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Residents and aldermen press city to help Job Corps students facing program closure
Summary
Public commenters and aldermen urged the board to press state and federal officials and prepare local supports after the Job Corps program announced contract terminations that could leave hundreds of students without housing and services by June 30.
Several residents and community members used public comment time to urge the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to act to protect students at the New Hampshire Job Corps center after recent contract terminations put the program—s future at risk.
A public commenter said the center—s closure would push "thousands of vulnerable young people closer to the very system Job Corps was created to prevent," and argued federal decisions were effectively deciding "whose lives are worth saving." Christian Lacoste, a Job Corps graduate, told aldermen: "Job Corps has given them a purpose," and asked elected officials to leverage state and federal connections to keep the program running.
Why it matters: speakers said many Job Corps students are minors or vulnerable young adults facing homelessness, aging out of foster care or escaping domestic violence. Aldermen and city staff described multi-agency efforts to prevent immediate housing displacement, including a two-track plan for either keeping students on the campus if allowed or moving them to transitional placements if the site closes.
Other public commenters raised related homelessness concerns. Melinda McCusker criticized the city—s use of 39 Beach Street as a low-barrier shelter and asked for clearer accounting of money spent on the facility and outcomes for residents. Dennis Kirkhart, a veteran whose house backs an identified surplus lot, asked the board to consider selling the lot to the adjacent owner rather than closing it into the surplus process.
Board response and next steps: board members and city staff described outreach to the governor—s office, the federal Department of Labor, local nonprofits and shelter providers. A city official said the administration is developing a plan that covers housing, food and supervision in the event students must relocate and is seeking philanthropic and federal help to offset costs. The board voted to take all public comments under advisement and to receive and file written materials presented.
Ending: Speakers urged urgent action; aldermen said the city will continue coordination with state and federal partners as the June 30 deadline approaches.
