As NHCEH works to map out our priorities for 2026, one of our inspirations comes from the writings of Miles Whitener, a Granite Leader alumnus and homelessness advocate.  In an essay he wrote last year reflecting on his own experience of homelessness, Miles expressed:

Homelessness is not simply the absence of a roof.  It is the condition of being unseen.  

It begins long before someone sleeps outside and can linger long after they

come in from the cold.  It is what happens when belonging is lost –

when the world stops asking why.

Heartbreakingly, we begin the year facing changes in homelessness policy that increasingly dehumanize the experience of homelessness and promise to further the loss of belonging that Miles describes in his essay. This is not what vulnerable NH residents need as chronic and unsheltered homelessness continues to rise in the Granite State. Homelessness among older adults is also of significant concern; in 2024, nearly 1 out of every 4 NH residents who experienced homelessness for the first time in their lives was age 55 or above.  Isolation and disconnection are the exact opposite of what it takes to support our seniors and others as they work to stabilize following a housing crisis.

In the shadow of such national and local developments, “Why?” is a heart wrenching question to ask.  However, it is more important than ever to do so. Nationally, service providers and other advocates have been working hard to build common ground among people with varying viewpoints to fight for effective policies and programs with some success - which brings hope. In 2026, NHCEH will continue to build connections and humanize the issue of homelessness in the Granite State, working to help our NH neighbors experiencing homelessness and housing instability to be seen, connected, and supported.

NHCEH will be following the bills outlined below, offering insight into the likely effects of these bills being passed as well as speaking points should you decide to advocate on behalf of those this proposed legislature would negatively impact.

House Bill 1499

Specific bill language:

This bill expands the grounds for eviction to include certain criminal convictions within three years of service of an eviction notice, tenants who meet the statutory definition of “sexual offenders,” and tenants or household members who are present in the country without legal authority.

Context:

Landlords already have the right to evict tenants based on any health or safety concerns, as well as a broad “other good cause” option that can include failure to disclose information. Further, nothing obligates a landlord to rent to someone with a criminal record. This proposed bill simply allows landlord to evict tenants with little to no proof of said complaint. 

Examples of Potential Impacts:

• A mixed status family in which mom & kids are US citizens, and dad has an asylum application pending. If this legislation passes, the entire family’s housing would be at risk.

• A grandparent who is raising their 19-year-old grandchild who was convicted of possession of marijuana: If this legislation passes, every member of that family, including the grandparent, would be evicted. 

Hearing Information:

HB 1499

House Housing Committee

Tuesday, January 20th 2026 at 10:00am in GP 231

Sign in to voice your opinion here

HB 1598

Specific bill language:

This bill creates an expedited eviction procedure for landlords who seek to evict tenants for non-payment of rent or for a material breach of a rental agreement.

Context:

Expediting the process for eviction shortens the time between tenants receiving notification of eviction and any legal recourse on behalf of the tenant such as filing an appeal, for which a hearing would need to be scheduled - actions requiring time, which this legislation would negate. Should this legislation pass, Sheriffs can lock out tenants within 24 hours of a landlord and tenant hearing, rapidly putting tenants out on the streets, realistically stripping judges of discretion to issue stays to keep tenants housed when there are good reasons to do so and leaving no time for due process for tenants to appeal.

Examples of Potential Impacts:

• Tenants will not be left with reasonable time to connect with legal counsel prior to their eviction hearing, leaving tenants without legal representation during the process

• Tenants will lose the ability to appeal the decision to evict, even if, for example:

  • The eviction notice process was not properly followed

  • The tenant was lawfully withholding rent

  • The eviction is discriminatory, in violation of the Fair Housing Act

  • The demand for rent was more than the tenant actually owes

Hearing Information:

HB 1598

House Housing Committee

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 at 11:00am in GP 231

Sign in to voice your opinion here

HB 1336

Specific bill language:

Allowing exceptions to the cap in residential security deposits for applicants not meeting [landlord’s] approval criteria

Context:

This bill would allow landlords to require new tenants to pay a security deposit equal to up to 2 full months’ rent (instead of the current cap of 1 month), if the applicant does not meet approval conditions set by the landlord. Applicants could be made to pay 2 months’ rent for their security deposit in situations including (but not limited to):

• They have a credit score less than 650

• Their pre-tax income is not more than 3 times the monthly rent

• They have prior evictions

• They have no prior rental history

Potential Impacts:

The concern with this legislation is that the cost of living in NH is very high compared with current wages. This makes it difficult for families to meet their day to day needs, making saving money even harder. Demanding families come up with two months of rent for security deposit in addition to first month’s rent places an undue burden on renting families, and creates an additional barrier to housing stability.

Hearing Information:

HB 1336

House Housing Committee

January 27th, 2026 at 10:30am in GP 231

Sign in to voice your opinion here

There will be hearings on both HB 1499 and HB 1598 on Tuesday, January 20th at 10am and 11am respectively. We encourage you to submit your opinion to our legislators online today by following this link or by attending the hearings in person in Concord. Follow NHCEH on FB or LinkedIn for more information on HB 1336.

This is the question teams of volunteers will be asking when they walk and drive the streets of New Hampshire in the early morning hours of January 29th collecting data for the Point in Time Count (PIT).

Here is some information about the PIT Count from NH DHHS:

If you are interested in learning more or supporting your local PIT Count effort, email [email protected] and we will connect you with your local organizing agency.

Keep your eyes out for applications to be posted in February for NHCEH’s:

• Hope Starts Here Scholarship - financial support for students currently living in NH who have experienced homelessness during their school career, have a desire to continue their education beyond high school, and have demonstrated academic achievement (click the name to learn more)

• Granite Leaders training - an advocacy and leadership training program designed to bring the voice of lived experience to the conversation on homelessness (click the name to learn more)