future. Things were not going well.
For several months now, MAD NH has been running an outreach program in Manchester aimed at filling in the gaps the shelters, the state, and other charitable organizations leave open. Food stamps, for example, does not pay for toothpaste or deodorant, two items it is commonly accepted are necessary to make a good impression at a job interview.
Walking the streets of the city has brought a bit of peace to me that I didn’t have before. You won’t see me sitting around on Elm Street with a cardboard sign, or panhandling on South Willow Street. You won’t see me shouting at the air, or putting needles in my body. You might see me going off to work, or taking in the sunshine in the park. If you see me at all, a friendly greeting wouldn’t go amiss.