Coronavirus Coverage - Communities and Helpers

New Hampshire's ban on evictions has ended. Gov. Chris Sununu announced back in March that landlords were not allowed to evict tenants during the public health emergency. But as protections for renters expire, many residents are still in danger of losing their homes.

Jeff Goodrich is an attorney with the Legal Advice and Referral Center, which provides legal services for New Hampshire's low-income families.

He's joined NHPR’s Peter Biello to talk about the end of the state's eviction ban.

High school graduations typically follow a pretty familiar script: Graduates sitting side by side in caps and gowns, each one getting a handshake from the principal as they receive their diploma.

But in this unprecedented year, high schools across New Hampshire have had to go back to the drawing board to figure out what they can pull off that’s both safe and celebratory.

  In the midst of the pandemic, the importance of human relationships has become clearer than ever. We talk with people who have been thinking about how to maintain relationships and create community as we work from home and remain physically apart.  We also look at how our view of technology is evolving, and what is lost when life is online. 

This is a rebroadcast. Original Airdate: Thursday, May 14, 2020

In the midst of the pandemic, the importance of human relationships has become clearer than ever. We talk with people who have been thinking about how to maintain relationships and create community as we work from home and remain physically apart.  We also look at how our view of technology is evolving, and what is lost when life is online. 

Airdate: Thursday, May 14, 2020

In a normal year, theaters around the state would be preparing for their summer seasons. With gatherings currently forbidden and uncertainty hanging over their heads, many are simply canceling the whole season. Others are postponing or, as NHPR’s Sean Hurley found out, discovering new ways to reach an audience. 

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Caregivers are one group of essential workers who have continued showing up for their jobs daily amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At the Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield, staff work with children with disabilities and children who've been neglected or abused.

This story is part of our series Lifelines: Addressing Trauma in the Age of COVID-19 

Often workers have their own past trauma, or they can experience secondary trauma on the job.

Two months ago, before the coronavirus pandemic transformed the world, I met in Manchester with a man named Mukhtar Idahow. He was born in Somalia, raised in Kenya, and has been advocating for refugees in New Hampshire for about 15 years.

This story is part of our series Lifelines: Addressing Trauma in the Age of COVID-19

As Granite Staters isolate themselves, many individuals, businesses, and organizations are in need of assistance and searching for help during a tumultuous time. We discuss ways that you can help out during the coronavirus pandemic, whether that be by sewing face masks, volunteering, or making a donation. 

Air date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

With schools closed for the rest of the year, many major milestones for high schoolers are suddenly being canceled as well - everything from graduations, to proms, spring sports, and school plays.

Because of this, teens may be feeling overwhelming loss, disappointment, and uncertainty about the future, which can lead to more serious mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

NHPR's Peter Biello spoke with Kallie Provencher, the school social worker at Nashua High School North, to learn more about how teens are coping with the COVID-19 crisis.

Many once face-to-face interactions have moved online during COVID-19, including for people who are in recovery from a substance use disorder.

But the pandemic has also introduced challenges to providing treatment in a time of social distancing. 

Laura Byrne has been spending more time driving around the Upper Valley these days. 

She’s been meeting clients for a mobile syringe exchange.  With COVID-19, the organization Byrne leads - the HIV/HCV resource center - had to ramp up its mobile services. 

Small businesses are struggling right now...but people *are* trying to help. Are you a small business owner? Are you doing your best to support the businesses you love? We want to talk to you!

This program aired on Tuesday, April 14th. 

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While large sectors of the economy are shuttered at the moment, there are still plenty of products to ship, and goods to deliver to peoples’ homes.

Truckers, a loud but often invisible piece of the market, are in the middle of those transactions, logging thousands of miles back and forth across New England.

Health care workers in New Hampshire are at the center of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Patients rely on them, hospitals scramble to buy gear to protect them, and citizens laud them as heroes in this national crisis.

But what is it like be a health care worker right now? NHPR’s Jason Moon reports the experience of working on the front lines during this pandemic can be complicated.

For the past few weeks, Rabbi Mark Melamut has been practicing the traditional four questions that are asked during the first night of Passover with his 10-year-old son. 

Passover started on Wednesday this year, and in normal times, Melamut would invite friends and family to his home for a Seder, a big ceremonial meal.

Most of us have never experienced anything quite like this moment. But Sharon Eng and her husband, who today own a manufacturing company in Belmont, happened to find themselves in the middle of another disease outbreak, on the other side of the world, in 2003. 

“My husband and I moved to Hong Kong in 1989, and we returned to the States in 2005,” said Eng. “So we got to see a lot of changes happen around the world. But in the latter part of our stay there, of course one of the most impactful changes, was when SARS hit.”

Stay-at-home orders and quarantine measures may have life-threatening consequences for those experiencing domestic/intimate partner violence, and also present challenges for law enforcement and support organizations. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 866-644-3574.

Air date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 10-11 a.m.

For children experiencing abuse or neglect, schools and support services are essential. With schools closed and stay-at-home orders in place until at least the beginning of May, we talk with those working with vulnerable children about how they're adapting to these challenges, and what we all can do to keep kids safe. 

If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, please call 800-894-5533 or 603-271-6562.

Air date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 9-10 a.m.

There’s a gem of a plot of land in Kensington, in the southeastern corner of the state, that is usually closed to the public.

But with the stress of the coronavirus taking a toll, the owners of the Alnoba property are opening their arms to the community.

Are there people in your family or community helping out in unique ways? We want to hear about that. Send us an email or give us a call during the show.

This aired on Tuesday, April 7th. 

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While first responders often face danger under normal circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic has added another threat to that line of work. We discuss how New Hampshire's first responders are coping with the new demands that coronavirus has put on them and what safety measures are in place to protect them. 

Air date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Katie Rivera is scared. She’s 38 weeks pregnant, sitting in her car in a doctor’s office parking lot. She’s far enough along now that she’s supposed to see her doctor every week.

She used to like these appointments - they were calming. She’d bring her 2-year-old Elle, the nurses would give Elle stickers - it was nice. 

But now, Elle’s not allowed. Katie is waiting until the last possible second to go in there, to minimize any potential exposure.