Stephen Blevens

?I am writing to urge you to support HB 1706. As a resident of New Hampshire, I believe it is time to end the refugee resettlement program in our state. While these programs are managed at the federal level, the real-world consequences are felt by our local neighborhoods, schools, and taxpayers, and the current system is simply a net negative for the Granite State. ?My support for HB 1706 is based on three major concerns: ?The Housing Crisis ?It is no secret that New Hampshire is in the middle of a housing emergency. We have hardworking young people and seniors who can’t find a place to live because inventory is nonexistent. Bringing more people into an already saturated market is common-sense mismanagement. We cannot continue to prioritize new arrivals when our own citizens are being priced out of their own towns. ?Unsustainable Costs ?The financial burden of this program doesn’t end with a federal check. Once the initial federal support dries up, the long-term costs for education, healthcare, and social services are handed off to New Hampshire taxpayers. Our schools are already stretched thin, and the specialized resources required for non-integrated populations are expensive and divert funds from the general student body. ?Failed Assimilation ?For a community to thrive, there needs to be a shared sense of culture and language. Rapid resettlement prevents meaningful assimilation, leading instead to isolated pockets that do not integrate into the New Hampshire way of life. This creates social friction and places an unfair burden on our local infrastructure to bridge a gap that shouldn't have been created in the first place. ?We need to put New Hampshire first. HB 1706 is a necessary step to protect our resources and ensure that our state government is focused on the needs of its current residents. ?Please vote "Ought to Pass" on this important piece of legislation.