NH State Representative Steven Smith

July 31 Update – New Relief Programs

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

GOFERR has a variety of assistance programs. The latest is a housing assistance program. The goal is to keep people from being displaced due to the economic circumstances we are in. As the Legislature’s Representative to the Interagency Council on Homelessness, I have heard so many stories where people are on a razor thin margin of housing security. Once that passes, it is a long struggle to regain it. Apply for everything you think you may be eligible for. Apply at https://www.goferr.nh.gov/apply ~ Steve

New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation (GAP) Fund

The New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund [GAP Fund] will provide financial relief to New Hampshire businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19, but unable to access support from other existing state and federal programs.

Due Date: 08/04/2020 11:59 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: NH Business Finance Authority info@nhbfa.com

Veterans Service Organization (VSO) Support Program

Funds, made available through the CARES Act, have been designated to assist 501(c)(19) or 501(c)(23) Veterans Service Organizations that have suffered from either lost revenue or unanticipated expenses as a result of COVID-19 during the time period of 3/1/20-12/30/20 as compared to 2019.

Due Date: 08/10/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions email: Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services veterans.goferr@nh.gov

Traditional Veteran Services Support Program

Funds, made available through the CARES Act, have been designated to assist those organizations and businesses experiencing an increased service demand or expense directly related to providing traditional services to New Hampshire Veterans as a result of COVID-19 during the time period of 3/1/20-12/30/20.

Due Date: 08/10/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions email: Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services veterans.goferr@nh.gov

Healthcare Provider Relief Program

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of a total of $100 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to support Healthcare providers with COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020. This is the third round of available funds for New Hampshire healthcare providers.

Due Date: 8/13/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: healthcarerelieffund@dhhs.nh.gov

Long Term Care Provider Program

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of a total of $100 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to support Healthcare providers with COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020. This is second round of available funds for New Hampshire Long Term Care Providers.

Due Date: 8/13/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: healthcarerelieffund@dhhs.nh.gov

New Hampshire Invest In the Future Fund – Empowering Youth Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of $2 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to increase summer programming for middle and high school-aged children across the Granite State.

Due Date: August 17th
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions: Call: 1-855-393-1731 OR (603) 578-1386 or email NHEYP@dhhs.nh.gov

New Hampshire Housing Relief Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of $35 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to support families or individuals in need of housing assistance as a result of COVID-19. Of the allocated $35 million, $20 million will be initially expended for rental assistance and other household-related expenses, with $15 million being held in reserve, for rent stabilization and housing support.

Due Date: Ongoing basis
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions: Call 2-1-1 or email dhhs.bhhs@dhhs.nh.gov

Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) Tuition Assistance Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the expenditure of $6 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for the CCSNH Tuition Assistance Program, which will allow CCSNH to provide assistance to New Hampshire students who have faced COVID-19 related economic impacts.

Due Date: Ongoing basis
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here

For questions:

Great Bay Community College – GBFinaid@ccsnh.edu
Lakes Region Community College – LRCCFinancialAid@ccsnh.edu
Manchester Community College – MCC-FA@ccsnh.edu
Nashua Community College – Nashua_Financial_Aid@ccsnh.edu
NHTI – Concord’s Community College – NHTIFinaid@ccsnh.edu
River Valley Community College – rvccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu
White Mountains Community College – wmccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu

Safer Scholars Campus Modification Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the expenditure of $10 million from the CARES Act Coronavrius Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for the Safer Scholars Campus Modification Program to assist private, nonprofit colleges, and universities as they modify their operations in light of COVID-19 and prepare to reopen their campuses to students in the fall.

Due Date: 08/07/2020 4:00 PM
To Apply: Click here
For questions: Click here4

4 more COVID-19 deaths connected to NH long-term care facilities announced

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-july-30-2020/33472306

State, municipal government aid part of debate over next COVID-19 relief package

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-municipal-government-aid-part-of-debate-over-next-covid-19-relief-package/33474598

Rochester school district announces reopening plans

https://www.wmur.com/article/rochester-school-district-announces-reopening-plans/33476138

Nine testing sites closing in NH as hospitals pick up testing duties, NASCAR bubble

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/nine-testing-sites-closing-in-nh-as-hospitals-pick-up-testing-duties-nascar-bubble/article_bdd953f3-625d-53f8-a39e-b89ee2eee21f.html?block_id=897573

Sununu: New Hampshire Is Ready For NASCAR Event This Weekend

https://www.nhpr.org/post/sununu-new-hampshire-ready-nascar-event-weekend

Unruly tourists straining town budget during pandemic

https://apnews.com/60bd8bd7626eb87f5e1459bb8ea8c19e

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 30th, 2020

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, DHHS announced 33 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,544 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are four individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 45% being female and 55% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (5), Rockingham (5), Merrimack (4), Belknap (2), and Carroll (2) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (12) and Nashua (1). The county of residence is being determined for two new cases.

Hospitalizations

Two new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 692 (11%) of 6,544 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Nine of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced four additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• 2 female residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

• 1 male resident of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

• 1 female resident of Rockingham County, 60 years of age and older

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 104
Carroll 86
Cheshire 85
Coos 16
Grafton 103
Hillsborough – Other 1,210
Hillsborough – Manchester 1769
Hillsborough – Nashua 738
Merrimack 456
Rockingham 1613
Strafford 323
Sullivan 38

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated July 30, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,544

Recovered 5,722 (87%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 415 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 407
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 692 (11%)
Current Hospitalizations 21

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 158,309
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 26,810
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 26,810
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 495
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,125

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 6,544 positive test results 415 deaths (1 week ago: 6,318 positive test results 405 deaths) (+226/+10)

MA: 117,098 positive test results 8595 deaths (1 week ago: 114,647 positive test results 8484 deaths) (+2451/+111)

ME: 3,888 positive test results 122 deaths (1 week ago: 3,737 positive test results 118 deaths)

VT: 1,407 positive test results 57 deaths (1 week ago: 1,377 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 48,232 positive test results 4,431 deaths (1 week ago: 48,232 positive test results 4,410 deaths)

RI: 18,950 positive test results 1,007 deaths (1 week ago: 18,148 positive test results 1,001 deaths)

NY: 419,081 positive test results 32,362 deaths (1 week ago: 414,405 positive test results 32,270 deaths) (+4,676/+92)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

July 30 Update – Apply for Services

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH EASY – You may qualify

If you have never applied for services from the state, you may want to consider trying it. With the torrent of money coming from the federal government, many thresholds for eligibility have been reduced. Many people qualify for health coverage, and there is a federal benefit that pays for SNAP benefits if you have a school age child. It only takes a few minutes to apply at nheasy.nh.gov. I mentioned this to someone who replied that they did not want any handouts. This is not a handout. It is your money, we taxed you and we took it from you. Why not get some back? You can fill out one application and it applies to all services, just check all the boxes. The worst thing that happens is nothing. ~ Steve

USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help Farmers Hire Workers

(Washington, D.C., July 27, 2020) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced new features on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers.gov website designed to help facilitate the employment of H-2A workers.

“My mission from the beginning of my time as Secretary was to make USDA the most effective, most efficient, most customer-focused department in the entire federal government – these changes to Farmers.gov are doing just that. USDA’s goal is to help farmers navigate the complex H-2A program that is administered by Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department so hiring a farm worker is an easier process,” said Secretary Perdue. “President Trump knows how essential these workers are to our farmers and America’s food supply chain. We will continue working to streamline these and other processes to better serve our customers across the country.”

State epidemiologist Dr. Chan responds to viewer questions

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-epidemiologist-dr-chan-questions-coronavirus/33461331

State Epidemiologist Urges N.H. Voters, Pollworkers To Wear Masks At Fall Elections

https://www.nhpr.org/post/state-epidemiologist-urges-nh-voters-pollworkers-wear-masks-fall-elections#stream/0

Merrimack debates mask policy for local schools

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/merrimack-debates-mask-policy-for-local-schools/article_0ce6625e-c934-5c67-a3fe-a488f9953552.html

Derry board OKs plan to reopen school facilities

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/derry-board-oks-plan-to-reopen-school-facilities/article_ec690562-4945-5fb3-8139-2678f7d7f690.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 29th, 2020

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, DHHS announced 17 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,513 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 59% being female and 41% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (5), Belknap (1), and Strafford (1), and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (1).