Executive Council Update- 2/10/23 Homelessness and Public Health
We are in the midst of a housing and homelessness crisis in our state — and we need to implement comprehensive solutions now. As the host of this week's Governor and Executive Council meeting, I invited the NH Council on Housing Stability to update us on their efforts and learn about the steps they have taken to build more housing, support those currently experiencing homelessness, and offer wrap-around services to those in need. The Council's mission is to make homelessness rare, brief, and one time only. We must all commit to realize that goal.
Click below to hear my thoughts about the topics discussed at our meeting that will affect Granite Staters all across New Hampshire.
Key issues from this week's Executive Council meeting included:
END OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. The federal government has declared that the public health emergency will officially conclude on May 11, 2023. Upon my request, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of Medicaid Services spoke with the Executive Council about the impact this will have on the state. We have been preparing for the impact on the Medicaid program. We also heard how the change will affect families relying on extra Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see a significant decrease in benefits starting next month. The Department is aware of how the abrupt disruption to these benefits may impact low-income families and has committed to provide local communities, and the Executive Council, with information on other sustaining programs that may assist those in need.
SECURED FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR SEX EDUCATION. After months of working with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and the entire congressional delegation to secure funding for the evidence-based sex education programming that the Executive Council defunded last year, we are happy to announce that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will make available federal funds through a competitive process for Granite State sex education providers.
This is a huge victory for the people of New Hampshire.
This misguided Executive Council obstructed critical public health programming that has been proven to lower rates of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The funding for these programs has had broad, bipartisan support for more than a decade. By bringing these funds back to the state, New Hampshire will be able to continue evidence-based programming for our communities most needing these services. I am proud that, through hard work together with providers, local leaders, and Senator Shaheen, we were able to find a solution that gets these much-needed funds to our communities.
The full meeting agenda and quick results can be viewed here. Minutes for each meeting are approved at the following Council meeting.