CONCORD–Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted unanimously to reject HB 1196, which sought to repeal New Hampshire’s successful Housing Champions Program. 

Nick Taylor, director of Housing Action NH, issued the following statement after the vote:

“Housing advocates are grateful to the New Hampshire Senate for preserving the Housing Champions Program, which is a vital component of our collective work to address the housing crisis and ensure every Granite Stater has a place to call home. We look forward to expanding the number of Housing Champion communities, investing in needed infrastructure improvements through the Housing Champions grant programs, and making long-term regulatory changes that will continue benefiting the state of New Hampshire and its citizens for years to come.”

Background:

Housing Champions Program:

The Housing Champions Program is administered by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. Municipalities can submit an application seeking a “Housing Champion” designation. If a municipality is awarded the designation by meeting the clear and measurable scoring criteria, it is eligible to apply for grants to help it fund infrastructure and develop solutions that work for the local community. 

  • The Housing Champions program is working. Housing Champion communities are permitting new homes at a higher rate than non-Housing Champion communities and are making long-term regulatory changes that will continue to benefit the state of New Hampshire for years to come. In 2024, the 28 Housing Champion communities approved 2,643 units, or 45% of the total units approved statewide. [BEA Housing Trends Report]
  • Infrastructure investments are critical to expanding housing options. In New Hampshire, only about 12 percent of buildable land has access to water or sewer infrastructure – and much of that infrastructure is aging. The Housing Champion Program creates a pathway for infrastructure funds to go towards the communities that are helping address our state’s housing shortage.
  • This program is rewarding a geographically diverse range of communities. There are 28 Housing Champion communities from all corners of the state. The program is working for both our most populous cities and rural communities.

Current Housing Champion Communities: Boscawen, Concord, Derry, Dover, Enfield, Exeter, Farmington, Gorham, Hampton, Hillsborough, Hinsdale, Hooksett, Jaffrey, Keene, Lebanon, Lincoln, Manchester, Meredith, Nashua, New London, Newmarket, Newport, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rochester, Rye, Salem, and Somersworth.

###

Housing Action NH works to improve state and federal policy so everyone in New Hampshire has a place to call home.