A letter to the community from all of us at Knox County Homeless Coalition
First and foremost to this remarkable community—we hope this finds you healthy and safe during this time. If we can do anything to support someone you know and love who is in need—please reach out.
Home. Help. Hope. — Basic Human Needs — met with dignity, respect, caring, and a grounding in ‘doing the right thing’ for human beings and families. That is what Knox County Homeless Coalition (KCHC) is and always has been about.
Perhaps there has never been a time in our lives when acute awareness of the importance of basic human needs is as heightened for us all as it is right now. Coronavirus has surely brought that importance 'home'.
To those of you who have, and continue to support KCHC—a heartfelt thank you.
Please consider an investment in KCHC at this time — so we can continue to provide life-saving support to an increasing number of our most vulnerable families. Your generosity matters now more than ever.
HOME. Home is now our only safe space—where most of us can still enjoy a warm meal together, perhaps talk with one another more than we usually do—providing care and comfort during this difficult time.
Safe spaces, home, supplies—most of us are lucky.
HELP. That’s where our work begins at KCHC, and with your help, we will continue to meet the increasing and urgent needs of our treasured community.
Perhaps most important — HOPE. For us all, loss of hope is crushing to our souls, and to any path forward. Many of us may be questioning hope right now.
Our families who are newly in permanent housing, working hard to keep a new job, now face a cut in hours, or worse — losing that new home and job — and any hope at all. HOPE — it is what gives us a reason to try — to get out of bed in the morning and know that it is possible to make life better.
As of today, most of us can still get in our cars—and get basic groceries and supplies. We can 'afford to stock up'. An increasing number of people right here in our community cannot afford to stock up — much less get to the store.
At KCHC we have mobilized the full force of our 43 staff, 3 vehicles, outbound food, and emergency supply systems — together with our community partners — to ensure consistent connection between trusted staff and our clients and families. We are setting up a system for outbound 'safe and socially distanced' delivery of critical supplies — food, hygiene, and cleaning products. We are preparing for safe 'knock and drop' systems of outbound distribution. If you are interested in volunteering in this way email us by clicking here.
Our commitment to meeting basic human needs has never been more critical or important — and given what is happening in the rest of our beautiful country — this need in Maine is only beginning. The demand for our services will continue to be even more important.
Shelter, housing, food, critical supplies, and emotional and physical well being are paramount for hundreds of families right now, and we can all envision the aftermath of the Coronavirus on our community’s already fragile economy.
KCHC is already experiencing an additional wave of need — and the related expenses associated with providing that support. We are an essential part of the efforts to protect public health in the most compassionate and safe way possible — and will do everything in our power to continue to support all who need us during this time.
Please consider an investment now in Knox County Homeless Coalition and all of our core programs and services including Hospitality House Family Shelter, The Landing Place youth program, and our comprehensive Client Care team and support services.
We will continue to work together with our valued community partners in the delivery and coordination of services and support around basic human needs. Together with AIO Food Pantry, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, The PenBay YMCA, United Midcoast Charities, and others, we are proactive in our collective leadership and desire to work together — sharing information, coordinating wherever possible to problem solve and share resources. We will continue to do so until we are on the other side of this pandemic.
At the statewide level, KCHC leadership is part of coordinating urgent support for homeless providers around Maine. We are partnering with Maine State Housing Authority to inform DHHS, the CDC, and the Mills administration on all things that will help protect public health and save lives for the most vulnerable in our community and across the entire state.
Again, if you or someone you know and love needs assistance and is experiencing homelessness — please reach out to KCHC at 207-593-8151 or email us at info@homehelphope.org.
Thank you for considering an investment in our families, our children, and the future of our community.
Wishing you a safe, healthy, and hopeful passage through this time.
We will all get through this together and be stronger because of our caring for one another and our community.
With gratitude to each and every one of you—
Susan Barnard, Board Chair
Caroline Morong, Vice Chair
Steph Primm E.D.
and the entire board
Micki Coulquhoun • Meredith Davis Lyon • Rich Norman • Karen Pier
Susan Reider • Stephanie Smith • Doug Winterich
