When the unexpected happens, Easterseals New Hampshire Veterans Count (ESNH VC) is proud to support our nation’s service members, veterans and their families. Here is the story of a veteran, Mike, who achieved a life-changing outcome through the integration of several Easterseals NH programs and services.
A former National Guardsman, Mike served for six years during the Vietnam War. He and his wife had previously owned a commercial housing accessories business, but when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, they were unable to sustain their business model. The couple found themselves subsisting on pandemic relief funds, unemployment benefits, Social Security, and credit cards. Eventually, the financial resources ran out and with nowhere to turn, Mike reached out to ESNH Veterans Count. The VC Care Coordinator listened to their story and immediately leveraged VC’s Emergency Financial Assistance to pay overdue rent and fees to stabilize their situation. The Care Coordinator then worked with Mike and his wife on identifying areas in their budget where they could reduce their monthly expenses. The couple also completed several financial literacy classes on budgeting and credit, helping them to make realistic decisions and avoid financial pitfalls in the future. Mike and his wife were even connected by the Care Coordinator to SNAP Benefits – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – and to fuel assistance, lowering their monthly out-of-pocket expenses.
While working with Veterans Count, Mike’s rent unexpectedly jumped by $175 a month, but advocating for the couple with the Concord Town Welfare Office, Veterans Count was able to obtain temporary rental assistance. At this point, the Care Coordinator encouraged Mike to seek subsidized housing. In the fall of 2023, the couple was selected to move into Easterseals NH’s Champlin Place, a new, affordable housing community for adults 65+ in Rochester, NH. With a little additional assistance to cover moving costs and the security deposit, Mike and his wife today are settled and enjoying a sense of belonging in their new, modern home. Thanks to the outreach and support of Veterans Count, the couple now only pays 30 percent of their income in rent, and they can sleep securely knowing they can meet all of their monthly financial obligations.