Latest New - May 2022

2021 Impact Report

We are really excited to share our 2021 Impact Report. We hope that you feel a sense of pride as you read through it because your support makes our work possible!

Click here to see the entire report https://www.lrcommunitydevelopers.org/plansreports.html

Legislative & Policy Update

SB 400 "COMMUNITY TOOLBOX" BILL

Throughout the 2022 state legislative session, LRCD has supported this bipartisan package of optional tools and incentives for municipalities to use to address housing affordability. The measure appeared to be dead when it was tabled by the House on May 5 after a committee added “poison pill” language that significantly altered the impact of the bill. However, the Senate added the original language of SB 400 onto HB 1661, also being called “the Christmas tree bill,” before approving that bill and sending it back to the House. So now we stay tuned to see what happens. Read this article for more details.

InvestNH Housing Incentive Fund

On May 4, the Executive Council approved Governor Sununu’s proposal to use $100 million of federal COVID funding for housing development. The program will be administered by the NH Department of Business & Economic Affairs. The program will award $60 million to housing developers to fund construction of shovel-ready projects; $30 million for incentive payments to municipalities who permit housing projects in six months or less; $5 million for municipalities to demolish buildings to make way for housing; and $5 million for municipalities to update their land use regulations so they are more friendly to housing development.

Medicaid - Adult Dental

The House and Senate gave final approval of the bill and the Governor says he will sign it. About 85,000 people in NH will be eligible to gain dental coverage through Medicaid.

This new Medicaid benefit is scheduled take effect in April 2023. It will include diagnostic and preventive dental services, restorative treatment such as filling cavities and oral surgery needed to relieve pain, eliminate infection or prevent imminent tooth loss. The benefit for the individual would have a cap of $1,500 per year, not including preventive services. For patients with family incomes above the federal poverty level, some cost sharing will be required. Read this article for more details.
 
LRCD'S Adult Dental Program has been working to fill the gap of adult dental care needs for our residents, some of whom will benefit from this new Medicaid benefit. Since October 2020, LRCD has provided 29 dental grants to residents to help pay for fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, dentures, x-rays, cleanings, and more.
 
We are hopeful that this new Medicaid benefit will enable some of our tenants to access more of the dental care that they need. However, we are concerned that many dentists may not accept Medicaid patients because of low reimbursement rates. Also, many of our tenants do not qualify for Medicaid and lack dental insurance. This is why we will continue our dental program regardless of what happens with the new Medicaid benefit.
 
We are grateful NeighborWorks America, Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, and Speare Memorial Hospital for investing in our program, which has made a huge difference to many of our tenants’ health and well-being.

Harvey Heights Update

Renovations are moving along on schedule at Harvey Heights Meredith. Since beginning construction in January, eight apartments have been fully renovated and tenants have moved in to those units, and now renovations will begin on their old units.  Construction is scheduled to wrap up around the end of this year.

Renovated units have new flooring, kitchen cabinets, windows, countertops, energy-efficient appliances and so much more. Common areas, like stairwells shown in the pictures above, are also being renovated.

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.

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

Joan Cellupica - 10 Years with LRCD

Accounting Manager, Joan Cellupica, just reached the milestone of 10 years with the organization.

Joan has contributed so much to LRCD, we are grateful for her long and dedicated service.

Race Equity Diversity Inclusion (REDI) - Lending Library Update

In 2020, LRCD began the process of reviewing our policies, practices, and programs to identify changes that we can make to combat systemic racism and promote race equity, diversity, and inclusion. This is an ongoing process of continuous learning and improvement. In this segment of our newsletter, we will provide regular updates on this work.

Last year LRCD put up five new free libraries in four different communities and stocked them with books from the Little Free Library Read in Color list. Read in Color books provide perspectives on racism and social justice; celebrate BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers.

We were thrilled to find the need to restock the libraries this spring with more books from the Read in Color list. If you're interested in what books our residents have been enjoying you can find the comprehensive list here https://littlefreelibrary.org/read-in-color-recommended-reading/