Alexander Loughran Lamothe | Support HB604

To our representatives considering HB604 conditional loan forgiveness program to encourage lower-income homeowners to construct or renovate accessory dwelling units ("ADAs"): I am strongly in favor of this proposed legislation, and I urge our representatives to vote in favor in the interest of the public health and economic sustainability of New Hampshirites. Having worked in the housing access field, specifically supporting unsheltered people, and being fairly familiar with relevant quantitative research, housing is widely recognized by leading practitioners in this field to be a foundational social determinant of health. I am well aware that NH is experiencing a significant housing stock shortage, especially in terms of affordable housing. Tragically, NH also reported the highest increase in the "point-in-time" count of unsheltered residents in the U.S. in 2023. The social externalities these trends directly or indirectly cause are enormous, and I regularly observe its impacts in my current line of work at my regional emergency food agency, which has doubled its service population in the past two years, in part to high housing costs and lack of housing. To a lesser but meaningful extent, I experience these trends personally: I spend over 40% of my monthly income on rent, which is especially concerning given that my rental payments are below average market rates in my jurisdiction. Given that housing is a key social determinant of public health, extensive evidence demonstrates that securing housing is essential for people and families to stabilize their livelihoods, often denoted as a "Housing First" approach. Having worked at the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), a national leader in establishing Housing First programs through expanding access to affordable housing,the positive quantitative and qualitative are, from my perspective, dispositive evidence of the progress possible under this approach. Through facilitating eligible NH residents to access shelter in ADUs, NH policymakers can have a transformative impact on the lives of suffering residents and their families. Allowing the current destructive housing trends to continue and accelerate is a policy choice. I pray our elected representatives substantively recognize the need for new approaches, and to advance HB604 as part of a comprehensive and holistic commitment to facilitating access to safe housing for all New Hampshirites. Thank you for your consideration, Alexander Loughran Lamothe Munsonville, NH