Home for All Coalition, Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, Portsmouth Housing Authority, and Portsmouth Public Library Partner on Series Focused on Housing Insecurity and Affordable Housing Solutions

PORTSMOUTH – Next month the Home for All Coalition will be hosting an interactive exhibit and speaker series to raise awareness about housing insecurity and the urgent need for deeply affordable housing in the Seacoast region in partnership with the Portsmouth Public Library. The series, On the Edge of Home: Stories of Housing Insecurity, Home, and the Path to Sustainable Housing Solutions, will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 13, 2024.

 

The exhibit will feature an interactive display in the library’s lobby focused on housing insecurity, highlighting personal stories that emphasize the importance and urgency of affordable housing opportunities. It will also include curated book displays for both adults and children, along with engaging activities for all ages, with the goal of fostering community conversations around housing challenges and exploring sustainable solution.

 

On Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m., the library will screen Communities and Consequences II: Rebalancing New Hampshire’s Human Ecology, a documentary film produced and directed by filmmaker Jay Childs. The film examines the economic and social challenges posed by workforce shortages in New Hampshire — the nation’s second oldest state by median age — and highlights innovative approaches to building vibrant, inclusive communities.

 

Following the screening, a panel of local leaders and experts will discuss the Seacoast’s housing crisis, the workforce impacts of housing shortages, and the needs of overlooked populations including the elderly and the segment of our workforce making less than 60% of the area median income – in Portsmouth that is $55,140 for an individual and $78,720 for a family of four. Panelists will share actionable insights into housing solutions that can be implemented across the region.

 

Panelists include:

· Kara Anne Rodenhizer, Executive Director, Home for All Coalition

· Isabella Romero, Advocacy and Engagement Organizer, 603 Forward

· Jay Childs, Director, Communities and Consequences II

· Emily Flinkstrom, Executive Director, Fair Tide

· Jay McSharry, Local restaurateur, JGroup Hospitality

· Mike Castagna, Principal, Castagna Consulting Group, LLC

· Taylor Cray, Housing Navigator, Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast (Panel Moderator)

 

In addition to the calls to action, the panel will underscore the importance of multi-sector collaboration in tackling housing challenges. Kara Anne Rodenhizer, executive director of the Home for All Coalition, echoed this sentiment, stating: "Collaboration is the cornerstone of sustainable, community-driven solutions to prevent homelessness and housing insecurity. At

Home for All, we rely on partnerships that help us align resources, innovate, and advocate for systemic changes addressing the pressing housing needs of our most vulnerable neighbors."

 

Rodenhizer emphasizes that solutions must prioritize both affordability and housing type diversity: "We need diverse, affordable housing options that cater to a variety of needs to sustain the vibrancy of Seacoast communities like Portsmouth. Expanding deeply affordable housing—specifically for households earning less than 60% of the AMI—is essential. Equally important is ensuring a diverse mix of housing types, including ADUs, duplexes, single-family homes, and multi-family units.

This diversity creates pathways to stable homes for people across all demographics, from young families to seniors. Housing challenges affect many aspects of our lives—from the jobs we can take, to where our children can afford to live, to where our parents can downsize and age in place. Now is the time for decisive action and working together, we can create a future where every Seacoast resident has access to affordable housing."

 

Jay Childs, director of Communities and Consequences II, builds on Rodenhizer’s call to action: "We now have a clearer understanding of the steps needed to create diverse, affordable housing across the Seacoast and beyond. New Hampshire Housing projects that the state will need over 60,000 housing units by 2030 and 90,000 units by 2040 to meet the growing demand. However, the real challenge lies in mobilizing citizens to advocate for these changes. It’s not enough to have a plan; we need informed, engaged residents who are ready to speak up for long-overdue housing solutions. By doing so, we can ensure vibrant, prosperous, and welcoming communities for future generations."

 

Adding to this perspective, Ben Van Camp, president of the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, emphasizes the critical role businesses have historically played—and continue to play—in shaping housing solutions: "Portsmouth’s history clearly demonstrates how employers have been instrumental in shaping housing, from the Air Force’s early influence to local factories building homes for their workers. Today, the business community must once again rise to the challenge. On Dec. 4, Art Meconi will explain why housing is a personal priority for him and outline practical steps businesses can take to support both their workforce and the expansion of our housing stock— creating benefits for employees and the broader community.”

 

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Housing Authority will host The Business Case for Supporting Workforce Housing in Our Community, a talk by Art Meconi of Meconi Financial Management & Advisory at the Portsmouth Library. Meconi’s presentation will focus on actionable steps that business leaders can take to address local housing needs and support their workforce.

 

Housing insecurity continues to be a critical issue in New Hampshire. The state currently faces a shortage of more than 23,000 housing units, according to 2023 data from New Hampshire Housing. The Home for All Coalition and its partners are working to address regional housing needs by raising awareness, advocating for policy change, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

 

For more information about the exhibit and events, visit: portsmouthpl.librarycalendar.com/event/HFAEXH

 

About Home for All Coalition Home for All Coalition is a multisector partnership of over 90 members committed to ensuring access to safe, stable, and affordable housing across the Seacoast. Through collective action, advocacy, and education, the coalition works to prevent housing insecurity and homelessness by expanding access to affordable housing.

 

About the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth is a leading organization in the Portsmouth business community, providing advocacy, education, and cooperative opportunities for local

 

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