MANCHESTER, NH – Last night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve Manchester’s historic new Zoning Rewrite, a major step toward modernizing the city’s land use regulations and advancing the community’s vision for growth, housing, and economic opportunity.

The rewrite implements key recommendations of the 2021 Manchester Master Plan, which was the first master plan update since 2009. The Master Plan was shaped by extensive community input and outlines residents’ long-term goals for how Manchester should develop. One of the plan’s central recommendations was to update the city’s land-use regulations to reflect the community’s goals and to make these laws clearer and more user-friendly.

The rewrite is the first and most important step toward fulfilling that recommendation. It will anchor a new Manchester Land Use Code that will bring together the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and site plan regulations into a single and streamlined document. This consolidation will make the rules easier to understand and apply, reduce red tape, and create more opportunities for development, housing, and business investment.

Work on the rewrite began in late 2021. Since then, the City has partnered with planning consultants and engaged in an extensive public process that included interviews, a multi-day design charrette, and multiple rounds of drafting. The first public draft was released on June 21, 2024, followed by a robust citywide outreach effort.

Throughout the summer of 2024, Manchester hosted 12 community meetings in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension to ensure broad public participation. The City also partnered with the UNH Survey Center to conduct a zoning survey. More than 1,000 residents attended public meetings and nearly 1,500 responded to the survey. The thousands of comments provided during this process helped shape the second draft, which was released on August 8, 2025.

“We must drive down the cost of housing and make Manchester more affordable. This zoning rewrite is one of the most important steps we can take to secure Manchester’s future,” said Mayor Jay Ruais. “By modernizing our land use code, we are unlocking new opportunities for housing, promoting responsible growth, and making it easier for residents and businesses to invest in our city. This work reflects the voices of thousands of Manchester residents, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in this process. I especially want to thank Director Jeff Belanger, Senior Planner Kristin Bixby, and the entire Planning and Community Development Department for their leadership, their persistence, and their tremendous dedication to getting this right.”

“This zoning rewrite is the product of the most comprehensive public engagement that the City of Manchester has ever done for a zoning ordinance,” said Jeff Belanger, Director of the Manchester Planning and Community Development Department. “From the beginning, our goal has always been to understand what the people of Manchester want for the future of their city and to deliver that to them. I want to thank everyone who participated in the public engagement, whether they came to a community meeting, or filled out a survey, or submitted a comment. We heard you, the rewrite is a reflection of what you said, and this process could not have succeeded without you. I also want to sincerely thank Mayor Ruais for his leadership and support, which was essential to the adoption of the zoning rewrite.”

This is only the third comprehensive zoning rewrite in Manchester’s history. Its approval marks a significant milestone in ensuring the city remains responsive to the needs of today’s residents and businesses while supporting sustainable and well-planned growth for decades to come.

MANCHESTER, NH — The City of Manchester announces the Inauguration of Mayor Jay Ruais, Members of the Board of Aldermen, and Board of School Committee.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend this civic event, which marks the beginning of a new term of municipal leadership and service to the community. The ceremony will include the administration of oaths of office, remarks from the Mayor, and musical performances.

“The inauguration is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate public service, and look ahead to the work that lies before us,” said Mayor Ruais. “I am honored to continue serving the people of Manchester, and I look forward to partnering with residents, businesses, and our dedicated city officials to continue making progress here in the Queen City.”

Details regarding parking, accessibility, and program schedule will be shared closer to the event date on the City’s website and official social media channels.

Event Details

• What: Inauguration of Mayor Ruais, Board of Aldermen, and Board of School Committee
• When: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Palace Theater, 80 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH

Public Invitation

All residents, community partners, media, and stakeholders are welcome to join the City of Manchester for this important civic celebration.

Organizational meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Board of School Committee will be held at City Hall immediately following the ceremony.

Manchester, NH – On Tuesday, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a proposal to strengthen Manchester’s recovery infrastructure by supporting the expansion of Hope for NH Recovery’s services at 293 Wilson Street.

“I want to thank the Board of Aldermen for unanimously supporting this initiative. Hope for NH Recovery has been, and continues to be, an indispensable partner in our city’s response to the substance use crisis,” said Mayor Ruais. “Their teams work every day to meet people where they are, whether on our streets, alongside our first responders, or in our neighborhoods. They help guide residents toward treatment, recovery, and long-term stability. This project gives them the tools they need to strengthen and expand that impact.”

Hope for NH Recovery has long served as a trusted resource for individuals with a substance use disorder, providing peer-based recovery services, crisis engagement, and navigation to treatment and ongoing supports. Their close collaboration with first responders and outreach teams has allowed them to build strong relationships with some of Manchester’s most vulnerable residents.

The approved funding will allow Hope for NH Recovery to acquire a condominium unit at their current service location, creating a dedicated short term, substance free recovery and emergency stabilization facility. The site will offer temporary housing for up to ten individuals in acute crisis while they await placement in treatment programs, ensuring safety, stability, and continuity of care in a familiar and supportive environment. This is a one-time city expenditure used only for property acquisition.

"The impact of this partnership is visible in the hundreds of members currently rebuilding their lives at Hope," said Randy Stevens, Executive Director at Hope for NH Recovery. "This collaboration has become a catalyst for the kind of systemic change we all want to see. It’s not just about services; it’s about creating an environment where recovery is contagious. You can feel the difference the moment you enter the building. By working so closely with the City, we are effectively converting individual successes into a safer, healthier, and more vibrant community for everyone."

Mayor Ruais added, “There is a critical service gap in our community. There is often a short window when someone has accepted help to get them into long-term treatment and off our streets. That window closes if they are waiting for the help, and hope is lost. At zero cost to the taxpayer, we are working to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction on our streets, and I want to thank Hope for NH Recovery, and Aldermen Kelly Thomas and Bill Barry for their continued efforts on this important issue.”

Additional Background on the City’s Support of Hope for NH Recovery:

• The Board of Mayor and Aldermen previously approved $201,000 in Opioid Abatement funds for an expansion of their community outreach teams.
• The Manchester Fire Department donated an SUV to Hope for NH Recovery to support their outreach and engagement efforts

Manchester, NH – The City of Manchester is proud to highlight continued progress in addressing homelessness. Since January of 2024, through the Engagement Center at the 39 Beech Street Shelter, hundreds of individuals have been connected to vital services, housing, employment, and recovery opportunities.

From June of 2024 through October of 2025, the City and its partners have realized the following outcomes:

• 2,733 provider connections made linking individuals to critical resources
• 69 individuals housed
• 50 people obtained vital documents such as birth certificates and identification cards
• 45 individuals entered detox or treatment programs
• 22 people gained employment

“More work remains to continue addressing homelessness, but these results demonstrate that our comprehensive, partnership-driven approach is making a difference,” said Mayor Jay Ruais. “Each person who finds stability, housing, or employment through our efforts represents meaningful progress for our city as a whole. By combining compassion with accountability, we’re demonstrating that we can make measurable progress for our city and those in need.”

These successes have been built on a collaborative effort involving a wide range of community partners who provide on-site services and outreach, including:

• Manchester Mental Health
• Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority
• CMC Street Medicine/Healthcare for the Homeless
• Meals on Wheels
• Hope for NH Recovery
• NH Employment Security
• City of Manchester Welfare Department
• Do You Know Him? Ministries
• Bethany Chapel
• House of Prayer
• Elliot Hospital Visiting Nurses Association
• SNAP Benefits Outreach

The Engagement Center serves as an important component of Manchester’s comprehensive response to homelessness, providing a central hub for individuals seeking assistance, case management, and connections to housing and recovery services.

“I’d like to specifically thank the team at East Coast Evolution Leadership for their management of this effort. Through strong partnerships and persistent outreach, we are working to clean up our streets, assist those in need while strengthening our community as a whole,” Mayor Ruais added. “I’m deeply grateful to all our partners for their ongoing commitment to this work.”

Manchester Releases its City-Wide Age-Friendly Action Plan

Manchester, NH - Mayor Jay Ruais is pleased to announce the release of Manchester’s Age Friendly Action Plan ( the next step in the City’s Age Friendly Planning Initiative to create a more accessible and livable community for residents of all ages, especially older adults.

According to the World Health Organization and AARP, an Age-Friendly City is one that promotes creating environments that support healthy aging by focusing on the physical, social and economic factors that influence how people age. These efforts are structured around Eight Domains of Livability: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings, Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation & Employment, Communication & Information, and Community and Health Services.

“This age-friendly initiative is an important opportunity to build a Manchester where everyone, no matter what their age, can thrive and enjoy an enhanced quality of life,” said Mayor Jay Ruais. “The Age-Friendly Action Plan identifies how short and long-term efforts, both big and small, can make a measurable impact in improving public health and strengthening our community by ensuring all resident’s needs are taken into account.”

Manchester’s AFAP is the result of efforts by the City’s Health Department, in collaboration with the Mayor’s office and twenty community partners who formed an Age-Friendly Advisory Committee. Working together over several months, the Committee reviewed Manchester-specific data on aging and evaluated feedback from stakeholders and residents gathered through surveys and focus groups. The AFAP provides a summary of those findings and identifies areas of opportunity to enhance Manchester’s livability under each of the Eight Domains.

“With approximately 16,500 Manchester residents 65 years or older – and that number projected to steadily increase, this AFAP represents a commitment to ensuring the City’s older adults can remain independent, connected, and engaged,” said Deputy Public Health Director Elaine Michaud. “We look forward to continuing this effort with our dedicated community leaders, partners, and residents to create a community that supports the changing needs of those we serve.”

Over the coming mo nths, the Age Friendly Advisory Committee will reconvene to evaluate and prioritize their recommendations, identify funding needs and sources, and invite additional stakeholders and community engagement to begin the implementation process.

The Age Friendly Ac tion Plan can be found here:
https://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/Health/Services/Healthy-Aging

City to Switch Back to Usual Water Disinfection Process

Manchester, NH – The City of Manchester Water Works will be changing its disinfectant in the distribution system back to chloramine on October 14, 2025. This follows a 6-week period where the disinfectant was switched to free chlorine. This temporary conversion was last implemented in September 2024 as a common system maintenance practice. Individuals and business owners who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners should continue to do so during the conversion back to chloramine.

Manchester Water Works is responsible for providing drinking water and fire protection to the city of Manchester and portions of Auburn, Bedford, Derry, Goffstown, Hooksett and Londonderry.

For more information, visit https://www.manchesternh.gov/Departments/Water-Works, or contact the Manchester Water Works Laboratory at (603) 792-2855 Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm

Update on City’s Work in Ending Veteran Homelessness

MANCHESTER, NH – Last Friday, at the Annual NH Veteran Stand Down Event, Mayor Jay Ruais announced significant progress in the City of Manchester’s initiative to end veteran homelessness, launched in September 2024.

Since last fall, 62 veterans have been placed in permanent housing and dozens more have been prevented from falling into homelessness through proactive outreach and intervention. Today, only six veterans remain from the original list of those identified as homeless last year, all of whom are in transitional housing with active housing plans in place.

“For the first time in five years, Manchester is housing veterans faster than new cases are emerging, a critical milestone in our effort to end veteran homelessness,” said Mayor Ruais. “I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made, and I want to thank Harbor Care and all of our community partners for their leadership and collaboration. Together, we will finish the job and ensure every veteran in Manchester has a place to call home.”

This progress is the result of a broad coalition of partners, including Harbor Care, Veterans Inc., Clear Path for Veterans, Easterseals, Liberty House, HUD-VASH, the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services, the Manchester Housing Authority, and numerous landlords, outreach teams, and shelter providers.

“Manchester is proving that ending veteran homelessness is possible. Harbor Care is proud to partner in this effort to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home,” said Henry Och, President & CEO of Harbor Care.

Harbor Care’s Veteran Services remains the leading provider of housing and support services for veterans in New Hampshire, assisting more than 450 veterans and families each year. Since the initiative began, Harbor Care has directly supported 118 veterans, including helping 39 avoid homelessness through outreach and interventions, providing transitional housing for 33, and helping nearly 50 veterans re-enter the workforce.

The City will continue working toward its goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness in Manchester by January of 2026.

Mayor Ruais’ 19-Month Shelter and Winter Warming Plan Approved by Board of Aldermen

Manchester, NH – On Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen voted to approved Mayor Ruais’ 19-month plan to provide critical shelter services and winter warming space for Manchester’s most medically fragile and aged homeless.

The plan unfolds in two phases:

• Phase One keeps the 39 Beech Street shelter open through February 28, 2026, preserving its 40 emergency beds and daily services for 40–50 unique individuals. Maintaining this facility prevents the displacement of up to 90 individuals, many of whom are elderly or medically fragile.
• Phase Two, beginning March 1, 2026, launches a new 20-bed, higher-barrier shelter and winter warming site. This facility will shelter those who are aged, and or have chronic health conditions while the city works to develop a sustainable model for long-term care.

Mayor Ruais Released the Following Statement:

“I want to thank the Board of Aldermen for approving this plan that will protect the most vulnerable among us, while allowing for us to prepare for fatality prevention during the winter months. We must be proactive in this effort to address our collective challenges. Additionally, it is essential to note that this effort would simply not be possible without the extraordinary generosity of the Elliot Health System, Catholic Medical Center and Dartmouth Health.

These critical facilities make our city better, and stronger, every single day. With this innovative initiative, they are stepping up in a big way to make a major difference. This is what it looks like when our community comes together. Thanks to their leadership and compassion, we are not only preserving shelter for dozens of people but also ensuring that lives will be protected during the harshest months of the year. This partnership demonstrates what can be accomplished when we work together to protect and care for those most in need.

I also want to thank Granite United Way who has offered their expertise in structuring the ability to fund this initiative, Manchester Community College for providing staffing assistance through their nursing program, and the NH Job Corps Center, through which, we will be hiring additional staff.

As I’ve always said, the strength of our city is within our people and our organizations that strive to work together and solve problems. We are incredibly fortunate to have such partnerships in the Queen City.”

Elliot Health System Released the Following Statement:

"We are especially pleased with the decision to execute this vitally important plan put forth by Mayor Ruais. At The Elliot, we believe our impact on health for our City is strengthened by working alongside community organizations who provide essential health care support needs. As a community-focused care delivery system guided by our mission to inspire wellness and heal our patients while serving with compassion, caring for all our citizens is crucial to building healthier communities together. The services available through the Beech Street shelter and winter warming facilities offer more than a place for residents to live," said Greg Baxter, MD, president and chief executive officer of Elliot Health System. "They are essential services that help to bridge the gap for our most vulnerable and aging populations, connecting them to needed resources in a safe environment. They allow our health systems to focus on providing a higher level of critical care as aligned with our legacy of excellence in patient care, to ensure we are collectively best serving our communities."

Catholic Medical Center Released the Following Statement:

At Catholic Medical Center. we carry out Christ’s healing ministry by offering health, healing and hope to every person we serve. That mission extends beyond our walls and into the heart of our community. Supporting this initiative is about more than a shelter — it’s about protecting lives, preserving dignity and ensuring that all of our neighbors have the opportunity to be safe and well. We are proud to stand with our partners in answering this urgent need and building a healthier, more compassionate Manchester — because the strength of a community is revealed in how we care for our most vulnerable.

Dartmouth Health Released the Following Statement:

“Dartmouth Health, as New Hampshire’s largest and only academic health system, has deep roots in the Queen City, via our Manchester clinic. Many of our clinicians live here and we care for our patients in the city’s hospitals. It is a duty and privilege for Dartmouth Health to join with city leaders and our healthcare colleagues in supporting this critical effort. The health consequences of homelessness, both to unhoused people and the community at large, are well documented, but not unfixable. Especially for the most vulnerable among those experiencing homelessness—the elderly and those with serious physical and mental illness—shelter in winter, as this initiative will provide, is literally a lifeline.”

City of Manchester Launches AI Chatbot to Enhance Resident Engagement

MANCHESTER, NH – Mayor Jay Ruais today announced the official launch of a new AI-powered Chatbot on the City of Manchester’s official website. This follows the three-week soft launch period that allowed the system to learn and improve. This phased approach ensured the Chatbot could provide more accurate, personalized, and convenient access to government services for all residents.

“Our goal is to make City services as easy to access as possible,” said Mayor Ruais. “This new AI Chatbot allows residents to get the answers they need quickly, accurately, and in a way that works for them, no matter the time of day or the language they speak. As a City, we must adapt and grow, and meet the needs of our residents, and I’m deeply grateful to our IT Director Jean Fortier and his team for all their work on this project.”

The Chatbot offers a range of features designed to improve the resident experience. It provides fast, personalized assistance that helps people find the information they need without unnecessary delays. Residents can interact with it in multiple languages, and the Chatbot will respond in the same language as the question asked. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it ensures that help is always just a click away.

Using the Chatbot is simple, residents can either type a question or select from a list of common inquiries displayed at the top of the interface. Its user-friendly design makes it easy for anyone to navigate, whether they are looking for information on City services, public events, or municipal processes. Because the Chatbot is powered by advanced AI, it continuously learns from each interaction. After training the AI over the past three weeks, it already answers over 80 percent of questions correctly, and City staff can update and refine its knowledge to improve future responses.

The technology works seamlessly across all browsers and devices, pulling information from multiple sections of the City’s website to deliver customized replies. Built on a trusted platform, it combines cutting-edge innovation with proven reliability.

The City encourages residents to try the new Chatbot today by visiting www.manchesternh.gov and exploring this new, user-friendly tool.

BMA Approves Mayor Ruais’ 19-Month Initiative for Homeless Shelter and Winter Warming

Manchester, NH – Last night, the Board of Aldermen approved Mayor Ruais’ 19-month plan to provide critical shelter services for Manchester’s most medically fragile and aged homeless. Included in this plan is winter warming capacity for fatality prevention and a doubling of the transitional beds available at 1269 Café.

The plan unfolds in two phases:

• Phase One: Continues operations at the 39 Beech Street shelter through February 28, 2026, preserving its 40 emergency beds and daily services for 40-50 guests. Maintaining this facility prevents the displacement of up to 90 individuals, including many who are elderly or medically fragile. Additionally, continued operation of this site avoids an estimated $121,000 per month in potential hotel placement costs the city is legally obligated to provide those in need.
• Phase Two: The 39 Beech Street Shelter and Engagement Center closes on February 28, and on March 1, 2026, the city will launch a new 20-bed, high-barrier shelter and winter warming site. This facility will shelter those who are homeless and have a chronic health condition, physical disabilities, or are in advanced age.

The initiative builds on the progress made at the Engagement Center at 39 Beech Street which has realized the following successes in the last year:

• Helped 60 individuals secure permanent housing
• Facilitated 49 residents in obtaining vital documents
• Supported 40 people entering detox or recovery programs
• Assisted 19 individuals in finding employment

The current shelter population includes:

• 21 people with chronic health conditions
• 20 with physical disabilities
• 8 using wheelchairs (2 due to amputations)
• 5 seniors over age 65
• 1 person with a walker and 2 reliant on oxygen 24/7

The plan’s winter warming strategy is essential to protecting this vulnerable population, and the city. Without this plan, individuals would be forced onto the streets just as temperatures drop, risking hypothermia and creating logistical strain on emergency responders. Continued shelter operations also avoid decentralizing warming efforts across multiple city sites, preserving efficiency and safety. This initiative is made possible through broad community support including a collaborative funding effort.
Phase One (September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026) preserves operations at the 39 Beech Street Shelter and Engagement Center through the winter:

As part of the agreement with funding entities, the Mayor will use the donated funds to leverage additional contributors into this initiative.

Phase Two (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027) launches a new high-barrier, 20 bed shelter with winter warming capacity:

Additionally, the plan provides $50,000 in funding to 1269 Café, a nonprofit transitional housing program that will double its sober housing capacity from 12 to 24 beds. This high-barrier, no-cost program offers structure, community support, and a pathway to long-term recovery and housing stability. With last night’s approval, the necessary CIP-amending resolutions and budget authorizations will be brought to the next Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on September 2nd for approval.

Mayor Ruais Released the Following Statement:

“I am deeply appreciative of the Board’s approval of this plan, without which, the city would have had to address 80-90 individuals being immediately displaced onto our streets on September 1 with no long-term plan to care for those medically fragile, or a plan to conduct winter warming. This would have been devastating to our downtown community, and city writ large.

We have worked tirelessly with our community partners to create a compassionate, coordinated, and fiscally responsible plan that protects lives and builds toward lasting solutions. Manchester has seen far too many cycles of temporary fixes, and this plan marks a deliberate shift away from reactive spending and toward coordinated, sustainable care.

Our goal is to stabilize lives, reduce the strain on city services, residents and visitors, while ultimately helping people transition into permanent housing. This will allow us to meet our goal of preventing fatalities in the winter months, while caring for the most vulnerable in our community. Importantly, these centralized building locations also help prevent large scale encampments in the downtown and around our city.”