Homeless Task Force Meeting #16 (06/17)

The following Report focuses on actions taken around addressing the Heritage Crossing Encampment and all unhoused people within Sanford. The Heritage Crossing Encampment has been a focal point for well over a year. The Community Partners have coordinated under the 19 Strategies to Address Encampments Humanely and Effectively as established by the United States Interagency council on Homelessness. The City and Partners were able reach the capacity to implement in May of this year. The City Council adopted the 19 Strategies as Policy to address Homelessness, especially encampments. The Encampment was located on property formerly owned by Regco, Inc., a legacy of the past mill industries, leaving behind land and buildings in disarray that have been determined by the City Council to be Dangerous and Hazardous, and has had court actions taken upon said owner to abate; although all such actions have been unanswered. The Site is a Brownfield Site in need of remediation. Maine Department of Environmental Protection has inspected and notes the pollution needing to be addressed. The Encampment grew in numbers and disarray over the past two years in which the Regco Inc., refused all communications form the City and would not grant permission to enter or address. Those inactions resulted in an Encampment of deplorable and unsafe conditions not fit for human occupation. Last fall, people within the Encampment were directed to the Warming Center operated at the Lafayette School by the York County Shelter Program. People were served throughout the winter until the Center closed on May 1, 2024. Just at closure, 25 of the 42 served took services did not return to the Encampment. Others refused services and did return to the Encampment, which was recognized as a dangerous and hazardous site, an unfit location for human habitation, and a public and safety site of concern. Notification was consistently made at the Warming Center that the Encampment would be subject to a future enclosure due to these conditions, especially prior to the closure of the Warming Center. The Property of the Encampment became Tax Acquired on April 4, 2024. Notice continued to be provided by the resource workers and Police Officers making regular contacts and offering resources and services. On May 20, 2024 the Police Department’s Mental Health Unit Officers began a daily bike patrol to increase contact and awareness with those in the Encampment. Notice of the pending closure for June 17th due to public health and safety were made daily as well as the offer of resources and services. People began to transition out of the Encampment.

On June 17th, the City approached the Encampment to start the removal of trash, debris, and bulky materials as a first step towards the closure.

Summary: Police, Fire, and Public Works crews arrived at 7:00AM to start clearing trash and bulky waste items as possible. Public Works provided two loaders, two skid steers, mini-excavator, and two 18-yd dump trucks. Heritage Crossing was closed and secured due to the construction equipment. The Mental Health Officers accompanied City Staff to walk through the Encampment for assessment and planning. MHU and City Manager talk with and noted 10 individuals left in the Encampment as of June 17th, all well known to the MHU as regular contacts had been ongoing with a refusal of services. Each individual was engaged for a plan provided the Resource Guide, directed to the Resource Hub, and to plan to clear from the Encampment. A veteran in an RV received a voucher and is moving to housing. Four individuals called for and received pick up of belongings and rides to private property. One person was transported to a private property with all belongings. Four individuals utilized the secure storage for items at the Police Department for later access as needed. Only 2 refused all services and left. The Property was left secured by the road closure as Public Works returned on June 18th to continue removal of bulky waste items that could be removed mechanically. At this juncture, the City will engage Trauma Services, a biohazard Remediation Company, to utilized trained and equipment employees to complete the bagging of biohazard materials, hazardous materials and containers, human waste, and other small solid waste materials. Public Works will continue to load, haul, and appropriate dispose of the solid waste and bulky materials with Trauma Services disposing of the biohazard and hazardous materials.

Removal of Waste: Public Works loaded 9, 18-yd trucks rounded for an estimate of over 170 cubic yards. Sixty-five propane tanks were also removed. There were three 20-gallon medical sharps containers full of needles as well as multiple 5-gallon buckets of medical sharps as well. This does not account for the mass remaining on the grounds within the encampment.

Resource Hub: The Service Providers of;

City General Assistances
Sanford Housing Authority
York County Community Action Corporation
Region 1 Homeless Hub

Resource Hub has been put into action over the past two years. The Resource Hub was operational staring June 10, Monday – Friday from 10AM to 3PM and this week 1-3PM. People were served as follows;

Total of 78 Visits
51 unique people come to the hub as of 6/17/24
6 people entered into York County Shelter program
1 person went to Milestone
1 Veteran to permanent housing
9 people (unhoused) placed in permanent housing with Sanford Housing Properties before the HUB through case conferencing of the navigators from February to today
5 people placed into housing with Sanford Housing Authority using vouchers reserved for homeless individuals
22 People housed pursuant to these recent actions

The Homeless Task Force will meet with all Community Partners again on July 1st to continue actions addressing Homelessness in Sanford and the Region. Recognition: The City owes recognition to all the Community Partners

YCCAC: York County Community Acton Corporation.
YCSP: York County Shelter Programs
SHA: Sanford Housing Authority
MHU: Mental Health Unit of the Sanford Police Department
CE: Coordinated Entry
GOPIF: Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future
PATH: Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
OPTIONS: Overdose Prevention through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety
MAP: Maine Access Points – harm reduction programming
SPD: Sanford Police Department
HMIS: Homeless Management Information System
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
WIC: Women, Infant and Children Nutrition Program
ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed City of Sanford General Assistance Program