A Necessary Transition: Why I Support the Plan to Phase Out 39 Beech Street

On August 6, 2025, I spoke before the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen to support Mayor Jay Ruais’s 19-month plan to phase out the 39 Beech Street Shelter & Engagement Center. Below is why I believe this approach is necessary, responsible, and the right step forward for Ward 9 and for Manchester as a whole.

Why Change is Necessary

For the past two and a half years, the 39 Beech Street Shelter has provided emergency shelter and various services to the homeless. But as a Ward 9 resident, I can say no other part of the city has felt its impact as directly as we have. This is not a “not in my backyard” issue. It’s about whether the outcomes justify the disruption.

Nearby residents and business owners that I have talked with reported:

• Trespassing, graffiti, and litter

• Open drug use

• Public urination and defecation

• Discarded needles on private property

Since January, over 30 police reports have been filed at the shelter itself and more than 50 within a quarter mile. These aren't isolated incidents. They reflect a larger failure to balance service delivery with neighborhood safety.

We must close the gap between what’s promised and what’s delivered. Shelters must deliver real, measurable progress for both those being served and the communities surrounding them.

A Balanced, Two-Phase Plan

Mayor Ruais’s plan combines compassion with fiscal and operational responsibility.

Phase 1: Stabilize Through Winter (Sept 2025 – Mar 2026)

• Extends the lease and operator contract until Feb. 2026 with a one-month option. Current contracts were set to expire on Aug. 31.

• Avoids a crisis by maintaining shelter capacity during the upcoming winter

• Funded partially funded by hospitals, ARPA, and the Affordable Housing Trust

This extension ensures no one is left in the cold and sets a clear end date for operations at 39 Beech Street.

Phase 2: Transition with Purpose (Apr 2026 – Mar 2027)

• Opens a 20-bed, high-barrier shelter for elderly and medically fragile individuals

• Invests $50,000 for the 1269 Café to expand its transitional-living program from 12 to 24 beds providing a recovery-focused housing option for those committed to stability

• Funded with $375,000 from the Housing Trust and $150,000 from the Welfare Department

This plan doesn’t abandon services, it improves them. It also opens the door for more accountable and third-party nonprofits to take on a greater role in delivering outcomes.

Final Thoughts

As a candidate for Alderman in Ward 9, I believe in real solutions, not just shifting the problem out of sight. The Mayor’s plan delivers exactly that: a structured transition with clear goals, cost savings, and better outcomes for everyone.

However, this effort is not final yet. The $235k funding shortfall needs to be addressed and the board must still vote for full approval on September 2. This vote will decide whether we stick with the status quo or move forward with a smarter, more sustainable path.

At the same time, we must ensure that those currently at the shelter are not pushed back onto the streets and are putting up new camps along the Rail Trail or left without support. We’ve seen that outcome before and we can’t let it happen again.

And we must address a bigger issue: housing costs are squeezing working families and leaving vulnerable residents with few options. That’s why this plan must be paired with long-term investments in affordable housing, recovery-based shelters, and community support that prevents homelessness before it starts.

We need to move forward together with a plan that delivers measurable outcomes for those in need, for our neighborhoods, and for the future of Manchester.