New Hampshire faces a severe homelessness crisis, with a 52% increase in the homeless population from 2022 to 2023. The current system’s “treatment first” approach creates barriers to housing access. Implementing a statewide Housing First policy is proposed to provide immediate, stable housing, improve outcomes, and reduce public costs by avoiding the cycle of homelessness.
New Hampshire faces dual emergencies: a mental health treatment bottleneck and a homelessness crisis. In 2023, homelessness surged by over 52%, driven by high rental costs and ending pandemic assistance. Policymakers have introduced reforms, but bottlenecks in mental health services and insufficient housing options hinder progress, emphasizing a critical need for efficient implementation and funding.