AUGUSTA - On Saturday, April 6, members of the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee gave initial approval for funding that will help address the alarming financial shortfall facing low-barrier shelters across Maine like the Hope House Health and Living Center in Bangor, a community nonprofit that serves unhoused Mainers.
The Bangor House delegation has been working closely with the committee to secure funding to ensure that Maine's low-barrier shelters like Hope House can remain open. The committee voted to include $7.5 million in dedicated funding for MaineHousing to support low-barrier shelters in the upcoming supplemental budget, but this will likely not be enough to fully cover the funding gap facing low-barrier shelters in the coming years.
Hope House has indicated that it needs $800,000 this year and in the coming years in order to remain open. If its financial needs are not met, the organization has said that it will have to close its doors in October.
In response to the vote from the committee, Reps. Ambureen Rana, Amy Roeder, Laura Supica and Joe Perry issued the following joint statement:
"In the Legislature, we have been committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that all of Maine's low-barrier shelters including Hope House can stay open. These shelters provide a lifeline for the most vulnerable Mainers as they navigate towards a path of stability and independence. If low-barrier shelters like Hope House are allowed to close, it would have a ripple effect on our entire community and all of Maine. This initial funding commitment is the direct result of a collaboration between the delegation, the administration, MaineHousing, housing advocates, Hope House and both the Legislature's Housing and Appropriations Committees. Were grateful that this funding was included, and we will continue to work to ensure unhoused Mainers can access the support they need."
Hope House is a 64 bed emergency homeless shelter, and is the second largest shelter in the state. It is the community safety net in Bangor, managing the city's overflow of individuals experiencing homelessness from other shelters.
In addition to housing and on-site health care services, the shelter provides three meals per day and connects residents with assistance from various community groups, helping people move towards self-sufficiency and successful independent living.
The measure providing one-time funding to the Hope House is included in the state supplemental budget proposal, which will be voted on by the full House and Senate in the coming days.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Rana, Supica, Roeder, Perry], c. 305-965-2744