Do communities have enough resources for unsheltered members?

FRANKLIN — Jessika Gardner went to Ed Rayno's campsite to place a plastic flower after hearing of his death earlier this month. She also brought a nature photo of the city she thought Rayno would have liked, and played his favorite song, “A Tombstone Every Mile” by Dick Curless, from her phone. She would often visit Rayno there and play music from a speaker, having fun as the sun set over the Winnipesaukee River.

Rayno was found dead around 7 p.m. on March 7, in Northfield, just off the Winnipesaukee River Trail.

Gardner spoke kindly of Rayno.

“He's just an all-around good kind of guy. The kind of guy that would take his shirt off his back for anybody,” she said. “And he never complained. I couldn't believe that.”

Northfield police arrived at the scene after Gardner’s cousin, Justin, made a call to 911 reporting Rayno was found dead. Rayno's cause of death is undetermined pending results of an autopsy. Police Chief Jesse Colby said the department is also investigating Rayno’s passing, as they do with any unattended death, to verify it’s not a criminal act, like homicide.

“That's a standard procedure, but there's nothing suspicious about this incident,” he said.

A private family funeral service will be held for Rayno.

Rayno, 60, was from Franklin, but has been unsheltered off-and-on for the past 10 years. He lived in an apartment in Tilton three years ago, but left after the rent became too expensive.

Rayno had experienced opioid addiction and other health issues, including seizures. Mayor Desiree McLaughlin knew Rayno for 15 years, and often helped him at the laundromat she owns, giving him food and other supplies. She said he carried many medications with him, sometimes losing them as he traveled from place to place.

Gardner, who was also aware of Rayno’s medical history, was often worried about him. She recounted a time last year when she found Rayno on the trail, unresponsive. She called 911, stayed with him until first responders showed up, and later found out Rayno had a seizure. She believes someone with those health conditions should not be unhoused.

“He had a seizure and he couldn't afford his medication, and that's why that happened,” she said. “And it's basically just the system failing. It's not where it needs to be.”

While there is no specific data for Franklin, a point-in-time count taken in 2023 by the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness showed a 52% increase in homelessness in the state, the highest increase of any state. The national average grew 12%.

For people experiencing homelessness, there are resources available. Fire Chief Mike Foss said if someone needs cold weather sheltering services, the city welfare office can help. A person in need can also call New Hampshire 211, a coalition of nonprofit, government, corporate and volunteer partners that provide social services information and resources. And in severe cold weather events, the Bessie Rowell Community Center may open briefly as a warming center. There is no permanent cold weather shelter in Franklin, and no ordinance stating when a shelter would need to open. Foss said it is not an easy endeavor to open one.

“There's a plan in place to open it, but it is manpower and resource intensive. It's expensive with labor and everything else,” he said.

During cold snaps, Franklin police do proactive searches to find anyone in need, and help them get to a shelter.

McLaughlin said there have been initiatives for years to open a cold weather shelter, but the city never budged. Now as mayor, she acknowledged that it may be a fruitless endeavor without grants, as the city is working on a tight budget, with 63% of it going to payroll.

“With 37% of the budget, and some of the infrastructure needs that are very clearly making themselves known — with potholes — we don't have the working capital to make any sort of city-funded homeless shelter,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin for years used her laundromat in downtown Franklin to assist those in need. She provided non-perishable goods, sometimes warm clothing, and a place to stay out of the cold. Last year she decided she could not keep it going. She couldn't watch the laundromat 24 hours a day, especially after becoming mayor, and couldn't afford to staff it. There were issues with theft, loitering and substance abuse, which caused complaints from customers. She remembers a time someone stole a rug.

“I'm unhappy they did that, yes. Do I blame them? No, that man who stole that rug is going to sleep on it,” she said. “But still, that rug was over $100, right?”

McLaughlin referenced RSA 165, which states anyone unable to support themselves can receive help from the overseers of public welfare of such town, whether or not they have residence there. She looks to Laconia as a good example of what to do, with Isaiah 61 Café, Belknap House, and even the warming center in the winter operated by Lakes Region Mental Health Center.

“They've at least embraced the idea that we have to manage this problem and streamline it in a cost-effective way,” she said.

Rayno’s sister, Cyndy Campbell, spoke in favor of a cold weather shelter.

“I wish Franklin would do more to help the homeless, especially during the cold,” she said.

Foss said Franklin does have resources, including from the state, people can take advantage of, but don’t.

“It's not necessarily the government that's not offering the resources,” he said. “It's that individuals don't find those options good enough for them, for their situation.”

Friends say Rayno often didn’t utilize available resources.

“There are some people who don't mind living the vagabond lifestyle, but there are a lot of them who are really tired of it. I know people who have been homeless here, besides Ed, for four or five years, and they're looking for housing,” she said.

Rayno’s death spurred conversation around helping people experiencing homelessness. Gardner continued to reminisce about her friend. She remembered a time last year, when she celebrated Rayno’s birthday with a couple of friends along with food, beer and music, sitting around a fire until the early hours. She said moments like these help remind people being unsheltered is not what defines someone. She spoke to why celebrating a birthday was so important.

“So that he wasn't alone, so that he was with friends and he was happy, and maybe get his mind off of being homeless for a while. Just because you want people in your life who you care about, to feel important.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify Jessika Gardner's description of Ed Rayno's lifestyle.