Erin Nasino, Rochester's new community outreach facilitator, is here to help

ROCHESTER — Erin Nasino has a drive to help, whether it be people without homes, those with mental health issues, substance use problems, or any other city resident she can reach.

The city's new community outreach facilitator is passionate about her role.

"My job is to be the connection, between the people I work with and all agencies involved," Nasino said. "But really, I am here for the people. I work with homeless, but not all of them want to be housed, and I respect that. My idea of a healthy, happy life is not the answer for everyone, and I get that. I also work with a lot of people who are housed and have substance use or mental health needs."

On Wednesday, Nasino was in her office, adjacent to City Hall, filling community outreach bags she will distribute to anyone who needs one. The bags contain vital needs like socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, snacks, a poncho, handwarmers, fentanyl test strips and an overdose kit that includes Narcan. In her office are feminine supplies and pet food.

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Nasino was hired in August to be the liaison between the city and the populations in need. While many cities are creating similar positions, many work through police departments as cities and towns recognize arresting people is not always the answer and can make some situations worse. Nasino said she often works with the police department, but she was hired to work through the city's welfare department.

Nasino said she thinks the structure of her position makes sense.

"Being situated with the welfare department provides me the unique opportunity for engagement with their clients," she said. "Working together, we can figure out what support(s) might be lacking. Todd Marsh, our welfare director, can give internal referrals to me. I still work almost daily with police, and they send me referrals as well. For police, I can free up their resources for other cases more relevant to them."

Marsh said he is thrilled to have Nasino on board.

"She has a way of reaching people that is exactly what is needed here," he said. "Erin is a trailblazer for her unique position within municipal government.  Although it is her trail to blaze, I take pride in helping to guide her along the way. Erin is innovative with her thoughts, slow with her patience and respectful with her approach, which makes her a good fit with our welfare department team."

Marsh said the city has taken a "think differently approach" toward continuous improvements with helping services, which benefits people in need and paying for that need.      

Marsh is president of the New Hampshire Local Welfare Administrators Association. Nasino said he shares the work the organization is doing and helps smaller towns interested in creating outreach positions like her role in Rochester.

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For Nasino, the work she does is a calling.

"I went to college to study education," she said. "I found myself drawn to the humanitarian side of student life. I wanted to help make their home life at school better and easier for them. Then I started working at a homeless center in Dover (My Friends Place) and moved to studying social services. From there, I worked at Lydia's House of Hope (transitional housing for women and children) for four years and I loved it there. I love what (Lydia's director) Theresa Tozier does. She is a force. But, I was still interested in working with people who are not in a secure environment like at Lydia's."

When the posting came up for the new Rochester position, Nasino said she recognized the job as being exactly what she wanted. So she applied and she loves her job. She works with clients who come to her office and she does street outreach, meeting the people at encampments or wherever they live.

"My job is to be a secure connection for them," she said. "I can get them medical services. I can also help them get their car out of impound or replace their broken eyeglasses. I offer them referrals to where they can get the help they need. A big part of my job is to communicate with all of their providers because I find they are not talking to each other, may not even know of each other. I can help coordinate services, be the focal point that ties it all together."

Nasino said she feels comfortable in her new role.

"Because I have spent six years working with these populations, I know how hard it is for them to come to us," she said. "So, I will go to them."