Latest News - Jan. 2021

Message from Our Executive Director

We are so grateful to you, our funders, donors, partners, and advocates. Thank you for the many forms of support you lent to our mission in 2020.

Thanks to you, we were able to keep all of our 700+ tenants in healthy homes, regardless of their ability to pay rent during this pandemic.

With your help, we created new programs to help tenants overcome barriers to securing reliable transportation and accessing restorative dental care.

Your support enabled us to work on a range of innovative housing and community facility projects that are desperately needed in our community to ensure that everyone in the Lakes Region has a healthy home and is empowered to succeed.

Last year tested our mettle for sure, but more than anything, it illuminated the strength of our community. I cannot begin to fully express the gratitude I feel in my heart today. Every expression of support and every message of encouragement that you collectively gave us last year kept us going through some difficult moments. On behalf of our board, our residents, and our staff, we thank you.

Be safe and be well.
Carmen Lorentz

LRCD Welcomes New Board Members

Jenna Goss is a single mom to daughter, Olivia (4) and son, Eoin (2).  She enjoys working full-time at Spaulding Academy & Family Services as a Paraprofessional.  Jenna is also in school part-time working towards her certification to become a special education teacher.  Jenna serves as a resident representative on the LRCD Board of Directors.  She states that "living at LRCD's Lochmere Meadows has afforded me the opportunity to pursue a career to make a better future for my children."

Erica Gilbert has lived at LRCD's Harvey Heights Apartments in Meredith for three years with her children.  Erica served as an AmeriCorps member working at Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region in Laconia, NH. She now works there full-time as a Certified Recovery Support Worker. Erica enjoys being of service and being an active part of her community.

Lisa Muré is a Senior Consultant/Project Director with JSI Research & Training Institute. Lisa is an established technical expert and leader in the field of systems change, best practice implementation, and community mobilization relative to substance misuse, substance use disorders and behavioral health promotion and service access.  She has worked with a wide range of stakeholders including schools, health care centers, courts, businesses, community organizations, parent support groups, and many others on public, private, and federally supported initiatives with a focus on improving understanding of substance use disorders and increasing access to high quality prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Lisa lives in Holderness.

Businesses Support LRCD with Tax Credit Purchases

Thank you to Meredith Village Savings Bank, Main Street America Insurance, Resilient Buildings Group, Melcher & Prescott Insurance, and Leone, McDonnell & Roberts PA for supporting LRCD with NH Business Tax Credit purchases!

Our tax credit sales support the continued renovations of 193 Court Street.  In Phase 1, we did all the work we could afford to do to convert the vacant building into our headquarters and the hub of our community building & engagement work in Laconia. These tax credit sales will support Phase 2 which includes: more insulation, new siding on the north and west walls, parking lot improvements, and landscaping.

LRCD MUST SELL $53,000 BY MARCH 31, 2021

If your business pays NH business enterprise or business profits taxes in NH, you can redirect a significant portion of your tax liability to a local project like this. Please contact Carmen at CLorentz@LRcommunitydevelopers.org if you are interested in supporting the 193 Court Street Project.

Race Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (REDI)

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.

LRCD Receives NeighborWorks Grant for Translations

LRCD received funds from NeighborWorks America to offer materials to residents in different languages. Our annual community survey and our most recent tenant newsletter were made available in English and Spanish.