Southwestern Community
Services (SCS) is an important local non-profit
housing provider, developer, manager, and
advocate. SCS is the only McKinney funded
homeless service provider in both Cheshire and
Sullivan County; has developed, manages, and
maintains nearly 300 units of affordable
Workforce and Senior Housing homes located in
ten southwestern New Hampshire communities; and
provides an experienced and knowledgeable
“voice” for the low to moderate income families
and individuals who are struggling with very
high relative housing costs. SCS actively
collaborates and has partnered with dozens of
local entities, agencies, and organizations to
further the development of a balanced supply of
housing for all citizens of our region.
Within the two-county area that it serves, SCS
maintains over 100 beds for the emergency and
transitional housing needs of its clients. Our
shelters are full nearly every night of the
year. SCS provides thousands of “bed nights”
each year while it serves this population,
assisting unfortunate folks with this most basic
human need. In addition to Emergency Housing,
SCS maintains a “continuum of care” for those
who enter this program. Once the initial
emergency is tended to, the individuals or
families who occupy our housing are required to
accept SCS’ Case Management services. Once
stabilized, the family can next be offered a
“transitional housing unit,” based upon
availability. Finally, SCS maintains a small set
of “permanent” housing for the homeless. These
units are essentially long term housing that is
reserved, upon turnover, for formerly homeless
households.
Since 1993, SCS has become one of the most
prolific and highly regarded affordable housing
developers (for profit or not-for-profit) in the
State of New Hampshire. Working closely with NH
Housing, the NH Community Development Finance
Authority, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston,
and others, SCS has developed, owns, manages,
and maintains a fairly broad portfolio of
affordable Workforce and Senior Housing
developments. From Winchester and Hinsdale to
the south to Claremont and Newport to the north,
SCS has worked with ten communities to develop
nearly 300 permanently affordable rental housing
units. It has, within the past three years, also
collaborated with local partners, including the
Keene Housing Authority, in the development of
an additional seventy-seven units of low-income
housing. SCS has several housing developments at
various stages of its pipeline and, for the
foreseeable future, will continue to provide for
the development of these important community
assets.
Finally, SCS has also become a recognized and
experienced advocate for affordable housing.
SCS’ chief development officer has recently
completed work as fellow of the Carsey Institute
of the University of New Hampshire. The three
state fellowship group studied the nexus of
affordable housing and smart-growth. SCS, in
2002, helped to form Heading for Home, our
Regional Housing Coalition, and still provides
leadership to this group at the Executive Board
level. Through its acts and deeds, SCS has
become a quintessential advocate for the need to
provide for a balanced supply of housing in our
local communities. SCS has further helped to
espouse the fact that this is an important
economic issue facing New Hampshire communities
both today and tomorrow.
A United Way Agency
For more information, please contact:
Southwestern Community Services
63 Community Way PO Box 603, Keene, NH 03431
Phone: 603.352.7512
Toll Free: 800.529.0005
Fax: 603.352.3618
TTY-NH Relay: 800.735.2964
Sullivan County
96-102 Main Street
PO Box 1338
Claremont, NH 03743
Phone: 603.542.9528
Toll Free: 800.529.0005
Fax: 603.542.3140
TTY-NH Relay: 800.735.2964
