Human Relations Committee schedules countywide homelessness forum; housing authority awaiting CHS grant materials

Patrick Wortens, chair of the Human Relations Committee, told commissioners during public comment that the committee will host a countywide forum on homelessness at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Laconia High School. He said the program will open with about a 30‑minute panel including Commissioners Spanos and others to describe existing services and then open to public comment; the committee plans to invite people from surrounding communities and to emphasize solutions alongside concerns.

Wortens said the forum aims to reduce misinformation, explain available services, and solicit community help to identify practical solutions. He emphasized that people experiencing homelessness are human beings who “are not there because they want to be” in most cases and urged compassion balanced with respect for other residents.

Wortens also said the housing authority has not received the state application for the Congregate Housing Services (CHS) grant, which the housing authority expected in August. He said local staff have repeatedly asked the state contact for the application with no result and that the housing authority has had to reduce services because it cannot rely on continued county funds. A commissioner offered to help escalate the issue if there is no correspondence by Jan. 1 and asked Wortens to provide contact information for follow‑up.

Wortens invited commissioners and the public to the forum and said details would be published in local media. Commissioners thanked him for the work and for timing the forum after the election and before the new year’s municipal changes.