Todd Marsh, the City of Rochester Welfare Director, has announced the launch of “Cutting into Homelessness,” a new initiative designed to provide interview-ready, professional haircuts for residents experiencing homelessness who have upcoming job interviews. Beginning August 15, 2025, the initiative will partner with multiple local barbershops and salons and is funded through an existing allocation in the welfare department’s budget. This initiative builds on the success of Rochester’s 2024 laundry assistance initiative.
“Homelessness is a nationwide, multifaceted challenge that requires a multi-pronged approach,” said Marsh. “While no single approach can eliminate homelessness, offering professional haircuts is an additional actionable step within a developing broader homelessness response strategy. The initiative benefits people experiencing homelessness, businesses seeking employees, and the overall economy.”
“Both initiatives go beyond promoting better hygiene and a sense of dignity,” added Marsh. “They have practical impacts of increasing opportunities for employment and housing attainment.”
“Supercuts believes a fresh haircut can provide a fresh start,” said Patty Mistretta, Co-Owner of MjjM Enterprises Inc., and the local Supercuts franchise. “Presentation matters, and this haircut initiative offers an innovative approach to addressing real-world employment barriers for people. We’re honored to partner with Director Marsh and to be part of a larger effort within our community in Rochester.”
To access haircut assistance, residents must complete a one-page form through a participating helping provider agency. Applicants must attest to primarily living in Rochester, verify a scheduled job interview, and attest their inability to afford a haircut. Helping provider agencies will acknowledge their familiarity with the residents and coordinate with the welfare office to ensure assistance is used for the initiative’s purpose.
“To gain and maintain support, we must balance our humanitarian initiatives with financial accountability for the taxpayers who fund them,” said Marsh. “Humane and cost-effective solutions are not mutually exclusive.”
In May 2019, the Tri-Cities of Rochester, Dover, and Somersworth adopted the Tri-City Mayors’ Joint Task Force on Homelessness Master Plan, which Marsh believes remains relevant today. In 2021, the New Hampshire Council on Housing Stability was tasked with developing and implementing a plan to create maximum housing stability for all residents.
Marsh highlighted Rochester’s other previous strategic investments, such as waiving fees for vital records for unhoused residents—essential for job and housing applications, creating the state’s first Community Outreach Facilitator position within a municipal welfare department in 2022, and providing facility and operational funding to many helping provider organizations. Also, a recent cross-border collaboration with the city of Dover to provide personal hygiene shower supplies for their showering initiative for the unhoused.
Similar to other city initiatives, Marsh believes the haircut effort will draw interest from non-profits, civic organizations, businesses, and other municipalities, which may consider implementing similar initiatives tailored to their own dynamics and capabilities.
Kirsten Barton, Community Innovation Manager at the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), believes Rochester’s initiatives align with many of the strategic goals of the Council on Housing Stability.
“The Council’s strategic plan emphasizes partnerships, local innovation, and removing systemic obstacles,” said Barton. “This local initiative is an excellent example of taking action in alignment with statewide goals to address housing stability and working with local welfare to meaningfully support Rochester residents. I commend Director Marsh and the other community partners involved in implementing this on-the-ground solution that could be replicated in other communities.”
Looking ahead, Marsh emphasized continued efforts to meet current and emerging housing challenges, including those affecting the growing population of senior citizens.
“Support for improvements comes from finding common ground,” said Marsh. “There’s growing consensus for creative and partnered efforts to expand broad affordable housing, case-managed supportive housing, post-hospital respite care for the unhoused, and substance disorder aftertreatment housing. Also, for an expanded, eclectic emergency housing system throughout our state that addresses a range of unique needs.”
Marsh, who also serves as president of the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association, believes innovation is essential for continuous improvement.
“I continue to advise toward thinking differently, initiating differently, and repeating differently,” said Marsh.
Marsh expressed his gratitude for the support received from the Rochester community.
“I’m thankful for the support from city leaders, including City Manager Katie Ambrose, as well as local service agencies, civic organizations, and businesses,” said Marsh. “Rochester continues to strategically invest in a variety of initiatives that assist residents with unique needs. The quest for perfect solutions shouldn’t paralyze incremental humane efforts. Targeted, attainable, and continuous improvements can result in real impacts on real people—even if it is one clip at a time.”
Todd Marsh has served as Director of Rochester City Welfare since 2008. He is the president of the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association, serves on the state Veterans Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Home for All of the Greater Seacoast Area’s Leadership Team. He was previously the director of the Homeless Center for Strafford County and has held various public service positions, including on the Somersworth City Council and School Board.