WHC Newsletter | October 2025
- Seacoast WHC
- Oct 30
- 11 min read
Welcome to The Greater Seacoast Housing Wire, the Workforce Housing Coalition's monthly newsletter!
We’re officially in the thick of event season — that stretch of the year between summer’s lull and the holidays when every organization seems to host its big gathering. From New Hampshire Housing’s Housing and Economy Conference to a Housing Supply Coalition luncheon and a flurry of webinars on municipal land use strategies, it’s been a busy few weeks for the women of the Workforce Housing Coalition. We’ve spent this time listening, learning, and reflecting alongside our partners in the ongoing effort to make our region more affordable for hard working people.
Coinciding with this whirlwind of housing-focused events is the November election season in cities across the Seacoast. This fall, we’ve been proud to host two housing-centered candidate forums, one in partnership with Progress Portsmouth and another with the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, while candidates in Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth have also weighed in on housing issues in local news outlets and community forums.
Even amid this flurry of events and elections, municipal leaders haven’t paused their work. Town and city councils, planning boards, housing committees, and master planning groups continue to advance important initiatives that will shape their communities for years to come. Earlier this month, we presented to the Madbury Planning Board on municipal obligations under New Hampshire’s Workforce Housing Law and shared strategies for creating housing-friendly conditions even in areas with limited water and sewer infrastructure (hello, soil-based lot sizing!). We also continue to attend housing committee meetings across the region from Exeter and Somersworth to Portsmouth, Kittery, and soon, York.
Over the course of this busy season, I’ve been struck by the stark contrast between two dominant narratives: one that insists we must grow or risk stagnation, and another that fears growth will destroy what makes our communities special. On one side, business and industry leaders warn that local economies cannot thrive, and in some cases cannot survive, without more housing. On the other, long-time residents worry that new development threatens the character of the neighborhoods they’ve known their entire lives.
The truth is that both perspectives are rooted in something deeply human. Change can be unsettling, especially when it touches the places we hold most dear. But this moment of unprecedented housing scarcity requires an equally unprecedented willingness to evolve. Neither the fear of change nor the urgency of our housing crisis can be ignored, but they must be reconciled.
What gives me hope is knowing that we have some of the brightest and most dedicated minds in the Granite State working to strike that balance. Decisions about where and what kinds of housing should be built are not made lightly or in isolation. They emerge from months and sometimes years of research, data analysis, and conversation with community members, including those who are at risk of being priced out of the places they love.
So while I empathize deeply with those who fear the unknown, we cannot allow that fear to dictate our choices. Instead, we must lean into learning — expanding our collective understanding of how to grow sustainably, equitably, and safely. Because if we fail to do so, we risk losing not just our workforce, but the very vibrancy that makes the Seacoast such an extraordinary place to live, work, and play.
Coalition Updates
Greater Seacoast Housing Summit
The 8th Annual Greater Seacoast Housing Summit is just one week away and limited seats remain! Hosted by the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast in partnership with the Seacoast Chamber Alliance, this event will bring together business, municipal, and nonprofit leaders to explore this year’s theme: Employer-Sponsored Housing and the Business Community’s Role in Advancing Housing Solutions.
Keynote speaker Phil Sletten, Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, will examine the relationship between housing and the economy in New Hampshire and the Greater Seacoast region through data—highlighting trends in migration, home prices, cost burden, and commuting.
In the second half of the program, WHC Executive Director Emmy Ham will moderate a panel discussion on employer-assisted housing solutions, featuring three business leaders who have taken innovative steps to provide housing for their workforce. Joseph Linnehan of Tinios Hospitality Group, Jennifer Sargent of Dartmouth Health, and Linnea Grim of Strawbery Banke Museum will share why their organizations chose to invest in housing—whether through constructing or owning buildings, managing master leases, or creatively repurposing historic properties. Together, they will explore the opportunities, challenges, and practical considerations for employers interested in pursuing this strategy to better support their staff and strengthen their organizations.
Registration and breakfast opens at 8:00 am. The speaking program begins promptly at 8:30 am. For any questions regarding registration or current membership status, please contact director@seacoastwhc.org.
Portsmouth Candidate Forums
This month, the Workforce Housing Coalition co-hosted two candidate forums in Portsmouth in anticipation of their upcoming municipal elections.
On October 15, we partnered with Progress Portsmouth to host a Candidates Housing Forum at the Portsmouth Public Library, in which City Council candidates spoke on their views on housing in Portsmouth, current strengths, and future opportunities.
Though every candidate in attendance agreed that there is a housing crisis in Portsmouth, they differed in their approach to alleviating housing pressures and increasing affordability throughout the city. For a full recap of this event, click here.
The following week, on October 21 and 22, WHC co-hosted a two-day forum with The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth and Seacoast Online. Held at Strawbery Banke Museum, this event was roundtable style with each candidate rotating around the room.
Citizen participants were eager to capitalize on the opportunity to have a true conversation about their concerns for the city with the candidates. Though housing was not the sole focus of this forum, the issue was consistently raised. Read more in this SeacoastOnline recap.
NHHFA Housing & Economy Conference
Executive Director Emmy Ham attended the annual NH Housing & Economy Conference on October 16 in Concord. The half-day event brought together housing leaders from across New Hampshire to connect, share ideas, and celebrate recent progress.
To kick off the conference, New Hampshire Housing’s CEO Rob Dapice revealed their newest report Who Can Afford to Live in New Hampshire? Housing Costs, Income, and the Future of the Granite State.
Governor Ayotte gave remarks to the crowd about her commitment to advancing housing affordability and last session’s legislative wins. Keynote speaker Kyla Scanlon, author and economic commentator, offered a lively perspective on how today’s economy shapes housing both nationally and here at home. Panels, which included three WHC board members, explored local strategies for tackling the housing crisis and turning challenges into action. The message was clear: we’ve made real progress expanding housing options in New Hampshire, and now is the time to keep that momentum going.
Local Updates
MUNICIPAL ELECTION UPDATES: What you need to know about upcoming elections on the Seacoast
Four cities in the NH Seacoast are quickly approaching their municipal elections, to be held region-wide on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Recent candidate forums in these communities have provided insights into how current and prospective municipal leaders hope to represent their city. Read more below about the races in Dover, Portsmouth, Rochester, and Somersworth.
NEWS: Elections in Maine are also being held on November 4, with both town officials and measures on the ballot
Our Maine communities are anticipating elections and ballot measures. In York, three ballot measures are designed to ease the development of affordable housing by updating standards and ordinances.
In Kittery, town council candidates say housing should be a top priority, though views on how to address the crisis differ.
🔗 Read about York: York voters to decide on beach rules, housing, and firefighter benefits
🔗 Read about Kittery: Kittery election guide 2025: Where to vote; Candidates share views
NEWS: Stratham approves new neighborhood development, the largest in years
Stratham’s largest development in almost a decade has been approved by the municipality. 47 new units are expected to be built as single-family homes in a variety of sizes, which the developer hopes will boost multi-generational living. Though the developer team acknowledges the regional shortage of housing, there has been no discussion of affordable or workforce units within the neighborhood.
NEWS: Redevelopment of Portsmouth Chevy provides potential for new workforce units on Route 1 Bypass
The redevelopment of Portsmouth Chevrolet has been proposed to create a mixed-use community, with two apartment buildings and a coffee shop. The developer originally proposed 48 units, of which 20% are required to be at workforce rates per Portsmouth zoning. The exact number of below market-rate units will be decided at a later date as the development continues.
State & Federal Updates
NEWS: Voter attitudes are polling increasingly in favor of affordable housing
The latest Survey on Voter Attitudes on Affordable Housing, produced by the Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice at St. Anselm College, shared its results this month. More than ever, Granite Staters are showing widespread support for the advancement of affordable housing across local, regional, and state efforts.
A staggering 78% of respondents agreed that their community needs more affordable housing, while 61% supported changing local zoning regulations to allow for more density. These numbers are much higher than past years, and show annual increases, meaning that support for alleviating the housing crisis is only growing.
🔗 Read more: Survey Says NH Voters Changing Their Tune on Zoning Changes, Other Means, to Build Housing
NEWS: NH Housing Supply Coalition gears up for another legislative session, this time playing offense and defense for housing bills
As the next legislative session approaches, housing advocates are preparing to advance more state legislation, and to defend recent regulations. This article outlines the perspective of opponents to statewide planning and zoning legislation and summarizes the recent convening of the Housing Supply Coalition, which WHC attended on Oct. 27.
NEWS: Regional housing market may be cooling, but still nowhere near normal levels
The housing market across the region is showing slight signs of improvement as compared to 2024, but it still has quite a far way to get back to pre-pandemic levels. Home listings across the Greater Seacoast and Southern Maine have increased, allowing the market to shift closer to buyers. However, prices remain greatly elevated, and local zoning changes are critical to furthering this progress.
NEWS: How changes at HUD could impact the Seacoast's state of housing
Federal changes to programming and guidance at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may put funding at risk for the state’s housing programs. Budget cuts to longstanding grant programs will limit availability of funding to low-income housing projects that rely on subsidies. Existing participants in housing assistance programs may also see increased scrutiny by restricting who can live in government-subsidized housing and for how long.
🔗 Read more: Millions of dollars for New Hampshire HUD housing help at risk in federal budget proposals
NEWS: Could the new Road to Housing Act tackle our region's housing crisis?
The Road to Housing Act passed through the US Senate in late August, garnering support from both sides of the aisle in a moment of bipartisan lawmaking. Specifically targeting housing affordability and supply, this new law could be essential to further progress in New Hampshire and across New England. This article by the CEO of The New England Council explains key points of the legislation and how it will impact your community.
Reports & Research
RESEARCH: Analysis from NHFPI reveals the escalation of the cost-of-living crisis
Research just published by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute finds that today’s cost of living is unattainable for over half of Granite Staters. A family of four in 2024 had $17,000 less in surplus income than the same family in 2015, while costs of everyday essentials like housing have skyrocketed. New Hampshire ranks in the top quarter of states for cost of living, with young people and families bearing the brunt of these stresses and often leading to their out-migration to more affordable regions.
REPORT: What is the relationship between housing and municipal budgets?
For many municipalities, it’s budget season. With costs higher than ever, and some unexpected budget deficits, property taxes are bound to increase. This report from Housing Action NH reviews the link between housing development, taxes, and municipal budgets to highlight that new homes translate directly to a larger tax base. These local revenues largely outweigh potential costs to increased infrastructure or local service use.
🔗 Read here: Municipal Budgets and Housing Development
REPORT: New comprehensive study assesses the state of the nation's housing crisis
Interested in a national perspective on the housing crisis? The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 was just released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies, finding that home prices are approaching unprecedented levels. Though the study focuses on the top 100 metro areas in the US, it provides insights, case studies, and innovations that should not be overlooked for the Seacoast region.
INSIGHTS: ADUs have been legalized statewide, so how can we get them built?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) have been a hot topic of conversation across the housing sector and beyond, especially since their by-right distinction statewide in July 2025. This piece written by Chris Saucier, Vice President of Lending at Lighthouse Credit Union, shares why ADUs are such powerful tools and how Lighthouse CU is making the development of ADUs more accessible through innovative programs.
🔗 Read here: ADUs: Lighting the way through the housing crisis
RESEARCH: Utilizing forestland for environmental, social, and economic prosperity
A common rebuttal to developing housing is a concern for conservation of wildlife and natural lands. In this paper by the Nature Conservancy Maine, the “Triple Win for Rural New England” is explored, a philosophy of forestland management that preserves the health of natural areas while allowing for smart growth housing and economic development.
🔗 Read here: Forestland Conservation and Housing: A Climate, Economy, and Community Triple Win for Rural New England
Resources
PLANNING GUIDE: Plans to Porches Housing Toolkit from SMPDC
The Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission has published a new housing toolkit for municipal planners, produced in partnership with the Town of Kittery and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This resource provides guidance on innovative strategies for increasing housing supply and affordability, alongside case studies from Southern Maine and NH Seacoast communities. SMPDC has created a website with more resources related to the Plans to Porches Housing Toolkit and more.
🔗 Access here: Plans to Porches Housing Toolkit
SHUTDOWN SUPPORT: See below for a compilation of resources for federal workers and their families
As the government shutdown continues, we wanted to provide resources for Shipyard and other federal workers in our region. This list from the Seacoast Shipyard Association offers a variety of support services in communities across the Greater Seacoast.
🔗 Access here: Shutdown Resources for Shipyard Employees
Thank You!
Our sustaining funders and coalition members power our work to advance housing solutions, bring together community partners, and build momentum toward a future where everyone who works in our region can also afford to call it home.
To learn more about how you can become a member, renew your membership or otherwise support our work, please email Emmy Ham at director@seacoastwhc.org.
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