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Keene Housing’s newest affordable housing development drew a visit from U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan on Thursday, as she toured the newly completed Roosevelt East Apartments and highlighted federal investments and legislation she says will help address New Hampshire’s housing shortage.
Hassan joined Keene Housing Executive Director Josh Meehan, local officials and project partners at the former Roosevelt School on Washington Street, where a century-old school building has been transformed into 30 affordable apartments through a combination of federal, state and local funding.
The project was made possible through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which Hassan has supported expanding in Congress, along with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, Community Development Block Grants, the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority and other sources. The project also received $1 million through a congressional earmark secured by former U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and $2 million secured by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
During the tour, Meehan explained how the Roosevelt East project converted unused public housing subsidies into long-term project-based vouchers through HUD’s RAD program, allowing Keene Housing to create deeply affordable apartments while preserving the historic building.
The redevelopment includes 22 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom units. Nine apartments were designed with accessibility features, including low-threshold showers, grab bars, accessible controls and electrical outlets positioned for residents using wheelchairs or walkers. Five apartments have been reserved for people experiencing homelessness, with on-site housing support services to help residents maintain stable housing.
Officials noted the demand for affordable housing remains overwhelming. Keene Housing received 365 applications for the building’s 30 apartments, including 97 applicants who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
“This building has a long history in Keene, and we’re proud that this project gives it new life and new purpose,” Meehan said. “It’s going to make a dent in the housing shortage our city and region are facing, particularly for people living on fixed incomes or folks juggling multiple low-wage jobs struggling to make ends meet.”
During her visit, Hassan highlighted the recently passed bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a broad housing package she helped advance through the Senate. She said the legislation is designed to reduce housing costs by increasing the nation’s housing supply while making homeownership more attainable.
“One of the challenges that I hear most about from people across New Hampshire is how difficult it’s become for many families to afford to keep a roof over their heads,” Hassan said. “At the same time, hedge funds and billionaires are buying and holding thousands of single-family homes — driving prices up for hardworking families looking to buy their first home.”
Hassan said the legislation includes provisions to prohibit large Wall Street hedge funds and private equity firms from purchasing single-family homes, while also providing funding and reducing regulatory barriers to encourage the construction of more middle-class housing. The package also includes measures to expand manufactured housing, improve infrastructure in manufactured home communities, make veterans more aware of available VA home loan benefits and streamline rural housing development.
The senator said she has also worked to expand the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which helped finance Roosevelt East, and to restore tax relief for middle-class homebuyers with mortgage insurance.
“The Roosevelt East Apartments in Keene turn an old school building into safe, affordable homes for Granite Staters,” Hassan said after the tour. “I’m grateful to everyone who worked together to make today’s opening a reality.”
She added that New Hampshire needs many more projects like Roosevelt East to address the state’s housing shortage.
Project leaders also discussed challenges facing affordable housing developments, including supply chain disruptions, rising construction costs and federal Buy American requirements. Meehan said obtaining certain building materials, including air-source heat pumps, has become more difficult, increasing costs and delaying projects, and he encouraged continued federal flexibility to help keep affordable housing developments on schedule.
Roosevelt East also incorporates energy-efficient features, including air-source heat pumps and a rooftop solar array expected to generate more than 66,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually as part of Keene Housing’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035.
Construction is already underway on Roosevelt West, a second apartment building on the property that is expected to open in 2027. Together, the two buildings will provide 60 affordable apartments in Keene, helping address what housing officials say remains one of the region’s most pressing needs.