About the Client
The Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) is the largest public housing agency in Northern New England. Based at 198 Hanover Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, MHRA owns and manages 1,169 public housing apartments serving low-income families, elderly residents, and adults with disabilities. Beyond traditional public housing operations, MHRA administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program providing housing subsidies to over 2,000 households and offers comprehensive supportive services including employment and vocational training, social activities, and daily living assistance to help residents maintain independence. The Authority operates a geographically distributed portfolio of properties across downtown, west, and north Manchester, requiring coordinated security oversight across multiple locations.
The Challenge
As the largest public housing authority in Northern New England managing over 1,000 apartments, MHRA faced significant recurring security concerns affecting multiple properties across Manchester. The Authority’s portfolio experienced persistent trespassing, drug-related activity, unauthorized encampments both inside buildings and on grounds, and theft of materials and equipment. One downtown property required particularly urgent intervention due to the severity and frequency of security incidents. Simultaneously, MHRA needed cost-effective security coverage at seven additional properties distributed across downtown, west, and north Manchester neighborhoods, creating a complex portfolio management challenge that demanded both targeted intervention and strategic monitoring across dispersed locations.
- Trespassing and drug-related activity
- Encampments inside buildings and on grounds
- Eight properties spread across Manchester
The Security Plan
American Alliance Security deployed a multi-layered security strategy designed to address the portfolio’s varied needs with efficiency. At the highest-priority downtown property, American Alliance Security assigned a dedicated fixed security post. Initial coverage began at 16 hours per day, with security officers conducting hourly interior and exterior foot patrols, monitoring on-site camera systems in real time, and responding immediately to any identified issues. As operational needs became clear, coverage expanded to 24 hours per day to eliminate the overnight gap that had attracted unauthorized activity.
The fixed-post location served as a central security hub for the entire portfolio. Officers monitored camera feeds connected to all MHRA buildings across Manchester and used these systems as an early warning mechanism. When camera monitoring detected issues at other properties, the security team immediately notified roving officers who responded to address the problems.
At the seven additional MHRA properties, American Alliance Security deployed roving patrol officers who rotated among buildings rather than maintaining fixed posts at individual locations. Standard roving patrol coverage operated from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with staffing adjusted by day of the week: one officer provided coverage three days per week, while two officers patrolled Thursday through Sunday to address higher-activity periods. During colder months, mobile patrol hours were extended from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. to address the seasonal increase in unauthorized overnight entry and encampment activity.
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24-hour fixed post
A dedicated downtown post with hourly interior and exterior foot patrols.
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Central camera hub
Camera feeds from every MHRA building monitored from the fixed post.
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Roving patrols
Officers rotating among seven properties, with two on duty Thursday through Sunday.
The Result
The integrated approach combining fixed-post security, centralized camera monitoring, and responsive roving patrols created a consistent, coordinated security presence across all eight MHRA properties. The model proved cost-effective by eliminating the need for stationary security posts at every location while maintaining comprehensive coverage of the entire portfolio through strategic deployment and rapid response capability.
Over time, American Alliance Security’s layered security strategy brought measurable improvement to conditions across MHRA’s properties. Trespassing incidents declined, drug-related activity was significantly reduced, encampments were eliminated, and theft of materials ceased. The portfolio-wide improvements fostered a safer residential environment for MHRA’s vulnerable population of low-income families, elderly residents, and adults with disabilities. Feedback from residents, MHRA employees, Manchester Police Department officers, and Manchester city officials was consistently positive, confirming that American Alliance Security’s presence had made a substantial difference in the operational and safety conditions across the housing authority’s entire portfolio.
- Trespassing incidents declined
- Drug-related activity significantly reduced
- Encampments eliminated
- Theft of materials ceased
- Positive feedback from residents, staff, police, and city officials
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