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Laconia Housing Authority seeks city letter to secure $700,000 for congregate housing services
Summary
Housing Authority leaders asked the City Council to authorize a letter supporting a state award that would fund a congregate housing services pilot in one New Hampshire city; councilors agreed to have staff draft a letter quickly.
LACONIA, N.H. — Leaders from the Laconia Housing Authority asked the City Council on July 28 to back a request that would direct $700,000 in state congregate housing services program (CHSP) funds to Laconia.
Kathy Bowler, executive director of the Laconia Housing Authority, told the council that the CHSP pilot previously received $750,000 and served 38 residents, and that she and advocates were successful in getting $700,000 included in the most recent state budget. "This program is, was awarded to Manchester and Laconia. We are the only 2 in the state who received funding for the pilot program," Bowler said.
The funding included in the budget was for two years and, as Bowler explained to councilors, it represented enough to operate the program for one city but not two. She said Department of Health and Human Services director Wendy Altman decided the award would be made to a single city and that Laconia is seeking local support to secure the funding.
Bowler told councilors the CHSP work is delivered in three buildings — Sunrise Towers, Sunrise House and the Tavern — and provides services to people who are not eligible for the Authority's Choice for Independence program. "They receive VNA services, homemaker services, a meal program, as well as a nursing visit once a month," she said.
Housing commission vice chair Patrick Wood introduced Bowler and asked for the council’s help. The council discussed logistics and timing; Bowler said the award decision was imminent and requested a city letter to Wendy Altman at DHHS to document local support and program outcomes. "We are hoping to receive it in the next 2 weeks," Bowler said, adding the application period that follows will have a short turnaround.
City staff indicated they could draft the requested letter quickly and asked that Bowler provide copies of the draft so councilors could review. Councilors agreed informally to have the manager's office draft and send the letter on the council's behalf, with one councilor saying, "I think it's too important to the people that you serve… we can turn this around within the next couple of days for you and have it signed off." No formal vote was recorded; staff said they would proceed with a draft and seek any necessary approvals.
What happens next: the Housing Authority will complete any required application steps and the city manager's office will prepare a letter of support to DHHS to accompany the Authority's application.
Why it matters: the CHSP program has been used in prior years to provide in-home and congregate supports that housing authority staff say helped prevent evictions and delayed or avoided higher-cost placements in assisted living or long-term care.
