AUGUSTA, Maine — In December, Hope House Health and Living Center in Bangor announced it would close its doors in late 2024 if no new funding streams came in to support its homeless services.
Hope House is one of five locations in Maine considered a low-barrier shelter. Low-barrier shelters are often considered more intensive due to the clients they treat. From drug addiction to mental health resources, providers said more money is needed for staffing compared to other homeless shelters.
“A lot of these issues were masked during the pandemic … since that has dried up we now can see that there isn't a system ensuring that when people are unable to access affordable housing they have somewhere to be … so they are prepared to move into that housing and live more independently,” Lori Dwyer with Penobscot Community Health Care said.
Penobscot Community Health Care runs Hope House. Dwyer was in Augusta Tuesday testifying in support of a bill that would fund low-barrier shelters like Hope House.
Hope House is the first to say it would close if there is no new funding, but seeing there is a statewide, multi-million dollar deficit for low-barrier shelters, providers say more closures and layoffs could happen.
The bill, titled LD 2138, "Resolve, to improve Funding for Homeless Shelters," is sponsored by Waterville Democrat Rep. Colleen Madigan.
Madigan said the crisis is culminating into this year and that something must be done to secure funding. She said a lot of funding before this year was from pandemic relief aid.
“This is the first line of defense for folks who are actively using and who are at the most risk of dying from things like opioid use or alcohol withdrawal,” Rep Madigan said.
Madigan said her sister died two years ago from alcohol withdrawal, adding she is personally invested in making sure something gets passed this legislative session.
“The only difference with her is she had a home, in my home, but if it wasn't for that she would have needed these services … so yeah, it is personal,” Rep Madigan said.
Gov. Janet Mills' office said they recognize the need for a new funding source, and said in a statement they are considering options as the Legislature progresses.
“The Administration is reviewing this issue as we work on the supplemental budget proposal, while also encouraging our partners to seek additional avenues of support that, together, could create a solution,” Mills’ office said.