INCREASING HOUSING IN THE MONADNOCK REGION

For a healthy, thriving local community, having housing available across income levels is vital.  Having housing options affordable to our childcare workers, medical workers, professionals, people with limited income, young adults, families and seniors, truly benefits us all. Enough housing is an important foundation to a healthy economy; and morally and spiritually, we feel called to work towards everyone having a place to live! 

As our primary community organizing focus from 2021 to 2024,  and continuing to date, MIP has worked on housing in several areas.

  1. Housing Development Fund: MIP successfully concluded a campaign to create a regional Housing Development Fund to expand housing options. These Funds receive public or private sector monies in the form of direct investments or low interest loans. The Fund will provide low interest loans to support the production of affordable housing, and increase opportunities for people to access safe, decent, affordable homes. MIP continues to work with leaders in the public and private sector on this effort.
  2. Expanding options to people experiencing homelessness: MIP Faith leaders were part of a larger call to the City of Keene in Spring 2022, to grapple with challenges people face that are camping in the woods, experiencing homelessness. MIP spoke out at hearings and once the city formed an Ad Hoc Committee, got a representative on this committee. A delegation from MIP attended each Committee meeting, and regularly spoke up in the public comment period and wrote Letters to the Editor about the Committee’s work. We are pleased that the Committee recommendations are strong and compassionate, including calling for a legal parking area, a systemic approach to supporting people released from the hospital or jail without a home, and more discretion for city staff to support people camping outside. 
  3. Updated Zoning: Zoning regulations are an important part of the housing environment. MIP leaders are active in the efforts to update zoning ordinances and allow for expanded, sustainable, housing options. MIP leaders have spoken out at hearings and engaged community members to providing feedback on multiple zoning issues, contributing to needed change. These are important local decisions that underlay the ability to expand housing options.
    In 2026, MIP submitted this letter to the Keene City Council in regard to a proposal to revisit a city ordinance intended to increase the number of units allowed per lot in the Medium Density District from 3 units to 6 units.
  4. Community Conversations: MIP created an educational slide deck that combined personal stories and data. It has been presented in various settings in the region. It plays an important role in helping people understand the stories, trends, an opportunities for positive change.
  5. Regional collaboration: MIP has played an important leadership role in the Monadnock Resource Alliance focused on positive change for housing in our region. In particular, MIP leaders are active on the soft infrastructure committee resulting in local town planning boards supporting one another, sharing experiences and resources with one another. MIP leaders have been active in discussions and fundraising to hire a Housing Coordinator for the region.
    Over the last several years, as a part of MIP’s housing affordability campaign, MIP has worked with the Monadnock United Way and Southwest Region Planning Commission to launch the Monadnock Housing Collaborative.  The collaborative is a unique assembly of nonprofits, businesses, social services, and government officials coming together to advance strategies that address the region’s growing housing crisis while honoring the rural character of our communities.
    Read about the collaborative in this recent Keene Sentinel article: Housing shortage in southwest NH a complex issue with no quick fix.

Use the Projects drop-down menu to read more about housing needs and concerns.

Who needs Affordable Housing? Everyone!

For a  healthy, thriving local community, having housing available across income levels is vital. Increased housing options provide the stable infrastructure that contributes to a robust local economy:

  • Attract and retain professional employees and business leaders
  • Ensure older adults can live in their communities as they age
  • Sustain rural schools
  • Control and reduce local tax rates
  • Preserve local services such as early childhood teachers, hospital and nursing home caregivers, restaurant and retail staff

Launching the Monadnock Housing Development Fund, And More!

After hearing stories of local people’s struggles, MIP’s Housing Team worked diligently for several years to understand the causes of local housing insecurity, raise attention to the issue, and advocate for incentives to increase the building of affordable housing to increase the Monadnock region’s housing availability.

To document what we learned about the climate for housing in the Monadnock region, what we accomplished, and what we see as promising next steps, the Attached White Paper was written and distributed widely throughout the region. Additionally, a useful slide presentation is available for fostering conversations among the community about housing challenges. We hope these resources will be useful to others, locally and beyond, who also wish to make a difference in their communities.

Much gratitude to our skilled community organizer, Angela Pape, and everyone who has been active in MIP’s Housing Team. Your persistence has led to a new, innovative opportunity for all of us in the Monadnock region.