Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH)

From Sidewalks to Stability: Mark's Journey Home

When Mark first came through the doors of the Concord Homeless Resource Center, it was 7 degrees outside and he hadn't slept indoors for weeks. He cracked a joke about needing a coffee IV and a new pair of socks - humor was how he survived - but underneath was a man deeply tired from years on the street. For over a decade, Concord, NH had been his home, but not in the way most people mean it.

Mark had been homeless for nearly eight years. A cascade of health issues and job losses left him without a safety net, and before long, a tent near the river was all he had. He knew every crevice of the city: where to keep dry in the rain, which areas were least policed, and when The Friendly Kitchen opened. But hope? That had faded long ago.

Everything started to shift the day he walked into the Resource Center run by the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH). "I just wanted a hot shower and a place to rest," Mark said. "Next thing I knew, I had a case manager and a plan."

At the Resource Center, Mark found more than basic services like coffee, laundry, and mail - he found people who saw him. CCEH staff helped him collect the paperwork he hadn't touched in years, apply for benefits, and take the first steps toward stable housing. With gentle persistence, they enrolled him in Coordinated Entry and helped him through the maze of applications and waitlists.

Then came the Emergency Winter Shelter. That first night indoors in years, Mark slept for almost 12 hours straight. "I don't think I've ever felt that kind of warmth," he said, laughing. "Physically or emotionally."

Through CCEH's consistent support and case conferencing, they connected Mark with a landlord willing to give him a shot. When he got the keys to his new apartment - his own apartment - he stood in the doorway and just stared. "It had a window," he said, "and curtains. I hadn't thought about curtains in a decade."

But housing was just the beginning. CCEH's supportive housing programs stayed with Mark beyond move-in day, helping him adjust, budget, and stay connected to services that keep him housed. Today, Mark helps out at the Resource Center. "If I made it out," he tells folks, "you can too."

There are many more Marks.

For over 15 years, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness has been doing the deep, compassionate work of not just helping people survive - but helping them thrive. Through the Resource Center, the Emergency Winter Shelter, and supportive housing programs, CCEH empowers individuals to navigate their way out of homelessness and into stability and dignity.

But the need is growing. More people are seeking help than ever before. And the journey from sidewalk to stability requires a community that believes in every step.

Your donation helps light the path.

With your support, we can ensure that more people like Mark have a place to start over - and a place to call home. 

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Founded in 2008, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) is a private nonprofit dedicated to eliminating homelessness in our community. We do this work through our services and programs; by collaborating with other agencies; and with education and advocacy. We believe that every person has value and deserves a home regardless of their circumstances, that ending homelessness is possible, and that maintaining a safety net benefits the entire community.  

CCEH operates a Resource Center Monday through Friday where clients can meet their basic needs (e.g. showers, laundry, mail) and engage in case management services focused on securing and maintaining permanent housing. Many clients also live with mental health issues, substance use disorders, and/or other disabilities which make securing and maintaining housing difficult. To help address the complex needs of our clients, the Resource Center also serves as a hub for other agencies to engage with clients and provide services such as physical and behavioral health care. 

In addition to meeting the immediate needs and re-housing individuals experiencing homelessness, CCEH operates a permanent supportive housing program for long term or chronically homeless individuals. CCEH provides intensive, on-going, one-on-one case worker support to help clients make the transition out of long-term homelessness and to remain stably housed. 

CCEH is the lead agency for the implementation of Concord’s Plan to End Homelessness and convenes the City’s Steering Committee of the same name. This steering committee includes business, faith, government, and other local community leaders, and offers strategic guidance, researches evidence-based practices, identifies gaps in services, and works to secure resources to fill those gaps. CCEH also convenes the Homeless Service Provider Network, comprised of 50+ agencies providing services to people experiencing homelessness on a monthly basis for information sharing and collaboration. 

Who We Are

Since 2008, the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) has support...