Manchester announces expansion of support services available at weekly resource fairs

Paul Feely, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
·2 min read

May 21—Manchester officials announced the expansion of support services available at the weekly resource fairs at the city's Engagement Center, with staff from the Department of Employment Security joining the mix.

The resource fairs gather community partners in one place where homeless individuals can access services like health care, job counseling and treatment.

"In order to end homelessness we have to address the underlying causes and break the cycle that led to a person becoming unhoused," Mayor Jay Ruais said in a statement. "Homelessness should be brief, rare and one time. We don't need to create new services; we need to break down silos. With this increased coordination and collaboration with the state of NH's Employment Security Department, we are taking an important step forward in this effort."

Ruais thanked both Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Gov. Chris Sununu for their support of the initiative.

"Adding a staff member to the resource fair will enhance our ability to connect individuals with employment opportunities and job training resources," Copadis said in a statement. "This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting economic stability and empowerment in Manchester."

City officials hope the addition of Employment Security to the mix attracts new community partners and broadens the days and times these resources are available.

The resource fair is held every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Engagement Center at 39 Beech Street.

New partners included in the effort are Workpath, Hope for NH Recovery, Anthem, Better Life Partners, Granite State VNA, Telephone Network/Next Level, Wellsense, Avenues, The Doorways and Amoskeag Health.

Partners already involved in the effort include Gatehouse, Greater Manchester Mental Health, CMC Healthcare for the Homeless, Meals on Wheels, HarborCare, Easterseals, Manchester Housing Authority, Manchester City Welfare, Live Free Recovery, VA Homeless Outreach, Light of Life Ministries, Carelon Behavioral Health, NH Respite LLC, Health Market Connect, Do You Know Him Ministries, 603 Legal Aid and the Farnum Center.

News of the resource fair comes on the heels of a recently-launched collaboration between the city, Members First Credit Union and Catholic Charities to create a pilot program at the Engagement Center connecting homeless individuals with identification cards and their birth certificates at no charge.

Manchester officials have posted the job of director of homelessness initiatives on the city's website, just weeks after the department's former director, Adrienne Beloin, agreed to resign her position as part of a $57,000 settlement with the city after comments she made at a public meeting and on a radio program upset some city officials.

The job posting lists the position's salary as between $80,000 and $100,000 a year, with duties including providing administrative oversight to operations and activities related to the city's response to homelessness, as well as community outreach services to reduce the rate of homelessness in Manchester.