Seasons of Homelessness

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cram Alumni Barn, Bowdoin College

5:30-7:00 pm

Suggested donation $20.00

Please make your reservations by contacting Martha with your name and the number of guests in your party at:

207-729-1161. ext 101 or by email at martha@tedfordhousing.org.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 9, 2011.

Tedford Housing was fortunate to receive assistance from the Lewiston Housing Authority, MaineHousing (Maine State Housing Authority) Lewiston-Auburn CDBG program, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and Androscoggin Bank.

Meanwhile, the work continues at 22 Pine Street in Auburn as the old Franklin School starts to take shape as six one-bedroom units for homeless adults with a disability.  Common Ties, a major provider of mental health services is partnering with Tedford Housing in the project and will offer comprehensive case management services to the tenants.  YouthBuild, a U.S. Department of Labor program that provides training and construction employment opportunities to troubled young people, is also partnering in this project and provided essential labor to for demolition, drywall, and painting.  Financing has been secured from HUD, MaineHousing, and the City of Auburn.

For more information, contact us at 207.729.1161 to find out how you can help.

As Mainers know, the loss of heating fuel can result in permanent damage to pipes throughout a home rendering it unlivable.  Additionally, many of our elderly folks try to wait out the cold and suffer terrible consequences to their health.  That makes Warm Thy Neighbor an essential factor in homelessness prevention.

Sallie Smith, founder of the program established the program five years ago in response to the growing number of at risk familes in need of assistance to keep their homes warm.

The program is made possible by generous donors, corporations, towns and service groups.  We are profoundly grateful to all who provide support either by cash donations or in-kind from fuel providers.

To make a donation, contact our Martha Sterling-Golden in Development  at 729-1161 x101.

If you are a family or individual in need of assistance contact our WTN program coordinator, Tina Sanders, at 729-1161 x112 for eligibility.

BRUNSWICK- Tedford Housing elected new officers to their board of directors at their annual meeting. Joel Merry, President; Sandra Holland, Vice-President; Barbara Lee Gaul, Secretary; and Irene Martin; Treasurer were elected for one year terms. Outgoing directors, Patti Lawton and Marcy McGuire completed their board terms and were recognized for their leadership contributions. The organization honored individuals and organizations that have made vast improvements in the lives of people struggling with homelessness, mental health and substance abuse issues. Posthumously awarded the Margit Cook Award for Exemplary Volunteer Service was the late Suzanne Suzie Moran. Receiving the Tedford Home Award was the JTG Foundation and the Joseph McKeen Center for the Common Good. The late Jane Newhall and the First Parish Congregational Church accepted the Scootie Brownell Award. Recognition for their contributions to the health and safety of shelter guests, Dr. Edward Roy and Goodwill Industries’ YouthBuild program were acknowledged.

Tedford Housing Receives Dirigo Award for Nonprofit Excellence

The Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) has named Tedford Housing as one of the 2008 recipient of the Dirigo Award for Nonprofit Excellence.

The award is given to organizations that demonstrate management and outcome excellence in several areas of performance including governance, financial management, communications, strategic partnerships, and fund raising.

 

 

Tedford Housing submitted an application that displayed their ability to innovate and adapt in a difficult funding environment. The organization changed its mission in 2003, which shifted their focus from providing shelter to ending homelessness, and they have undergone a positive transformation over the six years since. They have implemented successful supportive housing and homeless prevention programs, diversified funding sources, and greatly enhanced community outreach and strategic alliances with other similarly-aligned organizations. Here are a few highlights from their application:

• Tedford has worked hard to diversify funding sources in order to secure their future viability. They devote significant time to developing their individual donor program and annual fund donations; they collect rent from their supportive housing facilities, generating significant earned income; and they completed a successful capital campaign that raised over $800,000.

• Tedford operationalizes their mission of advocacy for constituents by being a part of key coalitions and partnerships, reexamining their current relationships, and seeking new partnerships that are suggested during strategic planning sessions. They host a chapter of Homeless Voices for Justice, a consumer-led advocacy organization, and participate in the Statewide Homeless Council. They seek strategic partners for all of their programs, and have created strong relationships with the chamber of commerce, neighborhood organizations, and many other nonprofits and businesses.

• Tedford has used MANP’s Guiding Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Maine to greatly improve their organizational practices, policies and strategy. They are a great example of a learning organization.