Homeless Taskforce Update #12 (03/18)

A review of the Legislative Process and potential funding mechanism to address our unhoused populations was made with the following key areas being watched;

Governor's Supplemental Budget includes financial support for the GA System;

• Includes language to limit the use of hotels as emergency housing and as an offset proposes $16 M in additional housing assistance the Maine State Housing
• DHHS indicates the current levels of continued allowance of maximum overages will cost an additional $20 M if continued
• Added $5.0 M more to this year's Budget to meet the State's matching needs
• Current Maximum Levels are insufficient

Bills still being processed:

LD 1664, An Act to Increase Reimbursement Under the General Assistance Program would increase state reimbursement for the direct aid provided under the GA program from 70% to 90%.

Fiscal Note $8.5M above current levels

If removed as Emergency - starts in October - reduces to $6.4 M

LD 1540, Resolve, to Establish an Eviction Pilot Program which was voted out of the Housing Committee, The purpose of the program is to provide persons earning up to 60% of the median income for an area as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development with $300 per month in rental assistance paid directly to the landlord for up to 24 months or until those persons secure housing by means of a housing voucher program administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development under the United States Housing Act of 1937, Public Law 75-412, 50 Stat. 20 888, Section 8, as amended, or secure a subsidized housing unit

Fiscal Impact Statement - $15.0 M FY 23-24 and FY 24-25 each

LD 2136 Funding for Shelters $10 M – Committee OTP-AM - Appropriations

No further Action to Report

Lafayette Warming Shelter:

The Center is slated to close May 1, 2024 for over night stays as a Warming Center. The Center will remain open for meals and to provide a point of contact for case management and entry.

Occupants are being put on notice of the pending closure and strongly encourage to work with available Housing Navigators for placement. HUD Vouchers are available and the Housing Authority is working with St. Ignatius for up to 16 units of housing and voucher use.

The Recovery Center on the second floor of Lafayette should be open soon to aid people in drug and alcohol recovery and further provide a point of contact for case management.

It was noted that the severe lack of mental health clinics and access is the leading impediment towards people taking services and achieving placement. Advocacy and awareness with the State is further needed. It was suggested that we look at activating the York County Advocacy Group to work with Legislators prior to the next Session on the topics of unhoused and mental health services.

There is strong coordination of the Housing Navigators from Sanford Housing Authority, York County Shelter Program, and York County Community Action Corp all contributing staff hours and combining their knowledge and resources towards housing. Placements are being made, yet given the available resources it is difficult for the Navigators to keep pace.

Encampment at Heritage Crossing:

The condition of the encampment and the movement of people between this location and the Lafayette Warming Center was the focal point of the meeting. It was noted that a number of people are moving between the Encampment and Center during the day. The population of the Encamp has changed and conditions are deteriating rapidly.

Trash is a prime issue. The former funds used to pay for weekly rubbish collection is no longer available for that purpose. The City Manager indicated he would develop a plan for Public

Works to provide a container for removal provided the occupants would place and City would monitor for wrongful placement. Maine Access Points will assist in coordinating with the Encampment occupants.

The Encampment needs to be cleaned and the occupants will be cleared at a future point. Case Managers and Navigators are assessing the people who will take services and will provide feedback on what the time for closure should be to aid the greatest number of people. This can be a working plan provided the City can demonstrate reasonable progress towards cleaning and clearing the site and that the Encampment is not viewed as or used as a long term and continuing place of occupation.

The HUB Region 1 was discussed as per progress made in comparison to the other HUBs within the State. Recognition was made of the importance of the HUB in coordinating case management of our populations and connecting State and Local resources towards addressing housing. This address also must include mental health and substance abuse. It was expressed that the HUB is now making reasonable progress towards fully implementing.