Andrew Hosmer: Many already working in our city to find solutions to homelessness

In response to a recent letter from Rep. Bordes regarding homelessness in Laconia, I’d like to offer a few facts and some much-needed context.

Laconia in 2025 is not a city in decline. It is a resilient, forward-moving community. Downtown, Lakeport and Weirs Beach are experiencing unprecedented investment and major infrastructure improvements. These public-private collaborative successes, including the restoration of the Colonial Theatre, didn’t happen by chance. They happened because this community rolled up its sleeves and got to work. These transformative efforts have resulted in Laconia receiving regional recognition for our revitalization.

Regular criticism from the sidelines by those who don’t engage in the actual work undermines the serious work being done by those actually working toward solutions. Teddy Roosevelt once said: “It is not the critic who counts ... the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” Here in Laconia, city staff, public safety professionals, nonprofits and countless volunteers step into that arena every single day.

Recent comments on homelessness misrepresent both the challenge and the response. Like every New Hampshire city, Laconia is navigating complex pressures — but as the county seat, home to regional health care, courts and corrections, we shoulder more than our share. And we’ve responded with serious, sustained effort. Over the last several years, we’ve convened public forums, welcomed diverse ideas, and worked with housing providers, nonprofits and state agencies to find real solutions. Yet people who have never attended a single Housing Task Force meeting, city council meeting, or public session on this issue — not once — continue to complain.

The views expressed on the causes of homelessness are also out of step with reality. While addiction and mental illness are real and often present, the primary causes are housing instability, job loss, trauma and medical crises. Suggesting these challenges stem from a lack of “personal responsibility” is not only incorrect — it’s dismissive of those working toward solutions.

And let’s be honest: it’s impossible for municipalities to fully invest in long-term solutions when state budgets — including those supported by our local representatives — continue to downshift costs to cities, underfund education, and suspend municipal aid. The downward financial pressure on critical city services, including public assistance, is unsustainable.

Still, the city continues to step up. Each year, we put our trust in agencies like Lakes Region Mental Health Center, Community Action Program and Navigating Recovery. Their teams are out in our community every day — doing the demanding work of outreach, support, recovery services and mental health care. They work with compassion and courage, and they make a difference. We see you. We value you. We appreciate you.

The city also supports real solutions that focus on underlying causes of homelessness like the police department’s PET program, the fire department's community paramedicine program and supportive housing initiatives. These aren’t soundbites, they’re solutions in action.

Every idea will not succeed. But the goal isn’t uncovering the perfect solution, it’s creating space where ideas are shared, evaluated and acted on. That’s good government.

Critics often talk about the “obvious” answers we’ve overlooked. We’d love for them to bring those answers to the table. The meetings are public. The work is happening. The door is open.

Our work is far from finished, but we’re making progress. Laconia’s strength has never come from bystanders. It comes from those who show up, stay engaged, and lead with compassion and grit.

To the workers, volunteers and residents making that choice every day: thank you. You’re what real leadership looks like.

•••

Andrew Hosmer is mayor of the City of Laconia.