Human Services

The mission of the Town of Salem Human Services Office is to provide emergency financial assistance and appropriate referrals to Salem residents who are poor and unable according to the State law and according to Town of Salem Welfare Guidelines in a professional and dignifying manner.

Types of assistance provided: The Town of Salem's legal and financial responsibility is to provide for those who are poor and unable financial assistance as a last resort for such necessary items as: food, housing, assistance for heating, for electricity, prescriptions, and other basic necessities of life. Assistance is provided in the form of vouchers or directly to vendors. Cash is not given out to recipients.

Qualifications: The State Law regarding qualification for local General Assistance is broad and is based on a standard of need. Those that are poor and unable to support themselves would be eligible based on the Town Guidelines. A person would first have to complete an application in order to determine eligibility. Monthly income and assets would be considered and compared in relation to the expense of meeting monthly basic necessities in determining eligibility. New Hampshire State Law requires that each town or city have a local welfare office. Please check with your own town for its guidelines and qualifications.

'Poor but happy' is not a phrase invented by a poor person. ~ Mason Cooley A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members. ~ Mahatma Ghandi

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has. ~ Henry Ward Beecher The few that have found apartments, we've given them clothes and furniture but it's rare when we can help. There are just not any apartments out there. ~ Gary Whitten, Director of Emergency Services for the Merrimack Valley Branch of the Red Cross.