07/15/2026
JULY MONTHLY MEETING - Post about what this months Agenda was. Still hoping for a spot to become available we can meet in monthly.
Tonight's meeting was going to be a quick run down of UPDATES, Augusts' Advocacy Training Opportunity 2-Part Class Hosted by the National Tenant Coalition, Bridge To Power, August 4 & 11 next month on Narrative (free) and some really GREAT NEW'S concerning HOUSE BILL 1336 (and how NHTU contributed)!
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~*~ HOUSE BILL 1336 - VETO'D BY GOV AYOTTE!!! TY Governor
I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of a group of NH organizations that meet to learn, strategize and advocate/lobby/speak on bills that go through the State House that affect NH Tenant Rights, Housing and Assistance. Members that we had confirmed phone numbers for were contacted about reaching out to Governor Ayottes office to let them know that HB 1336 was dangerous for NH Renters, especially those most targeted or affected by it. This bill would have given Landlord the right to request another month of the security deposit if the tenant did not meet the landlords requirements completely on the application process. Not a high enough credit score? An eviction in the past? Both subjects have the potential to let that landlord ask for that 3rd month of rent at move in. Yes, you heard that right, 3 months of rent. 2 months as a Security Deposit to be held and your first month. With rents in our state from $1,400 to $2,800 for our 50 to 100% median area income housing cost averages, that could mean upwards of $4,200 (1,400 rent/mo) to $8,400(2,800 rent/mo) just to move in right on the heals of HB 60 taking affect this month from last year. Bill HB60 lets a Landlord evict a Tenant that has been a resident of a minimum of 12 months the right to evict for no cause with 60 days notice for a period of 6 months upon expiration of lease (12 month minimum). The NHTU proudly signed on to the letter submitted on many organizations request for our Governor to VETO HB 1336 and SHE DID!!!! (HB 60 is still here, for now). The Letter is in the 1st comment on this post for everyone to read.
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~*~ UPDATEs on FUEL ASSISTANCE 2026 - 2027
Remember, if your HT and HW are included in your rent these payments are sent to the landlord thus helping by reducing your rent for the months portions provided, if you qualify. The Tenant Clinic will be holding classes to help tenants fill out and complete their applications.
Key Dates for the coming Year!
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July 1, 2026: Pre-applications open for priority households, which is: households with elderly, disabled, families with children under 6, or those using wood/pellets for heat/hot water.
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September 1, 2026: Pre-applications open to all other households.
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December 1, 2026: Program officially opens and payments are issued to fuel vendors.
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April 30, 2027: Deadline to apply.
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~*~Narrative Training with Bridge To Power, Train the Trainer Series.
This Training is a 2-part Class and will be on August 4th and 11th, next month. Official Dates and Times to be posted soon to this page with an invitation to register for the class, if you would like an email instead please either leave the address in the comments below or for privacy you can email me at jmargeson603@ gmail.com with your request for an invite.
Narrative work, whether its writing or speaking your own or if you want to Advocate and help others find theirs, this class is created for the beginner to advanced, due to class structure.
***This free Training is offered by Bridge to Power, a National Tenant Coalition that was co-founded by NHTU and 9 other Tenant Advocacy Organizations and Unions across the US. The more formal explanation: Bridge to Power is a collaboration of power building Organizations/Tenant Unions, committed to advancing housing justice in local communities, across states, and nationally. Their purpose is to work with the partner orgs/unions to scale up our collective ability to organize and to strategically wield power in order to win significant systems change. They are an organizing blueprint for building sustained power to secure homes for generations to come.
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There are going to be more opportunities to get to travel with me (Jessica) for in person meetings, trainings and actions. We have gone to cities such as: Seattle WA, Denver CO, DC, Detroit MI and Columbia SC. In Columbia SC we supported them on a bill they were advocating for, which we recently found out passed. We helped out with some door knocking and phone banking while there. There are Trainings at every gathering and so many other awesome Tenants to connect with, I've met a lot of people I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet. All the other Organizations have been putting in the work, just like us and there are a lot of great stories to hear every time we meet, I promise you that! Our next one will most likely be out west towards New Orleans LA, but this could easily change and be another great city across the US. When you go with NHTU to a Bridge To Power meeting, all of your travel, lodging and meals expense's are covered and will include a stipend to cover your time to help make it possible to be away for 3 days and 2 nights on average. I love that they are able to offer this because affordability is a discussion to be had when you consider how much time you have available to contribute to causes your are interested in or passionate about, while still being able to work to pay rent or meet obligations already existing and important for you or your family.
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