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Concord Human Services asks for $25,000 more in rent assistance as hoteling and medically frail cases strain budget
Summary
Human Services Director Karen Emmons‑Williams told the finance committee that rent and hoteling costs have risen since COVID; the department requested an additional $25,000 for client rent and described high hotel and medically frail caseloads.
Human Services Director Karen Emmons‑Williams told the Finance Committee on May 20 that demand for emergency rental assistance, motel placements and medically frail supports has risen and that she requested an additional $25,000 for client rent in the proposed budget.
“We are mandated by law to assist any poor person who is unable to assist themselves,” Emmons‑Williams said, referencing RSA 165. She described the department’s intake process as time‑consuming: “Generally, all of our interviews are taking about a 2 hour window” because staff must verify income, bank and app transactions, and other eligibility factors.
Committee members probed recent costs. Emmons‑Williams said the department spent about $313,000 on rent assistance in the fiscal year to date, and roughly $110,000 on hoteling from July 1 through April 30: “So far for rent assistance alone, we have spent over $313,000. … We spent a hundred thousand in hoteling,” she said.
Councilors and the manager discussed the limits of local authority and the strain on the city’s budget. Councilor Schlosser and others pushed for prevention-focused options, transitional housing and better regional coordination; Emmons‑Williams said many smaller towns lack full-time welfare staff and that surrounding municipalities sometimes do not cover their own residents.
Committee members flagged medically frail clients as a budget and service challenge. Emmons‑Williams said from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, the office assisted 18 elderly or frail clients (six elderly and 12 frail), with 73 unduplicated homeless cases accounting for 258 interviews during the year. She noted that medically frail clients often require repeat contact and weekly follow-up while staying temporarily in hotels.
City Manager said the proposed budget included a contingency in the city council budget (about $100,000) that the council has never tapped and could be used for urgent overages if needed. He also noted a separate $100,000 contingency and previous assignments that have been reserved for emergencies. No additional appropriation was adopted at this meeting.
