Forty-One years ago, President Lyndon Johnson waged war on poverty.
We fought hard and we won many
battles through our efforts as advocates for those in need.
The
agency started in 1965, and soon we were distributing surplus foods,
administering Head Start, and operating Neighborhood Youth Corps,
homemakers’ programs, and VISTA Outreach programs. We were home to Legal
Assistance, food co-ops, food stamps and work incentive programs, to name
but a few. Later years saw the development of various energy programs. We
kept folks warm with Heat Emergency Loans and Fuel
Assistance programs. We
kept them safe and dry with Weatherization, and we helped their children
stay healthy with WIC.
New
Hope New Horizons provided supported employment and day services for
developmentally disabled individuals.
Folks were able to stay in their own homes with the help of Housing
Rehabilitation programs, and Lead Paint Abatement, and we helped others to
buy homes through First-Time Homebuyers’ programs and HOPE 3. Families
were able to find and afford housing with the aid of a Housing Security
Guarantee program, and affordable housing units for families and seniors,
and we sheltered the homeless at five sites throughout the two counties.
Recent endeavors include Lake Sunapee
Area Mediation, and
Head Start’s Extended Day Care.
For
a brief moment in 1999 we were television stars when the Drewsville
Mansion rehab project was featured on Restore America with Bob Vila.
We
strive to keep pace with the constantly changing needs of our low-income
friends and neighbors. As we begin our 41st year of fighting
the war on poverty, we look forward to the many challenges that await us.
