Latest News - May 2026

Stuart LaSalle is Retiring

It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of Stuart LaSalle, who has steadfastly worked in pursuit of LRCD’s mission for the past 20 years. We are incredibly happy for Stuart as he starts his next chapter in life, but we will miss him tremendously! His last day at LRCD is May 28th.
 
As Finance Director, Stuart has been the consistent and reliable backbone of our organization, ensuring that we are excellent stewards of the resources invested in our mission by so many funders, local businesses, and individuals. His outstanding work provided a strong foundation for LRCD’s growth. During his tenure, our portfolio grew from about 100 apartments to nearly 400 today!
 
Stuart has been more than a co-worker – we often joke that he is our “office dad.” From taking out the trash, clearing snow off our cars, and offering sage counsel on personal matters, it is perhaps these many gestures of kindness that we will miss the most.
 
Stuart will continue to help his community in new ways in his “retirement.” Last year, he received his Master Usui Reiki certification and opened his own practice, Holding Hands with Spirit. We know he is excited to be able to dedicate himself full-time to his new calling.
 
Congratulations and best wishes to you, Stuart! You are one in a million!

​Kyril Mitchell Joins LRCD Staff

On May 4th, we welcomed Kyril Mitchell as LRCD’s new Controller. Kyril will take over for Stuart when he retires. After 20 years in a wide range of roles at local community banks, Kyril made the leap to the nonprofit sector so he could give back to his community in new ways.
​Kyril served eight years in the United States Army, and earned his bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in public administration. He graduated from Leadership Lakes Region and the Northern New England School of Banking.

Kyril has made volunteer service a priority throughout his career, serving on many local boards, including Lakes Region Mental Health Center and Lakes Region Community Developers, and volunteering for six years as a member of the Laconia Planning Board.

​Now Accepting Applications for Harriman Hill III

Over in Wolfeboro, North Branch Construction has about three months left to go to wrap up construction on Harriman Hill Phase III, which will add 30 beautiful new apartments in a mix of 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms.
 
The team over at the Hodges Companies is now accepting applications for the new apartments. Please help us spread the word by sharing this link to the application on Hodges’ website or referring people to application processor Dylan Bouffard at 603-410-4281.

​How Loss of Medicare Advantage Plans Impacts LRCD Tenants

In 2026, nearly 77,000 New Hampshire residents lost their Medicare Advantage plan. While Medicare Advantage recipients did not necessarily lose their coverage, many people lost the additional and vital benefits that Advantage plans offered, including transportation to medical appointments.
In this blog post, Melissa Shadden-Cyr, one of LRCD’s resident services coordinators, lays out how this big change is impacting the people we serve.
 
And in case you missed it, check out Melissa’s blog post from March where she talks about how the new work requirements for SNAP are affecting LRCD residents.

​Gale School Nearing Completion

Check out the beautiful trim and wainscotting inside the Gale School in Belmont! Contractor JH Spain is in the final stretch on this historic renovation project with completion scheduled for late June

LRCD Hits Capitol Hill

LRCD Executive Director Carmen Lorentz participated in the National NeighborWorks Association’s annual Hill Day in April to educate members of Congress about the importance of funding for NeighborWorks America.
 
As a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, LRCD receives funding, training, and technical assistance that is critical to our ability to continue addressing the housing crisis in this increasingly complex environment.

From left to right: Samantha Marshall of AHEAD, Carmen Lorentz, Angela Cleveland of AHEAD, and Tom Furtado of CATCH Neighborhood Housing.

​Save the Date for NH Gives!

During NH Gives June 9-10, LRCD seeks to raise the rest of the money needed to buy all the appliances for the apartments at Harriman Hill III in Wolfeboro. So far, we have raised $34,000 toward our $57,000 goal.
 
Stay tuned to learn how you can stretch your donation much further by helping us unlock some exciting matching challenges throughout the 24-hour giving period!