Above: The sun rises over Penobscot Bay illuminating the shelter and offering hope for a new day.
Welcome 2021!
We celebrate this new year with gratitude for the learning we found in 2020, and hopes for a resilient return to physical closeness with those we love. We celebrate the hope of sharing life’s important moments together again. And we celebrate our hopes of this newsletter finding you all seeing a little bright light at the end of our COVID tunnel, where hugs can happen again, and vaccines are on the way. To those of you who have supported us in so many extra special ways during a year of unprecedented need and challenge—a virtual hug of thanks from our entire KCHC family.
The hopeful vision I have for the year ahead is one where we all get back to sharing life’s special moments together with our loved ones, while not allowing the profound awareness and lessons of this year to be forgotten. This year reminded us all how much we all valued the safe warm feeling of home, and how much we longed for hope during some dark and challenging times, how much we missed close and trusted relationships in our lives—how their absence left jagged holes in our souls, how powerful it was to open the door of your COVID quarantine space and find that your neighbor went out of her way to drop fresh milk and some cookies on your front step on a day when you were feeling discouraged.
Let 2021 be a year of Home, Help and Hope for us all. Perhaps these three simple words have never been more prominent in our day-to-day thoughts and minds. These are the key elements of KCHC’s work — helping whole families get back on their feet, back to productive, hopeful lives right here in our community.
Thank you. May we all see one another again soon, and celebrate all that life has to offer.
With gratitude and best wishes for a healthy happy new year,
Executive Director, Knox County Homeless Coalition
Chair, Statewide Homeless Council
We Do It Differently:
FINDING HOPE BY HEPING OTHERS
Earlier this year, during the shut-down, a family at our shelter experienced the loss of a grandparent. This can be hard whenever it happens, but loss of family during this time has been extremely difficult for so many. As a way to find closure and turn their grief into joy for others, they coordinated with the other families staying at the Hospitality House Family Shelter this December and wrote Christmas cards to residents in local nursing homes in the Camden area.
And, in Rockland, some of our youth from The Landing Place "adopted" Veterans from the Stella Maris House, sending cards and letters of encouragement.
“I believe the Coalition is at a critical tipping point. No longer a small shelter start-up, the comprehensive, full-service organization focused on prevention, is poised to be a game-changing state leader and innovative model for addressing homelessness. I am excited to join the fierce team that rolled up their sleeves and pivoted priorities during the onset of the pandemic, and who have not let off the gas since. Armed with my fundraising background and strategic planning experience, this is a great fit. Personally, though, it is the mission that is lighting my fire. I look forward to sharing the success stories and vision for the future—I’m all in!”
What is a "Housing Manager”?
The Knox County Homeless Coalition (KCHC) Housing Manager is a liaison between KCHC, Maine State Housing Authority, the families we serve, and landlords. I assist hard working individuals and families we work with in understanding the process of qualifying and applying for an income based housing subsidy. I collaborate with case managers on individual client needs and help people figure out how much apartment they can afford and if a particular location can work with current or future employment, school, and natural supports. We work on budgeting, problem solve obstacles such as transportation and child care options, technology access, heating, or other assistance needed to get whole families on their feet. My team and I help with housing searches (which can require some super sleuthing in todays’ market!) We also oversee and schedule state inspections to ensure safety and security of a home are in-tact. We visit potential apartments and homes with clients if they want support.
One of the most important parts of our job is to check in with families after they are housed, see how they are doing and help support any challenges they are having as they ease into their new independent lives. We are also committed to being a good partner to landlords who work with us — we can intervene and help rectify any challenges or concerns so that families stay safely housed and landlords are happy too!
How long have you been in this role?
I’ve been serving in this role for a little over a year but I’ve been with KCHC since the beginning so I’m well versed in all aspects of the comprehensive care we are committed to providing to individuals and families in need of housing services.
What is the biggest challenge in this position? The biggest challenge I face is the extreme lack of affordable housing in this area. A close second is the unfortunate stigma that exists in our community regarding subsidized housing and people experiencing homelessness. Sadly, many people don’t recognize that most of the subsidies we are able to connect families to are income-based, meaning they are bridging a significant rental rate gap for hard working families. They are not simply a government ‘freebie’. Even with 30% of a clients’ total income being spent on rent, they can’t afford the market rate in the Mid-Coast, and that fair market rate rental gap is increasing by the day in our area. Lack of affordable safe housing is the single greatest reason for homelessness right now. Sadly we’re often forced to look for housing in remote rural areas, which presents many challenges — isolation, being far from natural supports, work or school with no reliable transportation.
What is the greatest joy?
There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling you get when a family is housed and they have a fresh start — the kids are now on the path to a more stable future and really have the chance to break that generational cycle of poverty and homelessness. I love to see how happy they are in that moment when they get the “yes” from a landlord and all the paperwork is in order and they have a move-in date. I seriously want to jump up and down dancing for joy every time!
Any story that stands out in your mind from doing this work?
I was working with a single mother who was very goal oriented recently. She got housed, was conscious of budgeting, and wanted to get her GED and take college courses because she recognized the need to move beyond her current circumstances, albeit better than they had been. But, there’s always a hurdle to jump over! This single mom didn’t have a way to connect to the online classes… One thing led to another and pretty soon we were able to get a computer and software donated, and the client was able to begin online GED classes! This is what we do, this is what we are about — second chances, education, and the hope that comes from genuine caring and support for hard working families!
Any trends you're seeing?
We have some really good relationships with landlords, but I am finding that we are continually having to move folks out of the area because rental rates are too high in the Midcoast. For some of these individuals, we can connect them to support from another agency and housing specialist in another area of the state. More than two or three hours travel time proves to be a challenge for our team to be able to provide that critical initial support when a family is newly in their housing, but we do our best to continue to check in on them and find supports in their new geography. It’s hard for a family once they’ve established trust in one of our care workers to pivot to a stranger — a majority of our clients have experienced trauma — so these types of changes can be hard when they are just getting their feet on the ground again.
How has COVID impacted your work?
COVID makes it hard to do things with the in-person, caring support we are known for. However, we have found ways to support clients even though we can't meet face to face. We do a lot more video chats and phone calls as part of our telehealth service. We also keep in contact with people by doing “knock and drop” grocery and supply deliveries from our food pantry and emergency supply depot. COVID has also added a layer of anxiety and fear of the unknown for us all — especially to those experiencing homelessness.
Get Involved:
UPCOMING EVENTS, TRAININGS, AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
The Landing Place Programs
Current programming at The Landing Place will align with CDC best practice protocols and recommendations from the Governor’s office. The activities are designed for middle and high school age students. Visit our website for updates.
Makers Monday
• Weekly at 3:00 pm via Zoom!
• Email Kim for the kits and links, call (207) 651-6593, or message through Facebook
Takeout Tuesday
• Weekly 3:30 to 5:30 pm
• FREE takeout from a local restaurant for curbside pickup & a pop-up store of FREE clothes, shoes, hygiene products, school supplies, and more!
• Pantry food, bathroom supplies, and other supplies will be available on-site for youth to take home
Check-in Chat
• Tuesdays at 3:00 pm via Zoom!
Super Skills Thursday
• Weekly at 3:00 pm via Zoom!
• Learn some how-to's, DIY's, self care, self-defense and basic cooking skills.
• Email Kim for the kits and links, call (207) 651-6593, or message through Facebook
We Are Hiring!
Knox County Homeless Coalition seeks caring, dedicated, and flexible team members to become a part of our mission-driven organization. If that's you, join us to create, implement, and improve programs to support the most vulnerable members of our community. Benefits include employer-supported health insurance plans, optional dental and vision plans, paid time off, and paid holidays, including your very own birthday as a paid day off (because you deserve it!). Click here for more info.
FREE Month of Membership!
With your donation of warm winter clothing (which benefits families working with Knox County Homeless Coalition, the Penobscot Bay and Rockland Harbor YMCA will give you 1 month free when you buy a 3 or 6 month specially priced winter package! Visit the PenBayYMCA Facebook page for details. Promotion expires on 1/31/2021.
It Takes a Village:
OUR COLLABORATION & PARTNERSHIPS WARM BOTH BODY AND SOUL
YMCA Staff Sponsor a Family at The Landing Place
When the staff at the PenBay YMCA heard that one of the families associated with our youth program, The Landing Place, had no winter gear, they got together, purchasing ALL the winter gear they'll need to stay active here in the Midcoast until spring!
Maine Sport Answers the Call with 2nd Annual Coat Drive
Due to the limitations imposed by COVID we are unable to accept and process most in-kind donations at our Old County Road location. When we put out the call to Maine Sport to make it a drop-off location for coats they were all to happy to help. Thank you Maine Sport and community members for the all the coats!
With limited shelter capacity, in emergencies we often rely on motels or campgrounds (in season), but these usually have limited cooking facilities. Megunticook Market, through the generosity of an anonymous donor has made sure we're stocked with healthy microwavable meals for those in need.
Do More Good with your
New Years Resolution
Mike Ferland from the Penobscot Bay YMCA holds up a brand new coat and snow pants from the first batch of warm weather gear donated through their membership drive.
Lasting Impressions:
Baking for a Cause
Thank you, Becca! We are excited to see this level of compassion and citizenship in the next generation of Mainers. Becca has been cooking and selling baked goods at her local flea market for two summers now. Her mom shared this great picture of her at our request! At the end of each summer she sends a donation to Knox County Homeless Coalition. Last summer she had a record year—and we can believe it—that cake looks delicious!
From all of us at KCHC, we wish you all a happy, heathy new year with hopes for bright days ahead.
We wish you a happy, healthy new year and beyond!
As always, 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 atinfo@homehelphope.org.
What is a "Housing Manager”?
The biggest challenge I face is the extreme lack of affordable housing in this area. A close second is the unfortunate stigma that exists in our community regarding subsidized housing and people experiencing homelessness. Sadly, many people don’t recognize that most of the subsidies we are able to connect families to are income-based, meaning they are bridging a significant rental rate gap for hard working families. They are not simply a government ‘freebie’. Even with 30% of a clients’ total income being spent on rent, they can’t afford the market rate in the Mid-Coast, and that fair market rate rental gap is increasing by the day in our area. Lack of affordable safe housing is the single greatest reason for homelessness right now. Sadly we’re often forced to look for housing in remote rural areas, which presents many challenges — isolation, being far from natural supports, work or school with no reliable transportation.
