Current Projects
Ballot Measure 2: Safe, Certified Recovery Housing in Lebanon.
Housing First UV is endorsing a Lebanon zoning amendment to support safe, certified recovery housing programs. This amendment will be brought for a vote on March 11, 2025.
Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund.
Housing First UV partnered with the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley to increase the number of new lease-ups for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher holders and Housing Bridge Voucher holders. This program provides the equivalent of one month’s rent as an incentive for landlords to take on HCV or Housing Bridge Voucher holders who don’t have positive landlord references/rental histories.
Point-in-Time and Summer Homeless Counts.
Every January and August, Housing First UV organizes volunteers in lower Grafton County to visit 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.
Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil.
On the longest night of the year, Housing First brings the community together in a candlelight vigil to remember our Upper Valley neighbors who passed away that year, whose lives were shortened by homelessness.
Do you have other ideas of what Housing First UV should be doing?
Get in touch with us to let us know.
Past Successes
Parkhurst Housing.
Parkhurst Community Housing, which originated with the Housing First group, opened in August 2018 after Twin Pines Housing purchased and renovated the building at 10 Parkhurst Street with funding from NH Housing Finance Authority and the NH Community Loan Fund. The goal of the project was to provide permanent housing for low-income chronically homeless adults in a supportive housing model.
Features of Parkhurst Housing:
- 18 one-bedroom apartments
- Rental subsidies; tenants pay only 30% of their income for rent.
- Supportive services provided by a social worker from the Upper Valley Haven
- Incentive for tenants to seek permanent housing of their own choice (tenants become eligible for a Housing Choice Voucher for any unit in NH after a year of residency, or any unit in any state after 2 years of residency)
In the first five years of operation, 35 households have lived at 10 Parkhurst Street. Five tenants have been able to leave for larger apartments in other locations, in Lebanon and another NH city. These openings allowed other chronically homeless adults to be housed.
Lebanon Emergency Winter Shelter.
Housing First UV was a leading force in the opening of the Lebanon Emergency Winter Shelter on January 25, 2024. Located on 160 Mechanic Street and in partnership with the Upper Valley Haven, this low-barrier shelter offers a safe and warm space for individuals 18 and older every night for 120 nights out of the year for up to 14 guests a night. The shelter also:
- Serves hot dinner and a to-go breakfast each day
Connects guests with assistance with finances, healthcare, housing, and more
Provides showers, hygiene supplies, Wi-Fi, clean linens, and other supplies
In its first season, the shelter provided 658 bed nights.
The shelter opened up for a second season on January 8, 2025, where it has been at capacity every night.
Though this shelter is temporary, it is filling a critical need until the Upper Valley Haven’s year-round, low-barrier shelter opens in 2026.