NH Award to End Homelessness

The recipient of this award is honored for their compassion, dedication and willingness to help individuals and families overcome the challenges brought on by homelessness. Sister Sharon is an unsung hero who is most deserving of this honor.

Sister Sharon has worked tirelessly in housing for the homeless for over thirty years, coming to New Hampshire over 14 years ago after being given the charge to establish a place for homeless women and children in Nashua. She was the founder and CEO of Marguerite's Place, which today is a well established and respected provider of transitional housing.

She is presently Director of Development for Marguerite's Place and President of MP Housing, Inc. which is the permanent housing component of Marguerite's Place.

Having successfully completed her original mission, Sister Sharon will be returning to Philadelphia this year.

New Hampshire's First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch presented the Families in Transition 2006 NH Award to End Homelessness to Klaas Nijhuis, Assistant Director of Housing, Development and Management at Harbor Homes. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University. Klaas was honored at the Families in Transition Annual Meeting & Reception on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at the Radisson in Manchester.

Klaas has served in the arena of homelessness in varying capacities over the past eight years, including Deputy Director of Urban Program for the Community Development Division of the City of Nashua, and Chair of the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care where he was instrumental in writing the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, "A Home for Everyone." According to his nominator, Lori Cardin, "Klaas's dedication and devotion to the homeless is commendable. He has a natural ability to connect with people and takes this as his opportunity to make a difference for those less fortunate.. By trade Klaas is an architect, by passion and commitment, he is a servant for the poor."

Families in Transition is pleased to have the opportunity to give Klaas the recognition that he deserves.

First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch presented the NH Award to End Homelessness to Martha Young of the Office of Homeless, Housing and Transportation Services at the NH Department of Health and Human Services, On April 7, 2005 at the Families in Transition Benefit Dinner.

Martha Young works tirelessly to combat the disgrace of homelessness in our country and in our state. According to nominator Linda Paquette, "Martha is the driving force behind completion of the SuperNOFA each year, the Annual Report of the NH Emergency Shelter and Homeless Coordination Commission, and the annual Homeless Providers Conference. Martha consistently goes beyond the normal expectations of her job because she is totally committed to addressing the problems of homelessness in New Hampshire. She seeks no recompense for her unending work on behalf of others."

Families in Transition was pleased to have the opportunity to give Martha the recognition that she deserves.

Families in Transition is proud to announce Martha Yager as recipient of the 2004 NH Award to End Homelessness. Her work has most definitely made a difference in assisting people overcome the challenges brought on by homelessness. Martha never expects recognition for all that she does to help others, which is one of the reasons that she is most deserving of this honor.

Martha Yager is the coordinator of the Housing and Community Development Project of the American Friends Service Committee New Hampshire Program, an organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. As part of that work, Martha heads up the NH Housing Forum, a large coalition of groups and individuals advocating for an adequate supply of safe affordable housing. The Housing Forum has played a lead role in developing the political will to pass legislation and funding for housing.

According to Senator Sylvia Larsen, Martha's nominator, "Martha is known in the state house and around the state as one of the best, most knowledgeable resources on housing and homeless issues in New Hampshire. On the "ground" level, Martha has slept in cardboard boxes alongside homeless families and other advocates, opened and staffed an emergency homeless church shelter to deal with this winter's subzero nights, organized rallies, and counseled others on effective grassroots strategies."

Families in Transition is pleased to have the opportunity to give Martha the recognition that she deserves.

The award's first recipient, Kathy Erskine, is a champion for homeless children and families in the Manchester School District and around the state. As a Title I social worker for the district, Kathy has been the school department's liaison with the State Department of Education and the McKinney Education programs. This commitment to the homeless issue is not a part of her job description. She has brought her own compassion and advocacy to a school social work position to ensure that no child without a home is forgotten. She has represented the schools in the local continuum of care, and worked tirelessly to educate the school administration about homeless families and help providers understand the school department's policies and situations.

Kathy has managed to bring McKinney Homeless Education money to the district, and partnered with the Child and Family Services' Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, the YWCA's girls programs, the Boys and Girls Club, Families in Transition and many other agencies to build comprehensive after school study skills centers and homework clubs for youth staying in emergency and transitional housing. In addition, she works to have self-esteem building programs for the youth and provides opportunities for children in homeless facilities to shine like any other child.

We all know budget cuts and time management issues well, but Kathy has had to juggle a school district schedule (7am-3pm) with homeless shelters and case managers (24 hours) and the after school programs she helped to create (2-6pm). Essentially, she expanded her job requirements creating a 'round the clock job for herself--one at which she truly excels and never expects recognition which is why she has been selected as the first recipient of the NH Award to End Homelessness.