"The Home for Little Wanderers," a nonprofit organization established more than 200 years ago, is the oldest child welfare organization in the country. With more than 1000 clinicians, psychiatrists, social workers and teachers, they are instrumental in ensuring care and support throughout communities. They offer adoption and foster care, behavioral and clinical care, family support, independent living and residential support along with special education through, roughly, three dozen programs. This organization is based out of Boston.
Recently, a new group home has opened up in Keene, and will be able to host up to eight LGBTQ young people between the ages of 12 and 19. This facility is also the first of its kind in New Hampshire. Sadly, NH has been experiencing a rise in discrimination and violence towards LGBTQ young people. Even our state legislature continues to regularly propose bills aiming to restrict or ban certain types of gender-affirming care for minors.
The recently established group home is 6,700 square feet with four bedrooms able to sleep two residents each. Eighteen staff members will be there around the clock, assisting residents to either prepare for living independently, moving in to foster care or reuniting with their families.
Staff members consist of licensed clinicians providing mental health services specific to LGBTQ, planning and therapy for any future treatments and some vocational training. However, a minor would need permission from their parent or legal guardian in order to undergo any medical treatment. Staff members will also be able to assist residents who struggle with abuse and neglect issues. The expected stay for some teens could be two to three years, with some staying for only a few months. The residents will have regular chores for which an allowance is earned and learn to cook meals while living in a safe and stable home. All this is to successfully assist the resident for the day they are able to be out on their own or reunite with their family.
In 2021,The Home for Little Wanderers signed a contract with the NH Dept. of Health & Human Services. That contract covered $387,000 in initial costs for the project, the majority of it went for personnel and equipment. The contract also specifies the organization receives a daily rate of $585 for every Medicaid-enrolled resident at the facility. Unity House will also receive funding from Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) of around $480 a day for each resident staying there.
Residents will have the opportunity to attend local schools, enabling them to take part in sports and social groups. If you would like to take an active part in making this endeavor a success contact the staff at Unity House unityhousegetinvolved@thehome.org.