Hansel to host discussion on veteran homelessness next week

Apr. 4—New Hampshire nonprofit Harbor Care and former Keene mayor George Hansel are hosting a discussion next week to raise awareness about homelessness among veterans and what people in Cheshire County can do to help.

The event, free and open to the public, will be held at Tempesta's Restaurant on Thursday, April 11.

According to Harbor Care's website, more than 5,000 veterans in New Hampshire struggle to afford housing each year.

One reason is that the skills veterans earn during service don't always translate well to jobs in the civilian sector. Additionally, some veterans might have a service-related disability or mental health issues. Harbor Care aims to connect such people and families with health care, housing and human services.

Hansel said the number of unhoused veterans in Cheshire County that Harbor Care is aware of is about 15, and he's convinced that with a little cooperation, veteran homelessness can be reduced to zero.

"We're trying to educate people on the resources available through [Harbor Care's] veterans first program and other programs," he said. "It's a very attainable goal for us to eliminate veteran homelessness in our area."

Harbor Care runs four transitional and permanent housing complexes in New Hampshire for unhoused veterans, with two in Nashua and two others in Manchester and Plymouth.

Out of 120 veterans Harbor Care has identified as experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire, about half are staying at one of its transitional housing facilities on any given day, David Tille, the organization's director of community engagement and government relations previously told a reporter.

Hansel added that next week's event will mark the launch of a $15,000 fundraiser to assist Harbor Care in its efforts to find housing and employment for veterans. With Harbor Care's estimates for unhoused former service members in the county, Hansel said the amount will come down to about $1,000 per person.

While next week's event is geared at fundraising, this is not the first time Keene has collaborated with the nonprofit to combat veteran homelessness. Last December, Hansel, still mayor at the time, and Harbor Care invited local officials and property owners to discuss the issue.

Hansel said he and the organization want to continue these efforts and encourage more community members to participate in trying to move the needle to zero.

"Homelessness in general is a critical issue in the community, but for some folks it might seem like they can't make much of a dent in solving the larger problem," he said. "[Ending veteran homelessness] is achievable and that's exciting and it gives every person in the community an opportunity to contribute to making a meaningful change."

Harbor Care also provides financial assistance to veterans in the form of a housing subsidy, funded through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, in which the organization pays 50 percent of a veteran's rent for up to two years, a spokesperson for the organization said in December.

Anyone who wants to attend the event can RSVP by emailing Hansel at gsh@georgehansel.com.

The event is scheduled for 5 p.m., April 11, at Tempesta's Restaurant at 401 Winchester St.

Veterans in need of assistance or who may be at risk of homelessness may dial 211 to be connected with New Hampshire's emergency hotline service, or they can reach Harbor Care at 603-305-1122.

Hunter Oberst can be reached at 355-8546, or hoberst@keenesentinel.com.

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