(Opinion) Disappointed in Easterseals’ leadership: veteran campus reeks of mismanagement

Many in New Hampshire’s veteran community are deeply troubled by what has unfolded at the Easterseals Military and Veterans Campus in Franklin

BY TRISHA TIDD

As a veteran, I’ve learned to trust my instincts. When details don’t line up, when stories change, and when different people raise the same concerns, you pay attention. That’s why many in New Hampshire’s veteran community are deeply troubled by what has unfolded at the Easterseals Military and Veterans Campus in Franklin.

This project was supposed to be a bright spot for veterans. A place to land after service, offering stable housing, real support, and a sense of community. Veterans were told this investment would provide wraparound services to help with health needs, life transitions, and long-term stability. Instead, just weeks after opening, conflicting information and unmet expectations have left many veterans frustrated and disappointed. Veterans don’t expect perfection, but we do expect honesty and follow-through.

One of the most concerning signs has been the leadership turmoil. In a short period, several senior leaders resigned, including many well-respected state veterans. Other high-level staff also left, with some publicly citing concerns about leadership and culture. When multiple senior leaders walk away from a mission-driven project all at once, it sends a clear signal that something isn’t working.  Meanwhile, Easterseals President and CEO, Maureen Beauregard’s response is nothing to see here, everything’s fine.

Stories from people living on the campus raise further concerns. Some residents say they received eviction notices slipped under their doors despite having payment arrangements in place. Others reported that donated food intended for a shared community space was discarded because it conflicted with Easterseals’ interpretation of food service rules. These may sound like small issues, but taken together, they point to decisions that feel disconnected from the dignity and realities of veteran life.

Residents themselves say the services they were told to expect simply aren’t there. Former staff members have stated that the respite beds, meant for recuperative care, described in planning documents do not exist. Instead, much of what appears to be operating now is focused on conference and lodging activity, rather than the day-to-day support needs of veterans. For those who sacrificed time with family, career opportunities, and personal stability to serve, that feels like a broken promise.

Concern has also grown around how the campus is being described and used. Early materials spoke of short-term respite beds and dedicated veteran spaces for rest, connection, and compassion. More recent reporting, however, points to the presence of a hotel and commercial conference space. References to these non-veteran uses even appeared—and then disappeared—from the campus website. That has left many veterans asking a basic question: what exactly is this place meant to be?

All of this leaves a bad taste for many Granite State veterans. What was meant to be a supportive, veteran-focused environment now feels disorganized and unsettled. The repeated leadership departures, shifting explanations, and lack of clear answers give the impression of mismanagement and leaders losing sight of the mission they were entrusted to carry out. Instead of proactive communication and accountability, Easterseals appears to be responding only after problems become public. And even then, their response is to do everything they can to cover up mistakes and deflect responsibility. That is not the standard veterans expect from an organization charged with serving those who have already given so much.

This is not about attacking Easterseals as a whole. Many veterans respect the organization’s work in other settings. But when an institution takes on a mission of this size and importance, it must stay firmly grounded in that purpose. When decisions, priorities, or operations begin to stray from the original promise to veterans, it raises serious and reasonable concerns.

Veterans are asking for transparency. We want to know whether the commitments made to veterans are being honored, why the vision presented at the outset no longer matches what is happening on the ground, and what concrete steps will be taken to correct course. Clear answers and visible action are the only way to restore trust.

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. It is time to take a closer, honest look at what is happening at the Easterseals Veteran Campus and ensure that leadership is accountable and that promises made to veterans are more than words.

Trisha Tidd is an Army National Guard Veteran and resident of Kingston, NH.