Harbor Care and Bank of America Team Up to Help End Homelessness for Veterans and Their Families

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Harbor Care, New Hampshire’s largest nonprofit service provider for veterans, and Bank of America have teamed up to help end homelessness and promote economic mobility for veterans and their families. Bank of America has awarded Harbor Care $20,000 to support the Veterans FIRST program and sponsor the Summit to End Veteran Homelessness on June 28.

“Essential to ending veteran homelessness in NH and across the nation is the collaboration with generous, committed partners, and Bank of America exemplifies this commitment,” said Henry Och, President and CEO of Harbor Care. “Bank of America’s substantial gift will offer vital support for veterans statewide.”

(Left to right) Jared Freilich, Senior Vice President, Bank of America and Harbor Care Treasurer of the Board; Ken Sheldon, President, Bank of America New Hampshire; Henry Och, President and CEO, Harbor Care; and William Belecz, Chief Operations Officer, Harbor Care.

With the support of Bank of America, Harbor Care will host the second annual Summit to End Veteran Homelessness on June 28. The summit is a collaboration between local, state, and federal stakeholders to work on pressing topics, including how veteran homelessness is being impacted by the end of the public health emergency (Stafford Act).

“Harbor Care’s Veterans FIRST program works to stop homelessness and give veterans a clear path to housing, employment, and independence,” said Ken Sheldon, President of Bank of America New Hampshire. “As a lead employer of veterans, this partnership is one important way Bank of America can honor veterans while fostering economic mobility and equitable progress in New Hampshire.”

Each year, Harbor Care Veterans FIRST helps more than 450 veterans and their families access stable housing, medical, dental, and mental health care, substance use treatment, and employment services. In 2022, Harbor Care specifically helped 343 veterans experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness to access stable housing.

Harbor Care effectively ended veteran homelessness in greater Nashua in 2017 and now endeavors to replicate the success statewide. For further details, visit www.harborcarenh.org/veterans-services-overview. 

The grant to Harbor Care is part of Bank of America’s commitment to delivering responsible growth to improve the financial lives of individuals, families, and entire communities. By addressing issues fundamental to economic mobility, including workforce development and education, community development, and basic needs, the bank helps to strengthen and build thriving communities.

Harbor Care is an innovative non-profit organization, providing housing, health care, and human services, helping more than 5,000 adults, children, and families of New Hampshire each year find solutions to many of life’s most challenging issues. The organization provides high quality housing and residential services; medical, dental, and mental healthcare; substance use treatment; HIV/AIDS care; employment; and veteran services. For further information, visit www.harborcarenh.org.