Welfare Department

About Us

The City of Nashua Welfare Department promotes, protects, and preserves the health and well-being of our community by helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency through direct assistance or referrals to community resources in order to meet basic needs. The goal of the Welfare Program is to have universal access for individuals and families to connect to necessary resources and services so everyone in our community can thrive and prosper.

News Flash

Temporary Update to Services - March 18, 2020

Effective March 18, 2020, under order by Mayor Donchess, the Nashua Division of Public of Health & Community Services will be closed to public access and limiting operations until further notice to focus our efforts on the COVID-19 response and ensure the health and well-being of our community. Our Welfare Team will not being seeing clients in-person, but any members of the public seeking general assistance should call the main number for City of Nashua Welfare at (603) 589-4555. Welfare staff will answer your call or return any message left within 72 hours to complete a telephone intake assessment to determine what assistance is requested and make a preliminary eligibility assessment. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions at 603-589-4500 or visit our website at www.NashuaNH.gov/COVID19 for continuous updates.

  • Unemployment Assistance Hotline at 603-271-7700 - Visit www.nhes.nh.gov to file a claim online. If you do not have access to a computer and need to complete an application online you can do that by calling the local office of employment security in Nashua by dialing (603) 882-5177. Call volume may be very high. Please be patient. If you request a call back, please make yourself available to answer your phone for up to 45 minutes.
  • As of March 19, 2020, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Bureau of Family Assistance today announced that in order to protect the health and safety of its customers and staff, all District Office (DO) buildings will be closed for client-facing activities until further notice. People in need of assistance may apply for benefits online at www.nheasy.nh.gov and will be scheduled for a phone interview in order to complete their benefits application. 

How Does City Welfare Work?

The City of Nashua Welfare Department provides interim assistance for low income residents through a voucher system. Assistance is available with rent, food, utilities and medication. 

Each applicant will be interviewed confidentially to review household circumstances and eligibility for assistance. 

Applications are available during hours of operation (excluding holidays).

You must apply in person - no appointments are given over the phone.

Under NH Law RSA 165, every town and city in the State is mandated to relieve and maintain those in need and are required to have written guidelines to ascertain eligibility. If you do not live in Nashua, contact your local town office for information and assistance.

Guidelines & Standards


Assistance Programs 


Homelessness Assistance 

If you are experiencing homelessness in Nashua, you should contact the Coordinated Entry Line at 1-844-800-9911. They will complete an assessment and refer you to the appropriate agency for assistance. You may also contact NH 2-1-1 (Dial 211 in NH) for possible homeless resources outside of Nashua. 


Long Term Assistance
If you are seeking information on long term assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance To Needy Families (TANF), foster care, disability grants, Medicaid, nursing home care, elderly care, and the food stamp program you may contact the New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services. If you live in the Greater Nashua Area, contact the State branch located in Nashua at 603-883-7726.

Entitlement Programs


For entitlement programs such as disability, Medicare, retirement benefits, and widow benefits contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or visit their web page at Social Security Online.

If you are looking for information on other non-profit human service organizations within the greater Nashua area, you may contact the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care web page, which includes information on area homeless shelters, food pantries, mental health services etc.

If you are seeking information on obtaining unemployment compensation benefits, job re-training, current employment opportunities, and job search techniques you may contact the Department of Employment Security at 603-882-5177 or visit their web site at New Hampshire Employment Security Home Page.

Additional Information