We are so close! Donate today and help us reach $500,000.
Thanks to generous donors like you, we've raised over $470,000 towards the Birthday Challenge! Please spread the word and help us raise the last $30,000. When we reach the goal, this outpouring of community support will help more than 40 people move from homelessness to long-term, sustainable independence. With 50 people on the waiting list for KCHC's services, your donation will have an immediate and lasting impact. Thank you!
Donate today!
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We Do it Differently:
HOUSING AND HOPE
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Finding housing is a huge turning point for individuals and families moving from crisis to stability. But, in today's rental market, it is harder and harder to find an affordable place to live. In Knox County, the median home price increased by 28% in 2021 alone – the highest of any county in Maine. In the City of Rockland, 75% of renters cannot afford the median rent for a 2-bedroom apartment. (Maine State Housing)
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In late May, NPR aired Homelessness on the rise in Maine. Cullen Ryan of Community Housing of Maine stated: "People are getting stuck in homelessness for lengthy periods of time, not because of complex issues but because there is no housing to go to."
KCHC's first Rockland rental duplex is
already making a difference!
When KCHC had the opportunity to acquire a duplex in Rockland, we jumped at the chance! Thanks to private and public partners who helped with the purchase, this home now represents a powerful turning point for our clients. Two families have already moved in and are enjoying their 3-bedroom apartments!
As a landlord, KCHC is able to remove many of the barriers – deposits, references, credit scores, and the stigma of housing vouchers – that often prevent our clients from securing housing across the Midcoast. KCHC’s housing navigators, Laurie Mills and Steph Hanna, work day in and day out to find families affordable options. While two apartments won’t solve the housing shortage, the Rockland rental duplex is already making a difference. “Our jobs are going to be a lot easier. We have hope!” says Laurie.
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YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
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In the past 7 years, the number of youth in Maine experiencing a major depressive episode has ballooned from 9.91% to 15.6%. That’s approximately 14,000 teens who experienced a serious depressive episode in 2021. 30% of youth suffering from mental health issues do not receive treatment due to a lack of providers, inability to pay, transportation, and even the stigma of seeking help. (Hopeful Futures)
Rebecca Roveto truly "gets" youth and
can get them the help they need.
In 2021, The Landing Place responded to this concerning reality by hiring Rebecca Roveto to offer free, low-barrier mental health sessions for youth. Rebecca holds a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology, and she is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Her professional background is in school-based and community mental health.
 Perhaps most importantly, Rebecca has a passion for youth and a deep understanding of trauma and the importance of community in healing. She is reaching dozens of Midcoast youth who would otherwise not receive treatment. The mental health needs she has seen include anxiety and depression, substance use, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, abusive situations, and suicidal ideation. 49% of youth referrals are coming from local Midcoast schools.
What happens in therapy is strictly confidential, but we can share that this program has provided 328 free therapy sessions for 24 youth since 2021. Says Rebecca, “I’m working with the population I’m meant to work with. As a professional, it’s great to be able work in your area of strength.” We are lucky to have Rebecca; she truly "gets" youth and can get them the help they need.
If you know a youth who could benefit from our free therapy program, please contact Kat Selberg at 207-466-9285 or info@thelandingplace.org.
Special thanks to the Leon Lowenstein Foundation for the generous grant support for the youth mental health program at The Landing Place. More funding is needed to ensure that this essential, life-saving program can continue into the future. Please contact Becca Gildred at bgildred@homehelphope.org or 207-593-8151 to find out how you can help.
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Our People:
A NOD TO OUR BOARD, STAFF & CLIENTS
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KCHC Operations Team. L to R: Janet Fournier, Elaine Grade, Tandra Felding, Cait Harrington, and Katrina Smith. Missing from photo: Chris Caron.
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Welcome Cait Harrington,
KCHC's new Chief Operating Officer!
We are thrilled to welcome Cait Harrington as our new Chief Operating Officer! Cait comes to KCHC with a wealth of experience, having worked in finance for over 20 years, with nearly 15 of those at the Penobscot Bay YMCA. Her additional work for several small businesses in the Midcoast puts her in a unique position to manage the multiple facets required in KCHC's COO position. Cait is excited to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by utilizing her strong financial background and leadership skills. She is also looking forward to the opportunity to work with at-risk youth, young adults, and families to secure housing, food, and other basic life necessities. Welcome Cait!
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It Takes a Village:
WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY
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Thank You Knox County and KCHC Donors!
At the end of April, the Knox County Commissioners and the Knox County Budget Committee unanimously passed a motion to allocate $1.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support KCHC's Affordable Housing Projects. Specifically, the funding will help advance the development of 31 new units of desperately needed affordable housing on Talbot Avenue in Rockland and Madelyn Lane in Rockport.
While the ARPA funding provides a solid start, the $1.8 million dollar allocation is only 57% of KCHC's original ask and represents an average capital investment by the County of just under $58,000 per unit for the 31 new housing units. We are actively seeking additional funding for these innovative projects. In May, the Knox County Fund and the Emily and Willian Muir Community Fund at the Maine Community Foundation approved KCHC's request for a program planning grant to move forward with our service delivery partners at Madelyn Lane.
Private gifts make up 60% of KCHC's funding and allow us to "do the right thing."
We invite you to join us and help us bridge the gap. With your support, KCHC will not only advance the affordable housing units; we will provide holistic services for whole families across multiple generations. Private philanthropic gifts make up 60% of our funding and allow us to "do the right thing." Thanks to you, we can provide critical wraparound services and stand beside our clients over the long-term – helping them discover and maintain sustainable independence.
The news of the Knox County funding brings renewed hope for the future. That said, our work is cut out for us. We hope you will join us, support us, and spread the word as we tackle systemic change. We are grateful to you – our volunteers, partners, private donors, grant supporters, and friends. Together, we make this incredibly important work possible. Thank you.
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Thank you Bangor Savings Bank and everyone who voted for the Knox County Homeless Coalition in the 15th Annual Community Matters More Program! We were awarded the top grant amount of $5,000. These funds will be put to immediate use, funding KCHC's shelter solutions and client-centered wraparound care. Your support makes this critical work possible! Thank you.
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KCHC is blessed with so many friends who share their time, heart, and gifts with us. Cynthia Trone is one of those special people. Last fall, she set up a yard sale to benefit KCHC, and this spring, she is collecting donations to benefit our community work at Symmetree, her store in Camden. You can also find Cynthia spreading the word about KCHC at her meditation gatherings and lending a hand for outreach mailings. Thank you, Cynthia, for helping us create a caring web of support in the Midcoast. We appreciate your big heart and generosity.
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The simple joy of swinging! Freedom, fresh air, and play are true gifts to the kiddos at our family shelter. Thanks to the generosity of CedarWorks in Rockport, this summer will be a whole lot of fun. KCHC received a new playhouse last fall, and, in July, we will be the beneficiary of a new playset with swings and climbing ladders. Special thanks to CedarWorks, as well as a generous donor who recently bid on the playset at the Montessori School auction... and gifted it to KCHC!
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The Landing Place
Visit TLP's webpage for the full SUMMER schedule!
• Backyard Drop-In Days: Tuesday | Thursday. An opportunity for middle and high school youth to chill out in our big backyard, participate in various on-site activities and off-site excursions, create art, learn skills, make slime, listen to music, play games, participate in backyard sports, ride bikes, skateboards, and scooters. Enjoy FREE snacks, shop at the FREE STORE, and take home FREE supper(s) at the end of the day!
• Community-Minded Jobs. Giving youth the chance to give back through service activities.
• Mobile Unit Endeavors. FREE creative art activities and an off-site FREE Store.
For more information: call 207-466-9285, email info@thelandingplaceme.org, or visit TLP's webpage.
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We are hiring! Knox County Homeless Coalition seeks caring, dedicated, and flexible team members to join our mission-driven organization as we serve the most vulnerable members of our community. Benefits include employer-supported health insurance plans, optional dental and vision plans, life insurance, short term disability insurance, paid time off, and paid holidays, including your very own birthday as a paid day off (because we think you deserve it!).
Click here for more info.
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Thank you for making 2021 a year of hope!
Thanks to you, we helped more than 759 hard-working and courageous individuals discover hope and stability in 2021. We invite you to read the full report to learn how your generosity helped KCHC and its clients make significant progress, despite the continued challenges of the pandemic and the tightest housing market Maine has ever seen. Thank you for believing in us.
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Lasting Impressions:
CARING NEIGHBORS
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In early June, a group of 50 neighbors and friends enjoyed an evening gathering in support of KCHC's critical efforts to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home. Special thanks to co-hosts Rick Chandler and Chris Beebe and to all of the guests for their generosity. The event has already raised $28,000, and donations are still coming in! If you'd like to host a neighborhood party to raise awareness and funds for ending the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the Midcoast, please contact Becca Gildred at bgildred@homehelphope.org or 207-593-8151.
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