Join Housing First UV.
Join our email list.
Email Lynne Goodwin directly at lynne[dot]goodwin[at]lebanonnh[dot]gov. You’ll get notices about upcoming meetings, as well as other (infrequent) announcements.
Come to our monthly virtual meetings.
We typically meet on the second Fridays from 10-11am over Zoom. This meeting is open to everyone.
Join our email list to get the Zoom link. Even if you can’t make the meetings, you can still get email notes.
Other Ways to Take Action to End Homelessness.
TALK.
- Start a conversation about homelessness within a community that you are a part of. You can do that with a group of your neighbors, friends, etc. What action steps can you all take to make the lives of people experiencing homelessness easier?
- Have a conversation with people experiencing homelessness to learn what kinds of support they most need. Mention these needs to members of your community.
If you don’t know someone who has experienced homelessness, we suggest you visit a LISTEN Community Dinner in White River Junction. Just grab a free dinner, sit down, and meet someone. Chat with them and get to know them. - Start a conversation about how your community can make the lives of people experiencing homelessness easier with local politicians. You can email, call, or meet your representatives in person. Find out who your state legislators are here, and don’t forget to also look up your city or town selectboard members.
WRITE.
- We need to raise awareness about the crisis of homelessness and challenge the stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or make a post on social media.
- Collaborate with someone currently experiencing homelessness to write a letter to a state or local politician advocating for a specific policy change that they would like to see happen. Sign it in both of your names.
If you don’t know someone who has experienced homelessness, we suggest you visit a LISTEN Community Dinner in White River Junction. Just grab a free dinner, sit down, and meet someone. Chat with them and build a personal relationship first before asking them to do anything.
CONNECT.
- Make a commitment to join the Housing First Meeting Group for one year. It’s open to the public, so bring your friends too.
- Speak at a town or city Meeting about the urgency of the homeless crisis in our community and steps we can take to lessen it. Join the Housing First email list to learn more about what steps to recommend.
- Make a commitment to attend planning/zoning sessions about housing for one year. Speak to how decisions that these board decisions are affecting people experiencing homelessness. Join the Housing First email list to learn more about what steps to recommend.
- Share a meal at the LISTEN Community Dinner and find a way to engage conversations with the attendees for the purpose of listening and connecting. Dinners are Monday through Friday from 4:30-5:30pm, and they’re free for anyone in the community.
DONATE.
- Make a financial contribution to a local shelter or program. Donate to the Upper Valley Haven online here.
- Stop by a campsite and ask what camping supplies, equipment, clothing, bedding or food is needed. Provide the needed items. Alternatively, you can bring your gently used camping supplies and equipment to the Upper Valley Haven, who will connect those to people who need them.
VOLUNTEER.
- Serve meals or volunteer at the Upper Valley Haven shelter.
- Volunteer at the LISTEN Food Pantry or Dining Hall.
- Organize a workday to clean abandoned campsites. Extra credit if this effort can involve people experiencing homelessness. Contact Lynne Goodwin (lynne[dot]goodwin[at]lebanonnh[dot]gov) to get involved.
- Offer transportation to appointments for people experiencing homelessness.
- Allow someone experiencing homelessness a room to stay rent free in your home. (This is currently happening with success in the Upper Valley.)
- Join Housing First for homeless outreach on the National Point-in-Time Count in January, or for the Summer Homeless Count in August. On these days, volunteers in lower Grafton County will be visiting campsites and other spots to offer food and supplies, as well as conduct surveys of people experiencing homelessness. This helps the state allocate resources to this region for our homeless neighbors, and volunteer outreach has been vital the past few years. To find out more about the volunteer event, you can join the Housing First email list.