Maine Affordable Housing Coalition

Curtis Memorial Library, located at 23 Pleasant Street in Brunswick, will be hosting a series of three community conversations on the topic of affordable housing this fall. Each session will feature expert speakers followed by audience Q&A.

With rising home costs and increase of rental rates – and resulting cost burden to low and middle-income families in the area – a group of community members and librarians planned this series to bring attention to this need in our local area and to provide information and ideas about steps we can take to address it. The forums will offer up-to-date information on needs, trends and issues, how the community and local organizations are addressing needs and issues, and what neighbors can do to support affordable housing for all.

Housing Vulnerability & Homelessness, Thursday, October 18, 6:00 – 7:30 pm (Facebook event page)

This session will explore financial fragility and the many reasons why people lose their housing and will feature presentations from James Myall, a policy analyst with the Maine Center for Economic Policy; Cullen Ryan, executive director of Community Housing of Maine and chair of the Statewide Homelessness Council; and Giff Jamison, director of operations at Tedford Housing.

The Local Landscape, Tuesday, October 30, 6:00-7:30 pm (Facebook event page)

Join us to learn about the current and projected landscape of affordable housing in local and regional housing markets. Speakers will include John Hodge, executive director of the Brunswick and Topsham Housing Authority; Kevin Bunker, founding principal at Developers Collaborative and Tedford Housing board member; and Jane Millett, Brunswick Town Councilor and local realtor.

Promising Practices, Thursday, November 29, 6:00-7:30 pm (Facebook event page)

Six local and statewide leaders will explore innovative approaches and funding opportunities that address housing affordability. Panelists include Greg Payne, director or Maine Affordable Housing Coalition; Matt Panfil, director of the Brunswick Department of Planning and Development; Carol Eyerman, assistant planner of the Topsham Department of Planning and Development; Bill Floyd, executive director of Genesis Community Loan Fund; Debora Keller, executive director of Bath Housing; and Mark Primeau, executive director of Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine.

The forums will be recorded and, after the event, will be available for viewing on TV3 Brunswick, the TV3 website, and the Curtis Memorial Library website.

Download the flyer for the series (PDF)

For more information call 207-725-5242, or visit www.curtislibrary.com/housing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jennifer Iacovelli, jennifer@tedfordhousing.org. 207-729-1161, ext. #101

BRUNSWICK, Maine (June 23, 2016) – Tedford Housing, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to find lasting solutions to the challenges of homelessness, held its annual meeting and awards event on June 16^th at Moulton Union, Bowdoin College. Honorees included Kay Wilson, Sally Loving, Kelly Bumiller, Dawn Flagg, Tammy Cutchen and Craig McEwen. Guest speakers included Greg Payne of Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and Frank O’Hara of Planning Decisions, who talked about the state of housing and homelessness in the Midcoast Maine region.

Outgoing board president, Craig McEwen, opened the meeting and shared some of the successes and activity from the past year for Tedford Housing.

“We now think of Tedford as a resource center for individuals and families facing housing challenges and myriad other difficulties – a resource center which happens to have some shelter beds and apartments for permanent housing,” Craig stated in his opening remarks. “Tedford is a center of navigation guiding over 750 people a year to the particular resources they need to get back on track. Tedford’s evolution reflects national trends and best practices in working on ending homelessness.”

Incoming board president, John Carson, closed the meeting reflecting on the challenges that speakers Greg Payne and Frank O’Hara presented with the prevalence of homelessness and lack of affordable housing in the Midcoast.

“The questions of how to offer appropriate sheltering and homeless prevention services are, indeed, important conversations for Tedford and the communities in which we work,” John noted in his remarks. “Especially as we approach our 30th anniversary of service to the mid-coast and our communities.”

The following awards were handed out at the event:

The Tedford Home Award – given annually to one or more organizations who have worked closely with Tedford Housing to help meet its mission of ending homelessness – was awarded to Kelly Bumiller, a clinician at Tri-County Mental Health Services; Dawn Flagg, family educator at Midcoast Maine Community Action; and Tammy Cutchen, an Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine parent.

The Scooty Brownell Award – given annually to those who have a history of supporting Tedford Housing in more than one way including financial, volunteering, advocacy or leadership – was awarded to Craig McEwen, Daniel B. Fayerweather Professor of Political Economy and Sociology Emeritus.

The Margit Cook Award – given annually to one or more persons who demonstrate exemplary volunteer service to Tedford Housing, have served in a formal volunteer capacity for at least five years and are recommended by Tedford Housing staff as persons of great integrity and outstanding volunteer service – was awarded to Sally Loving, a self-employed communications consultant for advocacy groups in Washington, DC and New York.

Staff recognition

In addition, Kay Wilson was recognized for 10 years of employment with Tedford Housing. Kay began working for Tedford Housing as a per diem shelter attendant and is now the adult shelter manager.

Photos from the event can be found on Tedford Housing’s Facebook page.

###

Tedford Housing works together with people in their communities to find lasting solutions to the challenges of homelessness. We provide shelter, housing, and services that empower adults, children and families in need. For more information, call 207-729-1161.

Curtis Memorial Library to Host Community Conversations on Affordable Housing

Press Release: Tedford Housing Honors Community Members and Looks at Housing and Homelessness in Midcoast Maine at Annual Meeting and Awards Event