Today, $1.2 million in funding to address the shortage of housing for individuals discharged from inpatient psychiatric treatment was approved by members of the Executive Council.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is partnering with the Granite United Way to expand its landlord incentive program to support individuals as they transition from New Hampshire Hospital and other inpatient psychiatric residential facilities to the community. The expansion of supported housing is a key component of Mission Zero, an initiative created by DHHS to eliminate psychiatric boarding in Emergency Departments (ED) across the state.

“Successful treatment does not end the day a patient is discharged from the hospital,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “With wraparound services, Mission Zero works to not only address the challenges of emergency department boarding, but to provide Granite Staters with the tools to reintegrate into their communities and thrive.”

The funding will provide property owner incentives, coordinated landlord engagement, and strong tenancy support to individuals who are discharging from New Hampshire Hospital or other psychiatric residential facilities and hold an active Housing Bridge Subsidy Program voucher.

“Part of Mission Zero is about ensuring that people leaving inpatient psychiatric care have the supports they need to be successful, and that starts with safe and stable housing,” said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. “Access to low-barrier, supportive housing with wraparound services is one of the most effective ways to provide stability to patients and improve their quality of life. We continue to work with our community partners to develop solutions that can help people transition safely back into community-based settings and help prevent future crises.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the State of NH on the Landlord Incentive Program,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “Granite United Way successfully tested the importance of engaging landlords with a two-year pilot program. We saw tremendous results and are thrilled to expand the effort. Securing affordable rental housing is a challenge for so many NH citizens, especially the most vulnerable. We look forward to this partnership and to many successful outcomes.”

Mission Zero launched in 2023, adding additional resources to overcome the complex challenge of eliminating hospital ED psychiatric boarding. Working in collaboration with community stakeholders, the Mission Zero plan will address key drivers in the ED boarding challenge that align with the State’s Ten-Year Mental Health Plan, including front and back-door issues, and inpatient supply and coordination issues. Additional strategies include exploration of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model, increasing Designated Receiving Facility (DRF) capacity, and additional care coordination to oversee adult referrals to inpatient mental health treatment.