Store owners in downtown Nashua are urging the city to address the homelessness crisis, which they say is impacting their businesses and customer safety.A special aldermen meeting Thursday night hosted downtown business owners, who expressed concerns about safety, cleanliness and the impact of homelessness on their operations. They reported incidents of harassment and public urination by unhoused individuals, and described the need for the city to find answers.Marylou Blaisdell, owner of DesignWares on Main Street, has operated her store for 21 years. Over that time, she’s had to increasingly take action into her own hands on this specific issue.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<“I’ve had to escort several people who I know are high or mentally ill out the door,” she said.Blaisdell acknowledges that action on the city’s part may have a cost, but she has an even greater fear that if nothing changes, customers will stop bringing revenue to her store.”I don’t want my taxes to go up, and I don’t want to spend money for that. But we’re going to have to, because if we don’t, the situation is going to get worse and worse.”Other business owners are echoing similar concerns. Karen Lovejoy, owner of Banyon Tree Yoga, has operated her studio for a year. In that time, she’s noticed a growing population of tents across the parking lot of the building Banyon Tree is housed in.”The other morning, there was six police cars here,” she recalled. “You have to wonder what was going on to warrant six police cars.”Bobbilyn Moore, owner of Gate City Reflexology and Massage, runs her storefront in the same building as Lovejoy.”We all have clients who’ve expressed hesitancy to come into the building during off hours and sometimes during hours,” she said.The city acknowledges the growing homeless population in recent years. Liz Hannum, Nashua’s economic development director, was in attendance during Thursday’s meeting to address concerns brought forward. She says the city’s health department has actively worked to find solutions for the rapidly growing unhoused community, and quickly.”It’s almost a whack-a-mole situation, where they finally get someone into support services, and then they have five more people,” she said. “So it is a growing issue.”The city is now responding with short-term solutions, alongside long-term planning dependent on budgetary restrictions. Starting last week, increased police patrols began, doubling the previous officer presence in areas like downtown.Moving forward, discussions about building shelters and resource centers are on the table.”We talk about a lot of the issues that happen around downtown, but we’re continuously grounding ourselves that there’s a housing problem, so we need to continuously increase supply,” Hannum added.Blaisdell emphasized the need for collective action, before things get worse for her business and others around her.”We want a solution for all,” Blaisdell said.Ward 8 Alderman Derek Thibeault provided a statement to News 9 regarding the situation, stating:”Last night, we heard from downtown businesses and Mine Falls advocate about how bad the homeless situation has become. Today I visited the Mine Falls encampment, and we need to act now, it’s Nashua’s problem to solve. Long-term solutions are great, but we need short-term ones in the present while working on those long-term solutions. Businesses downtown are suffering and we cannot ignore them. If they close and leave, the downtown will die and Nashua becomes a dead city. We can’t have that. People do not feel safe here, which is something I never thought I would say. This is my city and we must do better. I am committed to trying to find solutions that are both humane and also protect our citizens.”>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<
Store owners in downtown Nashua are urging the city to address the homelessness crisis, which they say is impacting their businesses and customer safety.
A special aldermen meeting Thursday night hosted downtown business owners, who expressed concerns about safety, cleanliness and the impact of homelessness on their operations. They reported incidents of harassment and public urination by unhoused individuals, and described the need for the city to find answers.
Marylou Blaisdell, owner of DesignWares on Main Street, has operated her store for 21 years. Over that time, she’s had to increasingly take action into her own hands on this specific issue.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
“I’ve had to escort several people who I know are high or mentally ill out the door,” she said.
Blaisdell acknowledges that action on the city’s part may have a cost, but she has an even greater fear that if nothing changes, customers will stop bringing revenue to her store.
“I don’t want my taxes to go up, and I don’t want to spend money for that. But we’re going to have to, because if we don’t, the situation is going to get worse and worse.”
Other business owners are echoing similar concerns. Karen Lovejoy, owner of Banyon Tree Yoga, has operated her studio for a year. In that time, she’s noticed a growing population of tents across the parking lot of the building Banyon Tree is housed in.
“The other morning, there was six police cars here,” she recalled. “You have to wonder what was going on to warrant six police cars.”
Bobbilyn Moore, owner of Gate City Reflexology and Massage, runs her storefront in the same building as Lovejoy.
“We all have clients who’ve expressed hesitancy to come into the building during off hours and sometimes during hours,” she said.
The city acknowledges the growing homeless population in recent years. Liz Hannum, Nashua’s economic development director, was in attendance during Thursday’s meeting to address concerns brought forward. She says the city’s health department has actively worked to find solutions for the rapidly growing unhoused community, and quickly.
“It’s almost a whack-a-mole situation, where they finally get someone into support services, and then they have five more people,” she said. “So it is a growing issue.”
The city is now responding with short-term solutions, alongside long-term planning dependent on budgetary restrictions. Starting last week, increased police patrols began, doubling the previous officer presence in areas like downtown.
Moving forward, discussions about building shelters and resource centers are on the table.
“We talk about a lot of the issues that happen around downtown, but we’re continuously grounding ourselves that there’s a housing problem, so we need to continuously increase supply,” Hannum added.
Blaisdell emphasized the need for collective action, before things get worse for her business and others around her.
“We want a solution for all,” Blaisdell said.
Ward 8 Alderman Derek Thibeault provided a statement to News 9 regarding the situation, stating:
“Last night, we heard from downtown businesses and Mine Falls advocate about how bad the homeless situation has become. Today I visited the Mine Falls encampment, and we need to act now, it’s Nashua’s problem to solve. Long-term solutions are great, but we need short-term ones in the present while working on those long-term solutions. Businesses downtown are suffering and we cannot ignore them. If they close and leave, the downtown will die and Nashua becomes a dead city. We can’t have that. People do not feel safe here, which is something I never thought I would say. This is my city and we must do better. I am committed to trying to find solutions that are both humane and also protect our citizens.”
>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<
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