​We are proud to share that LRCD received an Award of Excellence from the Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC) for our work at Harvey Heights in Meredith. The award serves to recognize an organization for an exciting and innovative project that has been conceived and successfully implemented in a community over the last year. The completed project must also serve a public good. Special thanks to all involved! 
LRCD Executive Director, Carmen Lorentz received the award on behalf of LRCD from David Katz, Vice Chair of LRPC. 

To go with its beautiful renovations, the sign for Harvey Heights also received a facelift! Check out the before and after pics below. 

arthrogryposis has rendered her non-ambulatory and requires the support of a wheelchair to be mobile.
​After graduating high school in 2006, Donka knew that moving out of her family home was the next step to the life of independence she so desperately wanted. She immediately sought help in making this dream a reality. Donka and her family turned to their assigned resource coordinator at Lakes Region Community Services for support. 
There's so much more! Click HERE to read Donka's full story featured in the Laconia Daily Sun.

LRCD and Pemi Valley Habitat for Humanity (PVH) together are proud to announce their new collaborative relationship effective August 1, 2022.
Through this agreement, LRCD will endeavor to incorporate single family home lots into their site plans when planning a new rental housing development. The lots would then be subdivided and sold to PVH at a price that works with their home building model. The PVH single family build opportunities will then be shared with LRCD tenants who have a goal of homeownership.
“We are very excited about this new relationship with PVH,” states Carmen Lorentz, LRCD Executive Director. “By leveraging the strengths of each of our organizations, LRCD and PVH can create new home ownership opportunities for families of low and moderate income.”

"Anne" and her kids loved their car. It got them everywhere they needed to go for years and became part of the family.  But, with 300,000 miles on it (yeah you read that right), it was getting tired. Anne needed something reliable to keep her busy family moving to work, school, and soccer…so much soccer! 
The money she set aside wasn’t quite enough, so she searched for a “hand up,” and found Take the Wheel NH. Even with no credit, Take the Wheel welcomed her into the program.
Thanks to Take the Wheel, she learned more about managing finances, is now working on building credit, and has this fabulous new car.
Today, with their new Kia, they’re comfortably on the road 4 days a week and getting 50 miles to the gallon to boot! "Anne" says, “We’re making it because of the car and Take the Wheel NH.” Visit Take the Wheel NH to learn more.  

We are thrilled to share that this nature trail was just finished at our 48-unit rental property in Wolfeboro!
The non-motorized recreation trail is roughly 1800 feet long with a 5-6 foot wide compacted gravel surface, running from the southern portion of the housing complex and heading southwest to Route 109A.
Special thanks to the Eastern Lakes Region Housing Coalition (ELRHC), our partner in Harriman Hill who raised the funds needed for this project and oversaw the construction.  THANK YOU!
ELRHC named the trail in honor of Edie DesMarais, a founding member of ELRHC whose dedication to the cause of affordable housing made the Harriman Hill development possible. On June 15th, LRCD and ELRHC hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of “Edie’s Trail” and honor Edie for her many contributions. 

​Mother, college student, hard worker, community-driven, and advocate are just a few of the words one could use to describe Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) Resident and Board Member, Carrie Duran.

LRCD  and Lakes Region Community Services have partnered to bring you the powerful stories of people living in our community. We will share their life journeys, struggles, triumphs, and aspirations. We think you will find that their goals and dreams are not so different from your own. Affordable housing is about everyone in our community being able to afford a home that supports good physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Thank you Lakes Region Community Services for providing the latest installment of the Faces of Affordable Housing.

Gilford Community Church provides a grant of $25,000 in support of the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include a new early learning center operated by the Boys & Girls Club and a new program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services.
 
To read full press release click here https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/latestnews

Help Save a Piece of History,
Provide Child Care & Family Supports
$220,000 in NH Business Tax Credits Available to Support the Gale School Project
 
To learn more about how your business can support this project, please visit https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/gale-school-fundraising.html or contact Carmen Lorentz at (603) 524-0747 ext 110 or [email protected]. Thank you.

Our most recent graduate is a mom of two who was driving a car that was no longer road worthy and unsafe. She now has a safe, reliable, and fuel efficient car to get her kids where they need to go! Congratulations to her and as always a huge thanks to our Take the Wheel partners, Franklin Savings Bank, Grappone Automotive Group, and HOMEteam NH! 

LRCD's Executive Director, Carmen Lorentz, participated in NHEnergy Week as a panelist on Monday. You can watch the panels discussion by clicking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LFoYpCmYEw&t=2418s

That got us thinking on way we can all decrease our energy usage. Please some things that you can do below.

1. Take advantage of a home energy audit
   A home energy audit is an assessment that allows you to identify the best ways to improve the energy efficiency in your home. This audit easily identifies which areas of the house require the most electricity and cooling and is important for reducing waste. Check out some energy audit resources at NHSaves.com
   
   
2. Use power strips whenever possible
   Power strips are particularly useful due to the fact that they help users to avoid overloading electrical outlets and prevent them from draining unnecessary energy. Power strips also help to efficiently distribute energy to appliances. With efficiency comes shorter wait time for devices to charge and also less wasted energy, which is quite beneficial financially.
   
   
3. Switch to LED light bulbs
   LED bulbs have greater overall efficiency, overcoming flaws in incandescent bulbs like their poor ability to function in cold temperatures. LEDs also have a much longer life than incandescent bulbs, making up for their greater upfront cost. LEDs have a more durable bust than other bulbs and do not burn out as traditional lights do, but rather dim into darkness.   
   

Gilford Community Church provides a grant of $25,000 in support of the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include a new early learning center operated by the Boys & Girls Club and a new program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services.

“The Gilford Community Church is excited to disburse one of two grant-based contributions of the Daniell Fund to the Gale School Project,” said Jessica Fleck, Outreach Committee Chair of Gilford Community Church.  “In these times of uncertainty and challenges for families, being able to support a project that will serve young children and families, fulfills our mission to support local charitable organizations that enrich and improve the quality of life for our community.   It will be amazing to watch the Gale School be brought back to life and become a home for two vital programs for this area.  We are very thankful to be able to help with the final fit-up needs for the school.”

“We are incredibly grateful to have the support of the Gilford Community Church,” said Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD), the developer of the project. “This generous grant will ensure we have the necessary funds for the final fit-up of the school.  Bringing the Gale School back to life so it can serve children and families once again is only possible because of the support provided by community businesses and organizations, like the Gilford Community Church.”
Construction on the Gale School could begin in the later months of this year if all funds are secured as planned.

The Gale School was built in 1894, and was used by the Belmont school district until the mid-1980s. The building has been mostly vacant since then, and years of neglect have taken their toll. The Gale School was named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2018, and was selected as one of New Hampshire’s Seven to Save in 2017.

In July 2020, the building was successfully moved by the local Save Our Gale School Committee (SOGS) to a new location at 60 Concord Street in Belmont Village. LRCD agreed to partner with SOGS to redevelop the building.

We are thrilled to announce Resilient Buildings Group (RBG) as this year’s LRCD Visionary Sponsor.

RBG, based in Concord, provides customized consulting services to reduce energy costs, improve the comfort and durability of buildings, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With four divisions (High Performance, Utilities, Low Income / Multifamily, Construction Management), they work in retail and office buildings, multifamily buildings, health clubs, schools and municipal buildings, manufacturing facilities, and more. Their mission is to scale-up the number and quality of high performance, low-energy-use, resilient buildings in New England.

Dana Nute, RBG President and Member of the LRCD Board of Directors, explained his decision to sign on as LRCD’s Visionary Sponsor, saying, “Being on the Board, I know what’s going on there and they far exceed a lot of other developers.”  In addition, before starting RBG, Dana worked for a community action agency where he was doing housing rehab and weatherization, making him quite familiar with low-income housing. Dana adds, “It’s always been my interest to help people.”

What does this type of support mean for LRCD?  Carmen Lorentz, LRCD Executive Director says, “It’s great! The financial support is huge, but in addition to that, Dana and his team help us out on a lot of projects.” LRCD is always looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Dana has also graciously offered to have RBG conduct energy audits at several of LRCD’s older buildings. Carmen shares, “It’s really great to have him as a trusted advisor in those projects.” 

While these energy improvement projects benefit the environment and LRCD, they also benefit LRCD’s tenants. With more energy efficient buildings, LRCD can lessen the monthly utility bill burden of its tenants.

Construction began January 3rd on the $5.4 million project to renovate the 25-unit Deer Run apartment complex at 62 Pleasant Street in Meredith, NH. Construction is scheduled to last 12 months.

The renovations of four units are complete at Harvey Heights Apartments in Meredith, NH. Four Harvey Heights residents will be vacating their current apartments, move into their new updated units, and renovations will begin on their old units. Renovations will continue to work in phases like this to limit the number of transitions and disruptions for residents as much as possible. Renovated units have new flooring, kitchen cabinets, window, countertops, energy-efficient appliances and so much more. Common areas are also being renovated.

To learn more about this project visit our website at https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/projects.html

Some of the young ladies from Ames Brook Apartments have formed a Girl Scout Troop. Ten girls make up newly formed Troop #62017. They are really enjoying building new friendships, learning new things, creating new memories, and of course the cookies!

Tara & Brian, a young couple with three children, joined the LRCD’s Transitional program in 2018. Both Tara & Brian experienced significant trauma in their childhood. Tara had her first child very young. Before coming to the program, they had been couch-surfing for months and staying in a run-down apartment with no running water. The family ended up owing a large sum of money to the previous landlord, making it difficult to secure housing.

Once in the program, Tara & Brian enrolled in a youth employment program that assists people to remove barriers to successful employment. They both obtained jobs shortly after. Within several months in the program, they paid off their debt to the previous landlord and a utility company. They paid their rent and utilities on time throughout their time in our program and complied with all lease and Transitional Program contract obligations. They attended numerous parent education classes, financial workshops, and a tenant course.
 
Tara & Brian were on track to graduate in early 2020. When the pandemic hit, they lost their childcare, keeping Tara from going to work. Tara decided to use this time to get her GED. Tara then successfully became a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and began working full-time in healthcare in the spring of 2021. The family felt economically secure and graduated from the program in December 2021. Tara & Brian are now paying full rent in a beautiful 4-bedroom LRCD unit.

LRCD is proud of the progress Tara & Brian have made and the resilience they have shown. Our Transitional Shelter Program provides safe shelter and intensive case management for homeless families and individuals while they work on stabilizing their employment, finances, and health. This successful program has provided participants with a path out of homelessness for over 20 years. The program continues to be a place where people can recover, heal, and learn.

Our newest program graduate's old vehicle had become unusable and she was depending on rides from her mother and friends.  After receiving a promotion with a pay increase at her job at the Tanger outlets she felt like she could manage a car loan. With financial counseling provided by HOMEteam and a low-rate loan provided by Franklin Savings Bank she was able to graduate Take the Wheel NH and successfully  purchase a pre-owned Honda CR-V from Grappone Automotive.

LRCD has provided resident services to assist the families that reside in LRCD homes since our inception. Resident Services are available to all of our residents. Resident Services assists residents in becoming the best residents they can be by assisting in upholding their lease obligations by paying rent on time, maintaining proper care of their units, and being good neighbors.

Some of the other things our Resident Services Coordinators assist residents with include but are not limited to:

• budgeting;
• connecting to financial resources;
• connecting to community resources
  • parent education, health care
  • mental health services,
  • child care,
  • employment,
  • continuing education (high school, GED, college)
  • & recreation activities;
  • understanding your lease;
  • benefit application and gathering of required documents;
  • help in managing conflicts; and
  • advocacy & referral.

LRCD wants to empower residents to achieve economic security by strengthening factors that improve the health and well-being of our residents. We strive to help residents build their own pathway to economic independence. LRCD is fortunate to have two highly qualified full-time Resident Services Coordinators and numerous funders who support these services and resident initiatives.

LRCD is featuring residents who live in our affordable housing throughout the year. We will share their life journeys, struggles, triumphs, and aspirations. We think you will find that their goals and dreams are not so different from your own. Affordable housing is about everyone in our community being able to afford a home that supports good physical, financial, and emotional well-being. 

Erica, a hard-working mother of two, who grew up in the Lakes Region town of Gilmanton, NH is our first feature. To read the rest of Erica's story click here.

Prior to joining CATIC, Ms. Willey was a founding member of Boutin Law, PLLC, where she focused on real estate closings, general litigation, corporate law, and related legal matters. She previously served as a senior associate in the Litigation Department at Devine, Millimet & Branch, PA. During law school, she served as a clerk for the Honorable Joseph P. Nadeau on the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
 
Ms. Willey earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Plymouth State University and her Juris Doctor and Master of Law in Intellectual Property from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center).
 
Ms. Willey has served on the Lakes Region Board of Realtors as a Legislative Committee Member and she served as Co-President of the Board of Directors of Dress for Success – New Hampshire. She is also a graduate of Leadership Lakes Region, Class of 2013.

In January, LRCD joined the Economic Mobility Exchange, a global anti-poverty network of 70+ non-profits, foundations, academic institutions, human service providers, and government agencies. Exchange members advance a groundbreaking approach to combat poverty, which has a proven track record of helping people of low income achieve economic independence.
 
As part of the Exchange, LRCD is working with Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) to implement a Mobility Mentoring®-informed approach to support LRCD tenants.
 
Mobility Mentoring helps people of low income focus on, and achieve, future-oriented goals. It works by pairing them with trained mentors—who use a coaching method informed by the latest brain science—to set, reach, and sustain long-term goals. Mobility Mentoring has received national recognition for helping families of low income make big gains in education, employment, and personal finance.
 
Mobility Mentoring was developed by EMPath, which started using it in 2009. EMPath has seen remarkable results since, especially by graduates of its flagship five-year program. The percent of participants with college degrees has gone from 38% to 74%; and the percent of participants who are employed has gone from 65% to 97%.

Currently, New Hampshire is one of only 10 states where Medicaid covers only emergency care like tooth extractions. Efforts to give the 80,000 New Hampshire adults on Medicaid preventative dental benefits has again gained momentum in the Legislature.

On February 3, 2022, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 422, which would provide adults on Medicaid coverage for routine dental care such as x-rays, flouride, cleanings, and oral surgery that would help prevent more serious health conditions. 
LRCD'S Adult Dental Program has been working to fill the gap of adult dental care needs for our residents. LRCD has provided 27 dental grants to residents since the programs inception in October 2020. Grants to residents have been for fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, dentures, x-rays, cleanings, and more.

LRCD’s Dental Assistance Program provides tenants with guidance in finding dental providers and matching grants of up to $1,000 to cover half the cost of services. The average grant is $420.

LRCD is hopeful that efforts to include adult dental care as a Medicaid benefit will be successful this session. Until then, we will continue to assist residents in accessing the care they need. We are grateful to the dental program funders who make this assistance possible, NeighborWorks America, Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, and Speare Memorial Hospital.

This month as part of our race equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI) work we will honor Black History Month. At LRCD, we recognize Black History Month as one opportunity to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people in our country and in our communities.
 
While there are numerous resources that are well worth noting, we’d like to share the history of Black History Month. Please visit this wonderful article from Learning for Justice to learn about the origins and significant figures who helped create this national time of recognition:
 
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/the-history-behind-black-history-month
 
Also, check out these tips for how to talk to your child about Black History Month:
https://mamaknowsitall.com/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-black-history-month-a-script/

The ongoing pandemic creates a great deal of uncertainty, but there is one thing we know for sure: we need more housing.
 
As you can see from NH Housing’s December 2021 Housing Market Snapshot, we have underbuilt significantly over the past decade. We need about 20,000 new housing units statewide in order to stabilize the housing market.
 
Our new 2022-24 Strategic Plan details what LRCD plans to do to address the housing affordability crisis here in the Lakes Region. We are also excited to employ new tools in our efforts to empower our residents to achieve economic security.
 
Thank you for supporting our work. We can’t do it without you!

Construction began January 3rd on the $5.4 million project to renovate the 25-unit Deer Run apartment complex at 62 Pleasant Street in Meredith, NH. Construction is scheduled to last 12 months. Upon completion, the property name will change to Harvey Heights.

Planned improvements include interior renovations to all apartments, the addition of a sprinkler system for life safety, and a multitude of energy efficiency improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, and siding. The goal of the project is to ensure the units have good indoor air quality and are energy efficient, which is good for the tenants, the community, and the environment. The project also includes improvements to the grounds.
 
The property will remain occupied throughout construction. Blocks of four apartments will be vacated on a rolling basis to complete the interior renovations.
 
Funders that made this project possible include Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, New Hampshire Housing, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, NeighborWorks America, and Rural LISC. Construction financing is provided by Franklin Savings Bank. Permanent financing is provided by NeighborWorks Capital and USDA – Rural Development. North Branch Construction is the construction manager. Stewart Associates Architects and Northpoint Engineering comprise the design team.

Click here for press release.

On January 3, the Northfield Planning Board did the right thing and voted not to move forward with a proposed amendment to the town’s zoning ordinance that would have stopped our proposed 66-unit housing development on Route 140. We can now begin the process of seeking planning approvals for our project.
 
We have submitted our application for a special exception, which is the first step in the process. We are on the agenda for the January 24th Zoning Board meeting.

As we begin a new year we are grateful for the generous support we have received. Below we have highlighted a few funders who are supporting our work and programs in 2022.

• The Dobles Foundation has provided $25,000 to help support our Real Estate Development and Resident Services Programs.
  
  
• Bank of New Hampshire granted us $5,000 to construct a community garden at Ames Brook Apartments in Ashland.This garden will help us combat food insecurity, further build community engagement, and offer fresh healthy choices to residents.
  
  
• NH Electrical Co-op awarded LRCD $3,000 to support our Housing Stability Program. The Housing Stability Program helps very low-income families overcome barriers to stable housing and economic security.

Take the Wheel NH was featured on the NeighborWorks America blog.

How healthy is the space around you, and how well do you feel within it? Environmental wellness focuses on building an environment around you that is sustainable and life-giving. Some examples of environmental wellness might include things like creating organized spaces, reducing clutter, improving air quality, gardening, or making efforts to reduce your carbon footprint.

Some things you can do to improve your Environmental Wellness are:

• Find one space in your home to de-clutter. Breaking overwhelming tasks down into small chunks makes us way more like to accomplish our goals. Try focusing on one drawer, one cabinet, or one closet;
  
  
• Donate your used clothes, toys, and homegoods. Your used clothing, toys, and homegoods can be turned into the programs your community depends on. Donating your belongings to places like Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul ensure that families in your community have access to food,clothing, and emergency financial assistance. It also helps keep these things from polluting our world!;
  
  
• Make your own cleaning products. Here are some recipes for DIY Household Cleaners:
  https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/; and
  
  
• Switch to reusable bags.Did you know it takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill? Plastic virtually never goes away! Tryusing canvas totes, reusable shopping bags, or just reusing the plastic bags you have! For more tips on caring for theenvironment, check out this link: https://www.ecofriendlyhabits.com/how-to-be-eco-friendly/
  

(Meredith, NH) – Construction began January 3rd on Lakes Region Community Developers’ (LRCD) $5.4 million project to renovate the 25-unit Deer Run apartment complex at 62 Pleasant Street in Meredith, NH. Construction is scheduled to last 12 months. Upon completion, the property name will change to Harvey Heights.
 
“This project has been five years in the making and we’ve had to overcome many obstacles,” said Carmen Lorentz, LRCD’s Executive Director. “I’m proud of our team for persisting against all odds to preserve these affordable units and bring them up to our healthy housing standards.”
 
LRCD purchased the property in 2016. It was built in the 1970s using a US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development financing program that requires the property be maintained as affordable housing for 40 years. After that, the owner can essentially do what they want with the property. In this case, the owner wanted to sell it.
 
Given the property’s location, LRCD believed there was a high likelihood the property would have been redeveloped as high-end housing, meaning 25 units of affordable housing would have been lost. LRCD purchased the property to preserve it as affordable housing. Due to the scarcity of resources in New Hampshire to develop and renovate affordable housing, it took LRCD five years to put all the funding together. “It’s unbelievably competitive when you apply for funding,” said Lorentz. “The need is so great, but the resources are very limited.”
 
Planned improvements include interior renovations to all apartments, the addition of a sprinkler system for life safety, and a multitude of energy efficiency improvements, including new windows, doors, insulation, and siding. The goal of the project is to ensure the units have good indoor air quality and are energy efficient, which is good for the tenants, the community, and the environment. The project also includes improvements to the grounds.
 
The property will remain occupied throughout construction. Blocks of four apartments will be vacated on a rolling basis to complete the interior renovations.
 
Funders that made this project possible include Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, New Hampshire Housing, New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, NeighborWorks America, and Rural LISC. Construction financing is provided by Franklin Savings Bank. Permanent financing is provided by NeighborWorks Capital and USDA – Rural Development. North Branch Construction is the construction manager. Stewart Associates Architects and Northpoint Engineering comprise the design team.