CATCH Neighborhood Housing Celebrates 25 Years

On Tuesday, June 17, 2014, over 200 people gathered in the Bektash Shriner’s Hall in Concord to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CATCH Neighborhood Housing.  Attendees included founding board members, current residents of CATCH properties, current board members and donors, volunteers, community members and friends. 

“It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces who have contributed to CATCH’s successes for these 25 years,” said CATCH’s President Rosemary M. Heard. 

“The event was a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do and the impact CATCH has had on its residents, participants and supporters over the years,” said Heard.  “Housing is truly a community-wide issue, and it should be of significance for each of us that our neighbors and friends are secure and confident in their homes.” 

NeighborWorks America’s Senior Director of the Northeast Region, Joan Straussman, addressed the crowd and recognized CATCH’s ability to collaborate successfully with other organizations as one of CATCH’s major strengths.

Emphasizing this point, CATCH presented the Helen M. Green Visionary Award to Citizens Bank, whose early contribution was vital to the creation of CATCH and NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire’s collaborative homeownership education organization, HOMEteam NH.  HOMEteam provides New Hampshire residents with the information and tools they need to make appropriate financial decisions related to purchasing, renting and owning a home, including first-time home buyer education and foreclosure avoidance counseling.

Benjamin Kelley, a current CATCH board member and recent member of the Union Leader’s “40 Under 40,” was awarded the Rising Star award.  Ignatius MacLellan, a founding board member and ongoing supporter of CATCH, was given the Founders’ Award.  

Although unable to attend the event, Mark Vrooman was honored with the Volunteer of the Year award for his extensive behind-the-scenes work at CATCH’s annual Community Day volunteer event.  Mike LaFontaine, a longtime leader in the affordable housing community, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Paul Rizzi accepted the Business of the Year award on behalf of Merrimack County Savings Bank in recognition of their continued support of CATCH and its real estate developments.

Attendees enjoyed music provided by CJ Poole’s Rhythm Boys and delicious catering from the Granite Restaurant. 

The event was supported by many generous sponsors, including: NeighborWorks America, Nobis Engineering, Warrenstreet Architects, Bank of New Hampshire, Brady Sullivan Properties, Credere Associates, The Duprey Companies/Foxfire Property Management, First Colebrook Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, Millennium Integrated Marketing, Nathan Wechsler & Company, P.A., New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, Smith & Wilkinson, Concord Regional Visiting Nurses Association, New Hampshire Catholic Charities and Mainstay Technologies. 

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CATCH Neighborhood Housing is an award-winning, non-profit, housing provider that has been providing affordable homes in Merrimack County for 25 years. CATCH offers a full spectrum of housing services, such as homebuyer education, housing counseling and foreclosure assistance through HOMEteam NH (www.hometeamnh.org), asset and property management through Alliance Asset Management (www.alliancenh.com) and 269 affordable rental apartments that over 600 low-income adults and children call home, with an additional 16 apartments currently under construction.  For more information on CATCH Neighborhood Housing call (603) 225-8835 or visit www.catchhousing.org.