Hosting Critical Conversations on Veterans Housing

Yesterday, I had the honor of hosting a roundtable discussion on veterans housing at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. We brought together state officials, housing advocates, and veterans service providers to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our veteran community: access to affordable housing.

The statistics we heard were sobering. With 60% of veterans earning less than $100,000 annually and median home prices at $560,000 requiring an income of $173,500, the gap between what our veterans can afford and what’s available is dramatic. As I said during the discussion, “There are a lot of good things happening, but we can and need to do more to make housing attainable for those who have sacrificed so much for us.”

Stephen said creating a single place for all veterans to start seeking housing help would be a good start.

“There are a lot of good things happening, but we can and need to do more to make housing attainable for those who have sacrificed so much for us,” Stephen said. “Having a single access point would help.”

Mike Lopez, a former alderman and past president of the Manchester Veterans Council, said he’s worked with veterans who haven’t gotten enough follow up.

“There is a problem someplace. I have had veterans who contacted 211 (help line) and they don’t even take the individual’s name down,” Lopez said.

Eric Anthony, the acting commandant of the Marine Corps League had his own anecdote.

“I have spoken with a Navy submariner living on retirement and is close to falling behind on their rent. Who do I have him call?” Anthony asked.

Key Highlights from the Discussion

The roundtable featured powerful insights from experts across the veteran housing spectrum:

• Rob Dapice from New Hampshire Housing shared critical data showing “The need is dramatic to create more housing opportunities for veterans”
• Mike Lopez from the Manchester Veterans Council highlighted gaps in our current support systems
• Allen Aldenberg from Easterseals discussed the groundbreaking Military and Veterans Campus in Franklin, describing it as a project that will “bring everything together in one location that will be a model for the country”
• Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, a Marine Corps combat veteran, emphasized that “Veterans are different. Their life experiences are different”

We discussed promising projects like the conversion of the former Manchester Police station into veteran housing and the success of New Hampshire Housing’s veteran voucher program, which has already served 215 veterans.

One of my key takeaways was the need for better coordination – creating a single access point where veterans can start their search for housing assistance instead of navigating multiple agencies and programs.

Read the Full Story

The Union Leader provided excellent coverage of our roundtable discussion, capturing the detailed conversations, specific statistics, and personal stories shared by participants. Their comprehensive reporting includes important details about ongoing projects, funding mechanisms, and the real challenges veterans face in finding affordable housing.

Read the complete Union Leader coverage here to get the full picture of yesterday’s important discussion and learn more about the innovative solutions being developed across New Hampshire.

This conversation was just the beginning. We must continue working together to ensure every veteran who served our country has access to safe, affordable housing here at home.