From the ED's Desk - Reflecting on Twenty Years with FHO
After twenty years of working with Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc, fourteen years on the Board of Directors and the past six years as Executive Director, I am retiring from the organization at the end of September.
I first had the opportunity to join the Board of Directors under the leadership of Violet Rounds as President and Page Cannon as Executive Director. That was twenty years ago. While much has changed over that time, the challenges of mental health and housing remain ongoing issues in our community and throughout the State of New Hampshire.
While there have been improvements in Medicaid reimbursement, emergency room boarding, and support for individuals living with mental illness in our communities, there is still much work to be done. I imagine that my predecessors found the environment over their respective tenures to be much the same: slow but steady progress.
I am not sure what the answer is, but I am convinced that it is not just one thing. One important need is adequate reimbursement for housing to help cover the costs associated with property management. Rent for low-income housing is typically based on a percentage of a resident’s income, with the balance up to the market-rate rent covered by a subsidy. These Housing Choice Vouchers, however, are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, and it can often take well over five years to receive one.
In the meantime, the support of our community is needed. This includes providing financial support, advocating with local leaders and decision-makers, and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities with local agencies.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of Fellowship Housing Opportunities and to have worked alongside so many dedicated individuals who share a commitment to improving the lives of people living with mental illness. While there is still much work to be done, I am proud of the progress we have made and hopeful for the future.
GIVE