Our Annual Fund
Changing the Narrative of Homelessness in Our Community
We have officially launched our Annual Fund to help more Greater Nashua families overcome and avoid homelessness in the year ahead.
Since 1987, Front Door Agency has provided housing and homelessness prevention support across Greater Nashua. This past fiscal year (FY25), we helped more than 1,500 individuals and provided over 38,000 essential services. A great accomplishment, but the we are hoping to extend a hand up to even more potential clients next year, as the number of those facing the threat of homelessness continues to soar.
What trends are we seeing that are contributing to the rise of homelessness?
According to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, a single parent with one child needs about $88,000 a year to meet basic living expenses, yet one in four families earn less than $50,000. Perhaps even more shocking, this reported income level is not just limited to the prior mentioned families of two.
These cost pressures are pushing more local families to the brink. “As the demand for our services continues to rise, we are witnessing the devastating impacts of lack of affordable housing, the continuing decrease in vacancy rates, and low-paying jobs,” said Maryse Wirbal, CEO of the Front Door Agency. “With surging rent prices and ongoing inflation, families are struggling to make ends meet. Our programs are designed to help keep people in their homes and support those who have lost theirs by connecting them with the resources they need to regain their independence and stability.”
Sammi’s Story: Overcoming the Past and Looking Towards the Future
This impact is reflected in Sammi’s story, a recent participant of our Transformational Housing Program:
“From the moment I arrived, I felt something I had never experienced before: unconditional support. My case managers held me accountable, and for the first time, I felt like I finally had people in my corner,” Sammi said when asked about the impact the Front Door has had on her life. Sammi has now become a first-time homeowner and is living independently with her two children. Something, she said, she could only dream about before coming to the Front Door. After years of unreliable housing and addiction, she finally has a healthy life full of joy, a promising career, and a stable home to offer her children. Our annual fundraiser is one of the main driving forces behind success stories like these.
To read Sammi’s story and to contribute to Front Door Agency’s fight against homelessness, please visit https://www.frontdooragency.org/2024-annual-appeal/.
