New Hampshire Homeless Fair

(Nashua, New Hampshire) Woo-hoo! It's an exposition for homeless people. Sponsored by the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care, the 3rd annual Homeless Fair yesterday was attended by about 100 people.

The advantage of having a fair is that it offered a variety of services and materials under one roof, a sort of "one-stop shopping" expo for people struggling just to get by, organizers said.

At the fair, a mix of nonprofit groups and local businesses provided such services as health screening and eye exams.

Men and women could get winter coats, hats and scarves, other clothing and information about services available to homeless and people described as being "at the edge of homelessness."

Additionally, haircuts were provided free of charge.

The homeless fair last year drew more people, said Lori Wilshire, chairwoman of the Continuum of Care.

While some might suggest that means there are fewer homeless people to serve here, Wilshire cited another factor that may have contributed to a lighter turnout: Great American Downtown denied her group's request to put a banner over Main Street promoting the fair.

My suggestion would be to advertise on television and radio. Homeless people would likely come from surrounding towns, maybe the whole state.