Homeless Task Force Meeting #18 (07/16)

Heritage Crossing Encampment Closure:

The Resource Hub provided housing for 20 individuals since enacted and in conjunction with the closure. Daily contact with persons unhoused are made by Housing Staff, Case Managers, and the Mental Health Unit Officers via the Bike Patrol. Resources are offered and encouragement to accept to break the cycle of homelessness.

The Cleanup has been completed.

Public Works Clean Up: June 17, 18, 19 2024

Public Works removed by mechanical means 9-18 cu. yd. trucks totaling 170 cubic yards of trash, waste, and assorted materials associated with the Encampment.

Three (3) 20-gallon medical sharp containers full were removed as well as several 5-gallon buckets partially filled with medical sharps.

Contracted Services by Trauma Services: July 8, 9,10 2024

Handpicked materials remaining from underbrush, around trees, and scattered as trained personnel with personal protective equipment to bag the hazardous materials due to the presence of medical sharps and other contaminates. Contractors bagged 475 60-gallon bags of materials from the Site.

Six (6) 8-gallon containers of medical sharps were physically collected scattered across the ground and intermixed with the waste for a total of 48 gallons of sharps. Public Works further removed 2 18- cu. yd. trucks of steel and other materials during the Contracted Service Period.

Total Collections:

• 206 cubic yards collected mechanically
• 141 cubic yards collected manually by contracted services
  • 347 cubic yards total waste collected and disposed
• Approximately 110 gallons of medical sharps collected separately from solid waste collections
• Estimated Volume of Medical Sharps (syringes)
  • 172.66 cubic inches per box of 100 syringes
  • 110 gal x 231 cubic inches/gal = 25,410 cubic inches
  • 25,410 cubic inches/172.66 cubic inches/100 syringes = 14,716 syringes

Contacts have been made to Maine Access Points and the Maine CDC Hepatitis & Harm Reduction Program Manager to discuss new options on exchange and the improper disposal of syringes causing a public health hazard.

The areas where unhoused people are congregating was reviewed and how best to maintain communications and outreach as well as the impacts to the areas.

Information indicates there are approximately 15 chronically unhoused people that the City is currently working with to identify options that will be accepted.

Connection to Services: Street Outreach

The need for Street Outreach Services continues to be a challenge and area of significant need. Communications to Maine State Housing for potential use of the recently adopted Emergency Housing Relief Funds could be an option. Lauren Bustard, Senior Director of Homeless Initiatives at MSH, indicated that a Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFA) will be published on August 16, 2024 with a deadline of September 30th to apply. York County Shelter Program is the best agency for this application as will be supported by the Task Force. It was also made know that a second NOFA for Winter Warming Shelter Funding will be release July 19, 2024 with a deadline of August 23rd to apply. Options with the York County Shelter Program are still under consideration, but not at the Lafayette School location. Others are being sought.

Housing First – Heritage Crossing Location:

The Sanford Housing Authority and Consultants presented a Pre-Application to the City on July 9, 2024. The Pre-App went very well on the 30-Unit development. The Consultant is working diligently to have submissions for the August Site Plan Meeting and a near subsequent Planning Board Meeting for a Permit.

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) through Maine Housing will open in September. The Project should be permitted by that time for a very competitive application for a first round of funding.

An RFP for Architects should produce a selection by the July 26. This should pub the Project on track for a spring 2026 ground breaking.

The future release of funds through Maine Housing for rent support of $800/mo. for up to 24 months was reviewed. MSH is working to how they will implement the use of the $18 million in allocation and who will administer/distribute said funds. The Task Force will utilize to aid in preventing homelessness due to economics as details are released. The funds, is used at the full $800/mo. x 24 months would serve not more than 937 households.

Other Resources:

The York County expansion of Lyman’s Way in Alfred for substance use and detox center expansion has achieved full permitting. It is slated to go to construction by October of this year with an approximate 1-year construction period.

York County Region 1 HUB for the coordination of case management continues to implement for all providers to utilize the same form information within the HMIS system for the unhoused.

19 Strategies:

Sanford Housing Director is conferencing with the U.S. Interagency on Homelessness to review our Region’s work on the 19 Strategies and to seek further guidance on best practices following the closure of the encampment as well as preventing homelessness moving forward. The response will be incorporated into the Strategies and an Update will be provided as worked by the Task Force.

Annual Housing Forum:

The Task Force discussed suggested change to this year’s annual forum on Housing as being briefer on updates of actions taken to allow time to focus on the voids and future needs. This will better inform advocacy and legislation across State and Federal Resources to address the continuum of housing needs in Sanford. This format will be request to the City Council.

It was further suggested that the Housing Forum also provide a precursor to another Homeless Forum at the Performing Arts Center in Sanford with the York County State Legislators.