Catholic Charities NH, the state’s largest human services organization, released its 2023 Program Impact Report, a key indicator of social service needs across New Hampshire. The report reveals significant growth in demand for services throughout calendar year 2023, reflecting the continuous challenges related to poverty, financial instability, homelessness, mental health difficulties, and food insecurity among senior populations throughout the Granite State.

Notably, Catholic Charities NH’s Community Services program experienced a 30% increase in service demand. The program provided direct support to 3,693 individuals and families statewide, with case management, financial literacy training, and community referrals to address critical needs such as food insecurity, housing instability and access to other basic resources. Among clients served through the program, 93% have incomes less than twice the poverty level, and 85% are unable to meet their basic needs with their income.

“This past year highlighted the escalating challenges that too many New Hampshire residents face daily,” said Marc Cousineau, Director of the Community Services program at Catholic Charities NH. “With inflation and the rising costs of housing, utilities, and other essentials, more of our neighbors find themselves in dire situations, from facing evictions to losing heat or electricity. Thankfully, ongoing donor support has allowed us to respond effectively to this growing demand and pave more paths to stability for those who need it most.”

Other key takeaways from Catholic Charities NH’s program report include:

• Addressing food insecurity and isolation among homebound seniors: 127,715 pounds of food were delivered to more than 430 homebound seniors in Greater Manchester and Greater Nashua through the CareGivers Caring Cupboard program. Additionally, volunteers drove 21,238 miles to assist seniors with critical appointments through the CareGivers Caring Rides program, including a 97% increase in rides for seniors receiving cancer treatment. In the Monadnock Region, 433 in-home service requests were fulfilled through Monadnock at Home, along with 2,627 miles driven for appointments, helping seniors maintain their independence.
• Supporting local veterans: The Liberty House program provided 5,270 nights of transitional living for 40 veterans facing housing instability and post-traumatic stress, a 16% increase from the previous year. Additionally, 40,063 items of food, clothing, and basic needs were distributed to community veterans, an 83% surge from the previous year.
• Strengthening access to mental health assistance: 2,175 counseling sessions were conducted for individuals struggling with emotional pain and mental health issues, including $92,548 in donor-funded charitable care for low-income individuals who could not otherwise access these services.
• Helping mothers and children facing homelessness: The New Generation program provided 7,452 nights of shelter to 75 mothers and children, a 9% increase from last year. Furthermore, 88% of families who received stabilization services maintained their permanent housing a year after moving in, preventing the common recurrence of homelessness.
• Building safe, stable environments for children: 159 children were positively impacted through the Our Place pregnancy and parenting education program, which provides parents with knowledge and resources to provide their children with a stable home life and healthy upbringings. This was a 10% increase in demand over the previous year.

To learn more about Catholic Charities NH’s impact and access the full 2023 Program Impact Report, visit our Community Impact page.