BANGOR, Maine — Bangor City Council members agreed to issue $550,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to Shaw House Youth Shelter in Bangor on Monday, Jan. 22 during the weekly city council meeting.
The Shaw House provides preventative and emergency services to youth between the ages of 10 and 24 who are at risk of being homeless or who are already experiencing homelessness.
David McCluskey, the executive director of a community care non-profit organization that oversees the Shaw House, said he knew the building needed several updates when the non-profit acquired the building in July of 2022 after the previous executive director retired.
"We started the process working with Maine state housing and working with our partners in Bangor to try to secure some funding," McCluskey said. "The funding that we get for services to help youth who are homeless primarily goes to the services. It's very difficult to get money for the structure itself. So, this is critically important money that we are receiving."
With the new funding, McCluskey said he and his colleagues could now focus on renovating the outside structure of the shelter.
The building has old windows and a damaged slate roof that both need to be replaced, McCluskey said. He said there are also plans to install a new HVAC system.
McCluskey said rainwater and precipitation had leaked into the attic because of the damaged roof. The organization has already repaired and replaced two-thirds of the roof, which cost $50,000.
Bangor City Council Member Joseph Leonard said he has been working closely with other council members, the Penobscot County Commissioner's office, and Sen. Joe. Baldacci to help secure funding for the Shaw house and for other projects that work towards providing support to the homeless community.
Leonard said the ARPA funds will be matched with funding from the Penobscot County Commissioner's office and Maine Housing.
"If anyone who is suffering from homelessness is a child — the longer that they remain homeless — the longer that their recovery is going to be if they ever recover out of homelessness at all," Leonard said.
Leonard said he prides himself on advocating for the most vulnerable members of the community, stating that he desires to live in an America that takes care of the people who need support most.
"If we help those who are suffering at the bottom of the economic ladder, that will uplift everyone's economic prosperity," Leonard said.
McCluskey said the ARPA funds matched with funding from Maine Housing and Penobscot County Commissioner's office, which will equal a little over $1 million, will cover the cost of most of the necessary capital renovation projects. He estimated the total cost of the renovations would be $1.8 million.
With 16 beds in the facility, McCluskey said the shelter serves as a safe space for several children and youth. He said there are also 15 multi-bedroom scattered-site apartments stretched across Bangor, Old Town, Brewer, and some parts of Aroostook County.
"Youth who come to us are coming from situations like living outside — living in a dangerous situation, and to have a place that's recognizable like the Shaw House is critical to not only the city of Bangor but also to Penobscot County," McCluskey said.