From the ED's Desk - Community takes another hit with Mental Health Housing
The State of New Hampshire recently announced that the state budget called for the sale of a building which houses a sixteen-bed residence. This building operates the Philbrook Adult Transitional Housing program on state hospital grounds and was previously operated by the State of NH.
Fellowship Housing Opportunities worked closely with the State to place individuals living at this facility in 2024, when it was decided that they would no longer operate it. The State ended up contracting NFI North to house those individuals. FHO was able to accept residents at that time and is prepared to accept residents if the situation arises again. While the program isn’t shutting down and residents won’t be left without housing, it does result in challenges for the community. This announcement also comes on the heels of Riverbend Community Mental Health announcing that their residential housing property on Fayette Street in Concord is closing.
Considering the sale of this property, these two recent changes could result in the loss of fourteen percent of the NH Licensed Community Residence programs in our community. It would also be over twenty percent of the total supported housing options for mental health patients. These are the very housing options available to individuals who are eligible to be discharged from the State Hospital. Which in turn makes treatment available to individuals boarding in the hospital emergency room in our community.
Fellowship Housing Opportunities will continue to advocate for affordable housing solutions for all our at-risk community members. We remain dedicated to supporting individuals living with mental illness in securing safe, stable housing while assisting in any way we can through this complicated journey.
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