Tag: homelessness

Maine Currents 2/7/19

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

An Ambitious Plan to Address Homelessness in Maine

Mainers may have a chance in November to vote on a bond issue that would authorize $15 million to build housing for homeless people in the state: LD 48, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Housing for Persons Who Are Homeless”. The plan is to expand a “Housing First” model that has proven successful in Portland to other parts of the state.

We speak with Representative Michael Brennan of Portland, who is also a former mayor of the city and an adjunct professor of social work, the sponsor of LD 48, and Donna Yellen, Deputy Director of Preble St. in Portland- the agency that oversees the “housing first” programs there. And we listen in on testimony at the January 22nd public hearing on LD 48, before the legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee.

More information about LD 48, the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committee and contact info for legislators is available on the State Legislature’s website

Family Corner 7/26/17

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Joel Mann

Homeless Youth in Maine: Services and Supports Available for Northern Maine Counties

-Homeless youth are not kids who have “run away from home” – they have been rejected, thrown out or escape from dangerous home circumstances
-Many of these youth have mental health issues due to poverty, child abuse, living in a home where there is substance use, physical abuse, etc.
-Each of these kids needs time and support to develop trust, as they have been disappointed so many times before by adults in their lives
-Success happens for so many of these kids
-Important to provide food, address Maslow’s hierarchy in order to create a trusting relationship where you can then help the youth

Guests:
Sherrie House (Streetlight Outreach Coordinator
Nathaniel Coe (Streetlight Outreach Team)
Christopher Bowie (Streetlight Outreach Team)
Daniel Wendell (Streetlight Outreach Team)
Cody Webster (Streetlight Outreach Team)

Family Corner 5/24/17

Producer/Host: Sue Mackey Andrews
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Homelessness in Hancock County

Program Topic: Families First Community Center (FFCC)

Key Discussion Points:
a) Young families, especially young women ages 18-23, and young children constitute the greatest increase in homelessness nationally and here in Maine
b) FFCC is working to break th ecucle of homelessness by equipping young families with minor children with the skills they need to gain self-sufficiency
c) They are working to open a transitional home that will house up to six families for between 12-18 months, supporting them to learn essential like skills (cooking, money management, child development, etc.), prepare for life through employment training, etc. with mentors to support them in overcoming barriers and learning new skills.

Guests
Dawn Carter Coffin, President of FFCC Board of Directors
Jamie Willis Hunt, FFCC Board member and lead for their fund development efforts

Maine Currents 2/17/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: John Greenman

Each year we kick off our live, overnight special coverage of the national Homelessness Marathon by checking in with folks from some of the local shelters to get an update on homelessness in this area. Today we’ll be talking what resources exist, how to access them, what is needed and what the community can do to help, with representatives from HOME in Orland and the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

Guests:
Tracey Hair, Assistant Director and Gerald Botta, Shelter Dept., HOME Inc in Orland
Rowena Griffen, Executive Director and Dennis Pegues, Overnight Worker, Veteran and former guest at Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

FMI:
http://www.homemmausa.org/ http://www.bangorareashelter.org/

WERU Special: Solving Chronic Homelessness 7/9/15

Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Topic: Solving chronic homelessness: Logan Place marks its 10th anniversary in Portland, Maine.

In Portland, Maine, Preble Street marks the 10th year of its housing-first project, which aims to solve, not simply address, the problem of chronic homelessness. Two staff members at Logan Place help define the housing-first model and explore its effectiveness as a therapeutic intervention, which transforms lives. Logan Place, Preble Street’s first residential housing project, has cultivated positive community relations.

Guests:
Caroline Fernandes, coordinator, Logan Place
Mary Beth Sullivan, supervisor, Logan Place
Kathy Kelly, guest interviewer
www.preblestreet.org

WERU News Report 2/19/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: It was announced yesterday that the Maine Department of Marine Resources is closing an area near the mouth of the Penobscot River to lobster fishing, for at least 2 years, due to mercury contamination. But nearby there are plans underway to dredge up highly contaminated sediment near Mack Point to expand the depth of the channel there from 35 to 40 feet. Testing done as part of the permitting process has revealed a long list of carcinogens and endocrine disrupters in the sediment. And plans to dump the roughly 1 million cubic yards of that toxic sludge elsewhere in Penobscot Bay have lobstermen’s associations, town councils and state representatives very concerned. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that an informational meeting about the project, to be held Monday, is slated to be held in Bangor, in the evening, rather than in one of the coastal communities at a time when the island ferries are running.
We spoke earlier today with Kim Tucker, an attorney working with the Zone D Lobster Council and the Sierra Club, and with Ron Huber, Executive Director of Friends of Penobscot Bay. Some photos of the site: http://penbay.net/dredgesite.jpg and http://penbay.net/dredgemap.jpg

Segment 2: Dennis Marble, Executive Director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, weighs in on how Gov. LePage’s veto of Mainecare expansion is impacting homelessness. Recorded by Matt Murphy

Common Health 2/19/14

Host: Jim Fisher
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue: Homelessness, Discrimination and Health

Key Discussion Points:
a) Who are Maine’s homeless people?
b) What are the causes of their homelessness, particularly for youth?
c) How does being homeless impact on their health?
d) What programs do we have in Maine to assist homes and marginalized populations?

Guests:
Kenny Miller, Executive Director Down East Aids Network 25A Pine Street Ellsworth, ME 207-667-3506 or Toll-Free 800-669-0893 kenney@downeastaidsnetwork.org
Jody Pierce Glover HIV Prevention Educator (207) 795-6048 Ext. 217 jody@newbeginmaine.org

United Way of Eastern Maine Presents 10/20/12

Host: Adam Lacher, Director, Communications and Community Engagement for United Way of Eastern Maine .
Guest: Sally Tardiff, Executive Director at the Shaw House in Bangor.
Issue: Youth Development, Homelessness, Transitional Housing, Broken Maine Families
About: United Way of Eastern Maine Presents is a weekly radio program featuring the the voices of Maine community organizations from Piscataquis, Penobscot, Washington, Hancock and Waldo counties. More info at: www.unitedwayem.org