homelessness | Tedford Housing

Giving Voice: Community strength in numbers

March 2, 2021 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

This article was published in the Times Record on 01/08/2021, and written by Blaine Flanders, Community & Donor Relations Coordinator at Tedford Housing. You can read the article on the Times Record here.

BRUNSWICK – 2020 was not what anyone had anticipated. The world was turned on its side, masks covered up any chance at a smile, and people were hospitalized all over the state. What Mainers know now is not what we knew one year ago, but what hasn’t changed in that year is the loyalty of community supporters in a time of need. Throughout Brunswick and the Mid Coast Maine community, local non-profits have stayed strong because of the volunteered time and generous gifts from our supporters. This year, despite the pandemic, loyalty and dedication of Tedford Housing’s supporters has not waivered, but instead grown to new heights.

Dozens of people hand-crafted and delivered meals to our emergency adult shelter. Hundreds of volunteer hours were submitted. One meal was made by a clever Halloween fan, who decided to bring the theme to life in her dinner. She presented “apple spider” and “vampire vino” and several other themed treats to spruce up the holiday feast. Adult shelter guests enjoyed the festivities, and appreciate the effort of every meal made in our community.

Monetary donations were made, and hundreds of in-kind donors gifted items Tedford’s guests and clients so desperately needed. The Androscoggin Animal Hospital, Norway Savings Bank, and Eaton Peabody, to name a few, gifted incredible donations, including items like personal hygiene goods, bedding, pillows, cleaning supplies, and gift cards. Several individual donors brought shampoo, conditioner, sanitizer, and masks, among other things. Items that no person should ever go without. To the many other organizations, businesses, and individuals who took the time and money to gift to Tedford Housing this year, we appreciate each and every one of you.

Local non-profits in Brunswick struggled, but also found ways to thrive. The Gathering Place was closed part of the year, but reopened on June 18, 2020 with a plan to be open Monday and Thursday mornings; Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program had to close its soup kitchen but was able to re-envision their service through their outside to-go lunches; Oasis Free Clinic, which relies on volunteers, had to step back and create strong socially distance protocols; and Tedford Housing’s adult shelter capacity was reduced to 10 instead of our typical 16 guests and revised the shelter’s open hours to keep all guests safe when there was no place else to go during stay at home orders.. The pandemic caused shifts to occur in how each of these nonprofits conducted their day-to-day service to clients, but the strength of the Mid Coast Maine community helped each and every organization to stay strong.

In March, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Tedford’s emergency adult shelter might not have been able to serve as many people as it would in a typical year, but without a doubt Tedford was going to reach those in need. Our organization provided housing assistance, outreach, prevention, and case management services to over 715 people in Maine in FY2020. None of this would have been possible without all of the community support through what could have been the most difficult year as an organization since our founding in 1987. From Lewiston-Auburn to Boothbay, and Augusta to Portland, Tedford Housing has made a direct impact by providing resources, assistance and opportunities for several hundred Mainers who were experiencing and on the brink of homelessness.

As we look into 2021, Tedford Housing’s staff and Board of Directors are hopeful for a more ‘normal’ year. No matter what happens, we will continue to serve the many people who are experiencing and are on the brink of homelessness in Maine.

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Giving Voice is a weekly collaboration among four local non-profit service agencies to share information and stories about their work in the community.

Giving Voice: Raising awareness and holiday cheer

November 16, 2020 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

This article was published in the Times Record on November 13, 2020 and written by Blaine Flanders, the Community & Donor Relations Coordinator at Tedford Housing. Find the newspaper article here.

Around the Brunswick area, community members are beginning to gear up for the upcoming holidays. Shops put items on sale, donors are engaging their charities and nonprofits are busier than ever. During this holiday season, Tedford Housing staff also become busier than normal in order to accommodate the influx in community engagement, but more importantly, the increase in need as the months grow colder.

In order to combat the rising need during the colder months, Tedford Housing has decided to recognize National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week from Nov. 15-22 to raise awareness in the community for Tedford Housing and our mission. Individuals and families, now more than ever, need community support due to the pandemic and winter quickly approaching. The goal of this awareness week is to awaken the community to the growing need among our neighbors.

Throughout National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Tedford Housing is hosting multiple pandemic-friendly events. On Nov. 16, Community Awareness Day, look for “We Support Tedford Housing” signs around the community. These signs have been staked by some of Tedford’s business supporters who are committed to our mission. Two Days of Action, on Nov. 20 and 21, will engage a few loyal volunteers in the community to rake leaves at the emergency family shelter and sort donations before the holidays.

Tedford Housing is partnering with Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program for two of the week’s events, including Advocacy Day and the Q&A Session with Executive Directors Rota Knott and Karen Parker. Advocacy Day, on Nov. 18, is a chance to make your voice heard. Anyone in the community can request and send these pre-paid postcards. The back of the postcard says, “Did you know it is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week?”, in order to stimulate conversation and awareness to whomever the card is sent. If you would like to request postcards, please email blaine@tedfordhousing.org. The Q&A video will be available on social media on November 19th to answer all of the questions asked over the past few weeks.

Despite the warm weather that was here this week, Thanksgiving is still right around the corner. Tedford Housing is partnering with the Brunswick Rotary Club and Pathway Vineyard Church, in Brunswick and Lewiston, to gift holiday cheer among Tedford’s individual and family clients. Both the Brunswick Rotary Club and Pathway Vineyard Church have been long-term supporters of Tedford’s holiday gifting program, and have made a real impact on our clients and guests the past several years. Rotary members donate gift cards to each of Tedford’s individuals so they can purchase food for Thanksgiving, while parishioners create Thanksgiving Bags for Tedford’s families to cook their own meal.

Last month, Beci Turner, a Tedford supporter, sponsored a holiday gifting drive for Tedford’s families through Usborne Books. All of the money raised will purchase books that will be gifted to children of all ages this Christmas. The books will be distributed during the Christmas Store held in early December that is hosted by Pathway Vineyard Church in Brunswick. The Christmas Store hosts not only Tedford’s family households, but other families in the community. Tedford Housing’s families who benefit from this Christmas Store include those living at the emergency family shelter, in supportive housing, and those receiving outreach services. Pathway has always made a great impact on families throughout the community by allowing each member of the family to “shop” at the store and select items to gift other family members. Watching families who are experiencing homelessness hand-select unique gifts for their children and loved ones is a magical experience. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and The Emergency Action Network have graciously donated gifts to the Christmas Store this year. To help Tedford’s families this Christmas, please visit our website or social media for more information on holiday gifting.Advertisement

As the months get colder, many of us tend to think of the holidays, but for some members of the community this time of year brings anxious questions of, “What if I don’t have enough clothing to keep me warm tonight?” or “Where is the warmest place to sleep outside in this town?” Help us change that conversation by raising awareness in our community. Community engagement and partnerships strengthen Tedford Housing’s mission to empower people to move from homelessness to home. Tedford appreciates those who are already involved in the conversation, and we look forward to those who will join us next.–

There are several more strong connections not mentioned above that Tedford has in the community, and we appreciate everyone who currently supports our organization and our mission. For any questions about Tedford Housing’s community engagement, volunteering, or making a gift, please contact me at blaine@tedfordhousing.org or call (207)729-1161 ext. 101.

Giving Voice: Homelessness in the southern Midcoast through the lens of COVID-19

July 15, 2020 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

This article was published in the Portland Press Herald on 07/03/2020 and is written by Giff Jamison, the Director of Programs at Tedford Housing.

As I write this in late June, we are entering our fifth month of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. Back in March, in response to the suddenness and increasing severity this national health crisis, Tedford Housing, like many other organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, began changing and adapting in order to adhere to the evolving social distancing guidelines and the Governor’s executive order to shelter safely at home. That month, to create more room in our shelter, we moved some guests into a motel. Our shelter, which traditionally had been closed between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, is now open 24/7. By late May, enough people had transitioned into housing to allow us to bring everyone safely back into the shelter again. Normally 16 beds, we are capping our current capacity at 10 individuals – doing intakes as beds empty and guests move into housing. Our family shelter continues to serve our regular number of six families in individual apartments in our facility at Federal St.

So far, Tedford has been lucky in not having a shelter guest or any of its staff members test positive for COVID-19. But here, as everywhere else, adjusting to the often referred to “new normal” is challenging for everyone involved. Our overarching goal has always been to help people who have experienced the trauma and destabilizing impact of homelessness become housed as soon as possible. Prior to March, there were already enough hurdles for our case managers to manage in finding suitable affordable housing. Matching resources and the limited supply of affordable housing to the diverse needs of people on their case loads meant hours of telephone calls, in-person viewing of apartments and layers of paperwork to finalize the issuance of a voucher and lease-up of an apartment. COVID-19 brought another dimension to that work. As Michelle Thiboutot, our adult shelter case manager, puts it: “COVID-19 has slowed the housing process down. From processing documents for housing to securing a unit.”

In addition to working with folks in our shelters, Tedford case managers work with those who are homeless and unsheltered in the community and those in their own apartments who have recently experienced homelessness. This outreach work has grown in importance as we work to not only restore housing to those that have lost it, but, through regular check-ins and visits, help people maintain their housing and avoid a return to homelessness. The changes in society brought about by the pandemic, the need to socially distance from others, to avoid gatherings, and the closing or reduced hours of places where people can socialize or congregate have had their impact on households served in outreach or our supportive housing programs. Michelle indicates: “some of my outreach clients are having a really hard time due to the isolation and COVID-19 restrictions.” Actual fear of becoming infected with the virus, coupled with the restriction in connecting with natural supports has taken its toll on some of our families as Beverly McPhail, our family case manager, points out: “Their biggest worry is that their children will be infected or will die from the coronavirus. They miss visiting face to face with their family members, their anxiety has increased substantially. Some families reported that they feel like they are buried alive and always worrying about the ever-looming coronavirus over their head. The loss of their freedom and the loss of everything that they used to do before coronavirus is devastating to them.”

Despite the hardships and loss encountered as a result of COVID-19, we have learned that we can still accomplish our mission to Empower people to move from homelessness to home and alleviate the interruption to a life caused by homelessness. In the coming week or so, two more people are moving into housing from our adult shelter. They are both persons who have experienced homelessness for long periods of time but have stuck it out at the shelter and through their patience and the diligence of their case manager have secured safe and affordable permanent housing. This event always provides a little shot in the arm for those of us in this field. With the uncertainty that this era generates in our personal and working lives, it is good to know that we can share in a small victory every once in a while. Some offer predictions of more to come in the way of COVID-19 in the upcoming fall and winter season. We, together with our partners in the community, will continue to adapt to the current conditions and, to the best of ability, continue our effort to house the most vulnerable in our community.

Giving Voice: Housing people during COVID-19

May 14, 2020 By Rota Knott Leave a Comment

The following article was published in The Times Record on 5/8/20 and written by Jennifer Iacovelli, Tedford Housing’s director of development.

A week into our second monthlong stay-at-home order, and it’s hard to get away from the news stories about COVID-19. It has affected our everyday life, personally and professionally, in a way that I’m not sure any of us were ever prepared. The articles from our Giving Voice column have illustrated how Tedford Housing, The Gathering Place, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and Oasis Free Clinics have reacted to and adjusted services to meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable neighbors.

While we have all had to make changes in the way in which we work with our clients, we continue to offer much-needed programs and services. Even while practicing extreme social distancing, Tedford Housing’s overarching goal continues to be to find our clients safe, permanent housing. This feat can be challenging enough without a global pandemic, as our clients have many barriers to break through in the process of finding that pathway from homelessness to home.

We have shared that Tedford Housing’s buildings are closed to the public and staff are working from home as much as possible. Case managers are meeting with clients mostly via phone, email or text. Zoom is used from time to time, but only if the client has the capability of using such an application.

So how does this new, different way of working affect finding housing? For one thing, it slows the already slow process down. Tedford Housing staff aren’t the only ones working remotely. Landlords and property managers may not be in their offices and only checking their email or messages once/day or even once/week. Same thing with the offices that manage housing vouchers. In-person tours of a potential apartment are no longer happening during COVID-19, so everything is done via a camera, including inspections that are required by specific housing vouchers once an apartment is found. Vetting is much more difficult for both landlord and tenant when you lose the ability to be in the same room with a person.

As far as the case managers at our adult and family shelters go, it’s business as usual. They may not be in the office every day during the week, but they continue to work with clients to find apartments, fill out applications and guide our shelter guests through the many steps it takes to get to the point of signing a lease. One of our families moved into an apartment without seeing it first. Though it made the mom a bit uncomfortable, she talked with her case manager about how she could always look at other options in a year if she wasn’t happy with the apartment. The main goal was to move out of the shelter into permanent housing.

Two of what we call long term stayers in our adult shelter and one family in our family shelter have found housing during this difficult time. Being in the shelter for over 300 days, these individuals overcame some big obstacles to sign their leases with the help of their case manager. Moving has become particularly difficult because most of our clients rely on help from friends. With social distancing and restrictions on travel with people other than your household become a challenge. Our partners at Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity’s Restore are temporarily closed, which limits our ability to help clients access the household items they need to furnish their new apartment. We have to take extra precautions with volunteers who help sort and gather donations to fulfill clients’ moving checklists. Once in an apartment, our case managers then “follow” clients for up to 12 months to help ensure a smooth transition. Losing the personal touch of on-site meetings can be tough because you lose the cues that body language can give you if a person is having a hard time. Many of our clients are struggling with isolation, financial stresses and addiction, making it harder to keep people stable and supported via the telephone.

Tedford Housing is making it work during this pandemic, especially our case managers. We are happy to report that people are still being housed even if it takes a bit more time.

Giving Voice: Homeless the longest

January 22, 2020 By Rota Knott Leave a Comment

The following article was published in The Times Record on 1/17/20 and written by Giff Jamison, Tedford Housing’s director of operations.

Last year, in the Giving Voice article “Addressing the needs of long-term shelter guests” (Jan. 11, 2019), we recognized the one year anniversary of the Long Term Stayers Initiative Southern Midcoast. Partnering with Rita De Fio, housing program manager at Sweetser, this effort increases focus on housing people who have experienced homelessness the longest in our region.

The Statewide Homeless Council first adopted the Long Term Stayers Initiative as a strategy for reducing homelessness in 2014. “Long Term Stayers” are defined as people staying over 180 cumulative days in shelters (or outdoors) within a 365-day period (not necessarily consecutive). The definition includes people in shelters or unsheltered who have been homeless for the longest period of time.

Using a Housing First approach, the initiative focuses housing resources and services on the group of people who have had the largest number of barriers to successful housing placements. Because those in this group are often frequent users of shelters, they tend to occupy shelter beds for longer periods of time and also use a disproportionate amount of publicly funded services like emergency rooms, ambulance services, detox facilities, etc. Since the effort began to track people experiencing long term homelessness, with a focus on connecting with housing and services, 243 people have been housed in Portland. Adam F Cohen reported an average cost savings of $5,853 per person for long term stayers housed in supportive housing in Portland in a study for Community Housing of Maine.

As our initiative here in the southern Midcoast completes its second successful year, the results have been encouraging. Going into 2020, 29 individuals and families experiencing long term homelessness have been housed. Instead of languishing in shelters, these households have the opportunity to move forward in their lives.

Previously, we have described homelessness as an interruption in the trajectory of a person’s life. As these scenarios illustrate, securing housing is the catalyst to jump-start forward progress:

One man in his 70s lives in a supportive housing apartment near downtown Brunswick, within walking distance of the library and Hannaford. After he was unable to remain with a family member and then living at the shelter for over six months, he has maintained his apartment for over a year.

Another, after losing his housing, camping outside for almost a year and spending a further hundred days in Tedford’s adult shelter, now lives in his own apartment in Bath.

One mother and her children, who spent over 200 days in Tedford’s family shelter, transitioned to an apartment in September. She recently resumed working full time.

In another unique situation, a mother and her daughter, having moved from another country and without some important visa and citizenship paperwork, found themselves in a number of unsafe, temporary housing situations. Many months were spent by the case manager at the family shelter tracking down the necessary documents to secure housing and employment. Ultimately, calls to Maine’s congressional delegation helped move along some of the immigration paperwork and after a record number of days in the shelter, the family moved into an apartment, and the mother secured full-time work as a CNA.

Monthly progress of our effort to house long term stayers in our area is reviewed at the MISC (Midcoast Interagency Services Collaborative) meeting, a group of service providers that meet at The Gathering Place on the second Tuesday of the month. As we move into the third year of the initiative, our goal is to connect with more people who are unsheltered – e.g. sleeping outside or in their car – and make sure they are added to our Long Term Stayers list. Even if our shelter is full, our case managers can help get people started in the process of applying for critical housing voucher applications and obtaining necessary documents required to move them along in their search for housing.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Maine actually fell slightly, from 6,454 in 2018 to 5,886 in 2019. Unfortunately, the average length of time people remained in homelessness increased by nine days, most likely due to a tight housing market. Plans at MISC also include sponsoring a number of events, including a landlord networking session and training sessions open to the community through a curriculum called Rent Smart.

Prolonged homelessness is a predictor for poor health outcomes. It contributes to trauma for the individual and family trapped in its cycle and is cost-burdensome for shelters, emergency services and other parts of the public sector that respond to crisis often precipitated by homelessness. Our Long Term Stayers initiative is a targeted effort in reducing homelessness amongst the most vulnerable citizens in the southern Midcoast region.