Over the past 35 years, the New Hampshire helpline has fielded tens of thousands of calls from people in need. The line links people needing help to entities that provide it. But the state's largest information referral service will cease operations at the turn of the year due to lack of funding.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.
On a recent afternoon, Help Line's Concord headquarters was taking calls and dispensing advice to people all across the state.
"OK, is she from Orange also?"
"As long as the town of Concord is avialble you can go to them."
Callers -- and some 55,000 people have called in the last year -- are then referred to information drawn from a computerized database of more than 8000 New Hampshire service providers.
"We've had calls -- everything from public health, to people who are struggling to pay the rent, to a call I got yesterday, which was 'what should I do about my jacuzzi spa?' I said what would you like to do about it?"
………Michelle Kelly, has been staffing the phones at help line for about 2 years. She says what sets the serviceline apart for any similar oprations in the state is its reach.
"We have enough resources in here that we can find those places for them. I mean, even if they are in Pittsburg there is something up there --whether it’s a church or an organization or even individuals -- we have that."
But as of January first……..that database may be moot. Shelia King is executive directors of Community Services of NH -- the groups that's run the help line for the past 20 years.
"We're going to do whatever we can, but as far as the service it will end. We won't be able to provide the service to the public."
-So when people call in?
"They will get a tape recorded message saying helpine is no longer in service."
King blames the help line's closing on the loss the of state funding……..And state money does account for about 3/5ths of the program's $350,000 annual budget……..King admits that the withdrawl of state money was something the organization has known about for months. But she says the situation became more acute after efforts to secure other funding fell through…..…The state, for it's part, says it only learned that helpline might have to close only recently…..State bureau of Elderly and Adult Services director Doug McNutt says the state never ever intended that to happen.
"We weren't trying to pull the rug out from anybody. Our whole goal here was to make this smooth, to make sure that we did the best job we could to make sure everyone was satisfied and had what they needed --and that's what we did. They assured us in May that they were would be able to more forward, so we did."
McNutt also stresses that the government money used to pay for the helpline was earmarked for elderly services -- and not to pay for an all-comers hotline………The money has since been redirected to a hotline for the service link program for Medicare and Medicaid patients…….Such calls have historically comprised a decent share of helpline inquires…….As for other kinds of requests, well, McNutt says those aren't really his bureau's responsiability.
"I'm not really equipped to be able to explain that to you. I do know that there are other referral resources that are availiable that are still in in existence, and I don't know exactly all the things that help line does, so I'm not the person who can describe that to you."
But others can describe what they get out of help line……Bob Loranger is human services adminstator for the town of Salem…..He says that helpline has sent people his way for services and that town welfare administrators often refer people to the helpline.
There is a whole wide population of low income individuals, homeless individuals, domestic violence families, that need other resources and that's where the helpline comes in."
The NH Helpline will stop taking calls as of January 1st……..The community services council says it still hopes to secure the money needed to continue the program……..State health officials meanwhile, say that between the service link program, and an information referral system known as 211 -- which is slated for statewide launch next summer -- nh's hotline services will soon be stronger than ever.
