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Keene Housing opens Roosevelt East with units for people exiting homelessness; city advances park design and summer events
Summary
Keene Housing’s Roosevelt East will add 30 affordable apartments (five for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with wraparound services). The city is also starting design work on Ash Willit River Park playground via a regional technical-assistance grant and encouraging downtown event attendance during construction.
Keene Housing celebrated the grand opening of Roosevelt East, a redevelopment of the old Roosevelt school into 30 affordable apartments, city officials said. Staff noted that five of the units are designated for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and that those households will receive wraparound services such as mental health supports, financial counseling and case management.
Deputy City Manager Rebecca Landry described wraparound services as providing "all of the services that you need" to support residents' success, including mental health care, financial literacy, and education or employment supports. City staff said mixing those five units among the larger affordable-housing development helps integrate residents and provide a stable path from homelessness into permanent housing.
Separately, the city is moving forward with design services for a green-space playground at Ash Willit River Park in partnership with the Southwest Regional Planning Commission, which secured a technical-assistance grant to support design work and community engagement. Staff said donated land and donated services, and a possible playground-structure contribution, will reduce the city’s direct costs.
Officials also encouraged residents to support downtown businesses during the summer construction period and promoted long-term parking options such as the Gilbo Avenue and commercial lots. The city listed upcoming community events, reminded listeners of job postings at keenenh.gov/jobs, and promoted Community Night on Aug. 18, which will include a sensory hour from 4–5 p.m.
