Through its Veterans Count program and its first-of-its-kind Military & Veterans Campus, Easterseals NH is finding new ways to meet the needs of military members, Veterans, and their families
MANCHESTER, NH, November 9, 2026 — Veterans Day is a time to recognize the bravery and sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country.
For Easterseals NH, that recognition also means addressing the needs of military members, Veterans, and their families long after they hang up their uniforms.
Through emergency financial assistance, care coordination, affordable housing, and opportunities for connection, the organization provides a range of resources to help the military community navigate those challenges.
That commitment builds on Easterseals NH’s 90-year history of identifying unmet needs and developing programs to help individuals and families across the state. The Veterans Count program, established in 2007, represents an important chapter in that history.
The idea for Veterans Count began when former Easterseals NH Board Member Mike Salter recognized that military members and their families affected by deployments to war zones needed more comprehensive emergency assistance.
Initially focused on active-duty service members and their families, the program expanded in 2012 to include Veterans and service members from all eras. Today, Veterans Count Care Coordinators work one-on-one with individuals and families to address immediate concerns while helping them build long-term stability.
Since its founding, Veterans Count has served more than 23,220 individuals and distributed nearly $5.9 million in emergency financial assistance.
But the need for support doesn’t end with emergency assistance. Access to affordable housing, mental health care, recreation, and connections with other people who understand military life are also important parts of long-term well-being.
Drawing on its experience through its Veterans Count program, Easterseals NH developed plans for a Campus that could bring many of these resources together in one place. In 2022, the organization received $23 million in state funding to redevelop its 15-acre property in Franklin into the Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus.
The Campus is designed to serve military members, Veterans, first responders, and their families through housing, services, and recreational opportunities.
It also welcomes businesses, organizations, and families looking for a place to gather. Revenue from rentals helps support programs and services for military members, Veterans, first responders, and their families.
With the holiday season approaching, the Bernadine Herron Center on the Campus is available for company holiday parties, team celebrations, family gatherings, and reunions. Groups can make use of the center’s meeting and event spaces, with access to the Northern Rail Trail and nearby outdoor recreation opportunities.
Those interested in hosting a holiday event can learn more at militaryveteranscampusnh.org/celebrate or call 888.285.9248.
The Campus’ first phase includes 29 units of permanent affordable rental housing and the Bernadine Herron Center. Development is continuing with Phase II, which officially broke ground in August 2026.
Plans for Phase II include the Empowerment Center, providing a dedicated space for Veterans Count care coordination and expanded therapeutic services such as art and music therapy. The new Solinsky Equine & Recreation Center will add opportunities for equine-assisted therapy and recreation, with an indoor riding arena, stables, classrooms, and other facilities. Construction is expected to conclude this summer.
For Easterseals NH, the goal is to ensure that military members, Veterans, and their families have somewhere to turn, not just on Veterans Day but throughout the year.
About Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus
The Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus in Franklin, NH, is a first-of-its-kind center in New Hampshire, providing military members, Veterans, and their families with housing, essential services, and recreation — all in one place. Spanning 15 acres, next to a rail trail and the Merrimack River, the Campus offers affordable housing, a hub for military support organizations, and access to a variety of outdoor activities.
Located on Campus, the Bernadine Herron Center offers a flexible event and retreat space to rent and 22 carefully-appointed guest rooms for people participating in retreats who need overnight accommodations. The Campus offers opportunities for nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses to host gatherings, trainings, and events. In Phase II, the Campus will feature the Solinsky Equine & Recreation Center and the Empowerment Center. With these spaces for healing, connection, and growth, this Campus ensures those who served receive the care and community they deserve.
For more information, visit militaryveteranscampusnh.org or follow them at @militaryveteranscampusnh on Facebook.
About Veterans Count
Easterseals New Hampshire’s Veterans Count was founded in 2007 to provide case management and emergency financial assistance to meet the unexpected needs of service members, Veterans, and their families. Veterans Count provides critical and timely financial assistance and services when no other resource is available. Emergency financial assistance may include rental assistance, gas, food, or utility payments. Last year alone, the program served more than 1,660 Veterans, assisting them in accessing eligible benefits and services, housing, counseling services, and other needs, including emergency financial assistance, to build sustainable, secure, and viable futures. Our commitment is to ensure the dignity, health, and overall well-being of each service member, Veteran, and their families.
For more information, visit vetscount.org or follow them @VeteransCount on Facebook.
About Easterseals New Hampshire
Since 1936, Easterseals New Hampshire has provided exceptional services to ensure that all people with varied abilities and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. A leader in social services for individuals with disabilities and those underserved by traditional programs, Easterseals NH provides essential services and supports to approximately 14,500 children, adults, seniors, and Veterans annually. Their programs cover areas like early intervention, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health, housing, and substance use disorders. Easterseals NH is a community of care for all ages, for all abilities, for life.
For more information, visit eastersealsnh.org or follow them @EastersealsNH on Facebook.
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