Homeless
Shelter – Identified as a need countywide, this
project is critical to the stock of social capital
available. Discussions are on going about the various
aspects of creating, maintaining, and managing a
homeless shelter. The face of the homeless needs to be
established; to this end a survey is ready for
distribution to area General Assistance Administrators,
school guidance counselors and liaisons for the
homeless, police departments, public health nurses, food
pantries, and the Sheriff’s Department. For a year
surveys without identifying names, will be collected
that describe the homeless person(s), their ages, and
others with them. This will provide information that
will aid in the creation of a shelter that will meet the
requirements of the population. In conjunction with the
efforts of Chris Roberts of Housing and Urban
Development, the Washington Hancock Community Agency is
conducting a needs assessment to quantify the problem.
Through their work – several possible locations have
been identified that might serve as a shelter. The
second part of the survey work will result in a
“Resource Directory”. Unfortunately, at this time, it is
anticipated that the directory of resources will be
thin.
Affordable
Housing - Another chink in the social capital armor
is the lack of affordable housing stock in the county.
Many focus team members can relate stories of people
living in sub-standard housing or paying a high
percentage of their limited means as rent. Finding first
and last months rent, as well as a security deposit is a
perpetual problem for those whose resources are limited.
The Washington Hancock Community Agency is working
towards creating a supply of affordable housing through
a project to be located in Machias.
Food and
Fuel Assistance Network – spearheaded by area
pastors, the development of this network is now into
full swing aiding needy families. An Americorps worker,
located at the Sea Coast Mission, is instrumental in
maintaining the information regarding the resources and
their locations. The organizations contributing to the
network meet monthly to assess the status of the
supplies. The meetings are held in area food pantry
locations.
Each
meeting has featured a representative of an organization
that promotes learning and well-being. Charley
Martin-Berry spoke of the services and facility at the
Cobscook Bay Learning Center. Other speakers have
included Lanette Pottle (Time Banks), Kathy Miller
(Recovery Support Network), and Marie Emerson (Service
Learning). Each meeting is held in the small conference
room at Helen’s Restaurant at noon the fourth Wednesday
of the month.
