Dear Members and Allies of the Statewide Homeless Council:
Thank you for meeting this week on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. It was great to be with everyone as we face our current challenges.
I’m especially grateful to all the speakers who shared information about public funding to our homeless response system in Maine. While a lot of data and figures were shared, I hope it grounded us in understanding the multiple funding sources from HUD, DHHS, DOJ, MaineHousing, and the state’s General Fund that contribute to our spectrum of housing and services.
Please find attached several PowerPoint deck slides and other documents regarding public funding that were shared during the Council meeting.
The following action items will be the focus of the councils work in the coming weeks:
- Review the attached DRAFT Fact Sheet on homelessness in Maine, and provide constructive feedback to me (rich.hookswayman@voanne.org) on themes, information, or ways the fact sheet can be improved.
- As Chair, I will reach out to the MaineHousing Director and Governor’s office regarding the need to identify who is responsible for convening community organizations and public officials in responding to the closure of York county shelter.
- Call to Action to call Legislative Leaders in advancing the following bills to expand investments in homeless services and affordable housing production. Attached is a draft template email, including email addresses for Members of the AFA Committee that can easily be copied/pasted.
- Fund homeless shelters:
- LD 698, An Act to Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters in Maine
- Fund diversion/prevention programs:
- LD 641, An Act to Support Diversion Efforts to Address Homelessness in Maine.
- Fund rental assistance:
- LD 748, An Act to Increase Bridging Rental Assistance Program Housing Voucher Funding to Reduce the Current Partial Waitlist and Increase Housing Vouchers for Those Living with Mental Health Challenges
- Fund Housing Stability / Outreach Workers:
- LD 1910, An Act to Strengthen Housing Stability Services by Increasing Support and Outreach (not yet passed to be enacted, anticipated to be on the Table)
- Fund General Assistance Reimbursement:
- LD 978, An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes (not yet considered in the House/Senate but anticipated to be on the Table)
- Support affordable housing by passing this bill:
- LD 1082, An Act to Invest in Maine’s Families and Workforce by Amending the Real Estate Transfer Tax
- Collect sample bylaws and share with all Regional Council members to inquire what could be adopted to achieve greater alignment and unanimity.
- Invitation to State Agency Commissioners will be sent regarding the September Interagency Summit on Homelessness.
- Begin to analyze financial information in relationship to housing and bed inventory.
- The Chair will reach out to collect funding information regarding Veteran Homeless Services.
Thank you for your continued interest in our reform efforts to offer education and guidance to the Governor, Legislature, and State Agencies on our efforts to end homelessness in Maine! Please, reach out to me if you have additional recommendations or questions.
Enjoy our early start to summer!
peace- Rich
Richard A. Hooks Wayman
President & CEO
VOA Northern New England