Welfare Office

Overview

The Overseer of Public Welfare serves as the initial responder for those residents experiencing financial hardship. Please note that our town's welfare budget is very limited, for use only in extreme situations. The overseer's primary function is to serve as an advocate in assisting and directing applicants to find and tap into other more case-specific resources through outside agencies.

Any town funds expended on an applicant's behalf are considered an interest-free loan subject to repayment by the recipient to the town. Additionally, if the recipient owns property, the overseer is required to place a lien against that property to insure eventual recovery of funds.

The overseer is a volunteer position, holds no set office hours, and is available by appointment only. The overseer is not able to deal with issues after the fact. Prospective recipients must complete applications (available online here and at the Town Office), and provide required backup documentation such as bank statements, pay stubs, medical documentation of disability status, etc., as per State of New Hampshire guidelines. All interviews are conducted under strict confidentiality and the applicant's privacy will be respected. Submitted applications and related documentation remain sealed.

The Town of Marlow is a member of and/or financially supports several Cheshire County organizations that aid those in need. These groups include the Community Kitchen (in Keene), Southwestern Community Services (offices in Keene and Claremont), and Monadnock Family Services (offering mental and emotional health).

 

Resources

• 2-1-1 is the number to dial for information about health and human services and organizations in your community.  Their website is www.211nh.org
• NH EASY is the state website where residents can apply online for medical, child care, Medicare Savings Program and EBT card benefits. Visit NH EASY at http://nheasy.nh.gov
• Easterseals New Hampshire offers various types of service, including programs specifically for children, seniors, and veterans. Visit their website at https://eastersealsnh.org/
• Southwestern Community Services is a community action agency that provides fuel and utility/energy assistance, along with an energy conservation program. It also provides housing for elderly and low-income families, assistance to the homeless, and a Head Start program for children. Call (603) 352-7512 or visit https://www.scshelps.org. The office is located on 63 Community Way in Keene, NH.

 

Family Resources

The Rotary Club of Keene published a guide that gives information about help that is available for children, parents and families. It includes a wide variety of assistance options. Copies can be obtained from the Town Office or online here.

Rise…For Baby and Family - Support and services for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Rise also provides an onsite childcare program, which integrates children of different abilities. They are located on 147 Washington Street Keene and can be reached by phone at (603)-357-1395. More information can be found on their website http://www.riseforbabyandfamily.org. 

Child Care Aware of NH offers FREE child care referrals tailored to fit each families' individual needs. They also offer resources to help families in selecting a quality child care program. https://www.nh-connections.org/

NH Child Care Scholarship Program helps eligible NH families pay for child care by providing a direct payment to qualified providers. https://www.nh-connections.org/families/child-care-scholarship/

 

Child Abuse and Neglect

NH Law requires any person who suspects that a child under age 18 has been abused or neglected must report that suspicion immediately to DCYF. (New Hampshire RSA 169-C:29-31).

If a child tells you that he or she has been hurt or you are concerned that a child may be the victim of any type of abuse or neglect, you must call the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Central Intake Unit at:

• 603-271-6562
• 800-894-5533 (in-state only)

The Intake unit is staffed 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. For more information, visit https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/report-concern/report-child-abuse

 

Domestic Violence Support

Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention provides support to survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, and stalking, and works to break the cycle of violence through school, community and business prevention education programs. Services include a 24hour crisis line for NH residents (1- 888-511- 6287), emergency shelter, support groups, court advocacy, hospital advocacy and information and referral. All crisis services are free and confidential. For more information visit http://www.mcvprevention.org or call (603-352-3782). Their office is located on 12 Court Street Suite 103, Keene. 

 

Mental Health Support

Monadnock Family Services is the Monadnock Region’s only provider of 24/7 emergency health crisis services. Assists those in need of quality mental health counseling and rehabilitation services. Call (833) 710-6477 or (603) 357-4400, or visit https://www.mfs.org for more info. Their office is located on 64 Main St., Keene, NH. 

Neighbor-In-Deed is a program of Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center that matches volunteers one-on-one to provide ongoing companionship and support. For more information visit https://monadnockvolunteercenter.org. Their office is located on 64 Main St., Keene, NH. (603) 357-6893

New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point is a 24/7/365 resource for mental health services statewide including substance abuse crises. Call (833) 710- 6477. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 9-8-8 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline - Confidential free help, from public health agencies, to find substance use treatment . Call 1-800-662-4357. Visit www.samhsa.gov for more information. 

 

Winter Heating Assistance

Having trouble paying for heat? These three programs can help:

• State-wide Electrical Assistance Program (EAP) The EAP provides eligible customers with a discount on their monthly electric bills. The discounts range from 5% to 86%, depending on the customer’s gross household income and household size. The EAP discount helps make bills more affordable and helps customers avoid the risk of having their electric service shut off for non-payment. To be eligible for the program, customers must receive an electric bill from a regulated electric utility (Eversource, Unitil, Liberty or NHEC) and have a gross household income that qualifies at the time of application.
   
• State Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) Provides benefits to qualified New Hampshire households to assist with heating costs. Renters and homeowners are eligible. Apply via Southwestern Community Services. (Keene 352-7512)
   
• Project Care is a charitable organization that provides payment assistance for NH Electric Co-op members in emergency situations. Applicants are eligible for Project Care emergency assistance only once in a 12 month period. Members should apply to the programs listed above before applying to Project Care. For program guidelines and more information, contact Member solutions at 1-800-698-2007.
   
• Safetank program is run by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. It provides homeowners with financial assistance to maintain, upgrade, or replace heating oil storage tanks. The program can reimburse up to $3,300 to upgrade or remove and replace an aboveground home heating oil storage tank and up to $2,500 to remove an underground home heating oil tank. For most Safetank projects, the tank installation or removal professionals are reimbursed directly for upgrade or replacement work that is pre-approved by NHDES, relieving the homeowner from paying the contractors and waiting for reimbursement from the Safetank program. For more information, visit the Safetank program website at https://www.des.nh.gov/business-and-community/fuel-storage-tanks/heating-oil-premise-safetank

 

Facing Foreclosure or Eviction

The Homeowner Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for New Hampshire homeowners and renters who cannot pay their home mortgage/rent, utilities, home insurance, association fees, and/or property taxes. Visit https://homehelpnh.org/resources/homeowner-resources for more info.

Veterans FIRST Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) helps those at immediate risk of homelessness. If you or your family is homeless or at-risk of homelessness anywhere in NH, please call NH211 or contact them at https://www.harborcarenh.org/contact-harbor-care-new-hampshire

Hundred Nights, Inc. homeless shelter is an emergency shelter (603-352-5197) located at 122 Water St in Keene that provides clean beds in a safe and warm space from 6:30pm – 7am year-round to neighbors in need. The Open Doors Resource center nearby also provides meals, employment assistance, workshops, referrals and other services. Visit https://hundrednightsinc.org/ for more info.

 

Telephone Bill Assistance

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission offers the Lifeline Telephone Assistance Program, which is a government funded program that provides eligible customers with a monthly reduction on their residential telephone bill. To qualify, you must:

• Participate in Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, or Federal Public Housing
• Receive a benefit under the Federal Veterans Affairs Veterans’ Pension or Survivors’ Pension
• Have a household income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

To apply, contact your local telephone company or visit www.lifelinesupport.org 

Easy.Wireless offers free smartphones, telephone and internet service to eligible applicants. Visit their website for more info.

 

Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services (HCS)

HCS has locations in Keene, Charlestown, and Peterborough. They provide comprehensive home health care and helping services to income eligible families.  Telephone 603-352-2253 or 1-800-541-4145. Their website is www.hcsservices.org

 

Free Prescription Discount Cards  

These cards are provided by Cheshire County and are available at the Town Office. 

 

NH Medicaid Program

NH Medicaid is a federal and state funded health care program that serves a wide range of needy individuals and families who meet certain eligibility requirements. The program works to ensure that eligible adults and children have access to needed health care services by enrolling and paying providers to deliver covered services to eligible recipients. More information is at the NH Department of Health and Human Services website. To apply, visit NH EASY.

 

Dental Care

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services runs the Oral Health Program. It has contracts with agencies across the state to provide preventive and reparative dental services for NH's children and adults who don't have access to dental care. For more information, visit their website.

 

Healthcare

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services runs several programs and services related to healthcare. Visit their website for more information.

 

Food Assistance

The Community Kitchen serves hot meals Monday through Friday from 5:00pm-6:20pm and lunch on Sunday from 11:00am - 12:00pm.  Take home supplemental boxes of food are available once a week on either Wednesdays drive-through from 12:30 – 5:30pm or Thursdays walk-through from 11:30am - 4:00pm.  The boxes contain staples such as breads, shelf-stable groceries, protein, fresh vegetables and dairy when possible. Verification of name and address is required. They ask that participants bring a box or laundry basket to carry the food. They also run a mobile food pantry program that makes deliveries to our neighboring town of Gilsum. The Community Kitchen is located at 37 Mechanic St, Keene.  Their phone number is 603-352-3200 and their website is www.thecommunitykitchen.org

Fall Mountain Friendly Meals, a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, consists of three programs: Fall Mountain Food Shelf, Charlestown Food Shelf, and Friendly Meals/Meals on Wheels. All three provide emergency food supplies to residents of Cheshire County who do not have the means to purchase sufficient nutritious food. There is no charge for any of their services and no one is turned away. For more info, visit their website at https://www.fallmountainfoodshelf.org/about

Feeding Tiny Tummies is a nonprofit program in Keene fighting childhood hunger in Cheshire and Sullivan Counties by providing meals to children on weekends, breaks, and summers away from school and offers open community hours twice weekly, including other area towns for distribution. Contact by phone at 603-762-5890 or visit https://www.feedingtinytummies.com/ for more info.

Newport Food Pantry - The Executive Committee of the Newport Area Association of Churches approved a request by the director of the Food pantry to expand coverage to include Marlow. The hours are by appointment on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings 8:30-11:00a.m. The shopping cart is then put out front for curbside service. Call (603) 863-3411. The food pantry is located on 95 South Main St., Newport, NH. 

United Methodist Church Food Pantry delivers food boxes on the third Sunday morning of each month in front of the church at 11 Church St. in Marlow.  If you are in need of a little help or know of someone else that does, please contact Shirley Plumb at 446 3310 or Marcia Levesque at 446-4383.  Collection boxes for food donations can be found at the Town Office and Town Library.

WIC Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a program of Southwestern Community Services. It provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education at no cost to the families of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age. Phone: 603-352-7512 (ext. 4234) or toll free: 1-800-529-0005 ext 4234. As the SCS WIC program travels throughout Cheshire and Sullivan counties approximately 3 to 4 days each week, the most convenient way to contact is by phone. Please leave a detailed message on the WIC voicemail with callback info, your call will be returned within 24 hours, depending on the travel schedule. More info on their website at https://www.scshelps.org/wic/

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program of NH Dept. of Health and Human Services. Assists financially eligible families in applying for food assistance. Website: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/food-meals-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap

 

The Salvation Army

Provides food assistance (food pantry) and assistance with clothing, small furniture, linens and other small household items through thrift store vouchers, as well as some other limited material and financial assistance. Offering other social, educational, recreational and religious programs for children and adults. Also counseling, information and referral services. Website: http://nne.salvationarmy.org/keene. Located at 15 Roxbury Plaza, Keene NH 03431. Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Thrift store open Monday through Saturday 10am - 5pm, 132 Monadnock Hwy, Swanzey, NH 03446. Phone: 603-357-2207.

 

Transportation

The Community Volunteer Transportation Company (CVTC) is a nonprofit organization providing no-fee rides to residents of the Monadnock region without access to transportation through a volunteer driver program. Rides are provided to non-emergency medical/dental and human services appointments, as well as pharmacy, bank, post office, grocery store, farmers market, and food bank. CVTC serves all of Cheshire County and 11 western Hillsborough County towns. Get or give a ride: 1-877-428-2882 ext 5 Visit their website at https://www.cvtc-nh.org/

 

Legal Services

The New Hampshire Bar Association runs the NHBA Lawyer Referral Services (LRS) Modest Means Program. It connects people in need of legal assistance with professionals who may be able to help. Their trained Intake and Referral Specialists match those who prequalify with a licensed NH attorney who charges reduced fees to income-eligible applicants. If you do not qualify or are looking for services other than those provided by an attorney, they may be able to point you towards other organizations, agencies, and resources. Phone: 603-715-3290

 

Assistance for the Disabled, Elderly and Veterans

The Monadnock Volunteer Center runs the Neighbor-In-Deed program. It provides individualized, one-to-one volunteer companionship and assistance with non-medical activities of daily living. Services are provided to adults 65 and over and adults with disabilities who are living at home in the Monadnock Region. There is no age qualification for veterans and immediate military family members, including widows/widowers. Matches are made carefully based on shared interests, availability of a volunteer and your needs. Contact the Neighbors-In-Deed Coordinator: (603)357-6893

Services offered include the following:
• Friendly visits
• Assistance with grocery shopping
• Minor household repairs
• Weatherization projects
• Transportation to: Medical appointments and/or Grocery shopping
• Respite for Caregivers
• Telephone safety checks
• Referrals to resources

 

Funeral Assistance

The Phaneuf Family Foundation exists to provide financial support that allows families in New Hampshire and Vermont to afford a respectful funeral or cremation for a loved one. A family member, friend, funeral director or others can apply for assistance on their website here.