To the Statewide Homeless Council, Allies, and Friends:
Thank you for taking time yesterday on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 to meet together. Our meeting primarily focused on several key topics:
- The results of the Legislative Session for 2025 in regard to bills centered on homelessness and affordable housing.
- June updates from the Regional Councils and HUB Coordinators
- Changes to the Homeless Rule that may impact the distribution of shelter funding.
- Updates to MaineHousing’s work with Housing Innovations to complete a gaps analysis of our homeless response system.
- A summary review of affordable housing production goals and current pipeline of new housing units into 2026-27.
- A discussion on how to organize this fall’s Interagency Summit on Homelessness in Maine with state agencies.
Materials from the meeting are posted on our website: Homepage – Maine Homeless Planning
Here are our ACTION ITEMS for the month ahead:
- Review the Maine Homeless Planning website and hub level data dashboards regarding the current homelessness data across the state: https://www.mainehomelessplanning.org/hubs/
- Please review the Policy Committee’s report on bills enacted in this year’s Legislative session – to be posted on our website with the meeting materials. Please reach out to Cullen Ryan, Policy Committee Chair with any questions (Cullen@chomhousing.org).
- Sign up for the Policy Committee. We will be working with the Continuum of Care to identify our new legislative priorities for 2026 this fall. If you would like to be a part of the Policy Committee, please, email me: rich.hookswayman@voanne.org.
- Regional Council Chairs will identify Emergency Rooms, Prisons, and Jails in their areas. This information will be shared with the Chair to seek data on the numbers of persons being admitted or discharged who lack housing.
- Attend an upcoming HUB meeting to participate in the homeless system gaps analysis being completed by Housing Innovations. Please reach out to your local hub coordinator for more information about the meeting details. The listing of hub coordinators can be found here: https://www.mainehomelessplanning.org/hubs/
- Provide input now on Interagency Summit. If you have suggestions for information, themes, or requests that should be made to state agencies this fall at our first Interagency Summit on Homelessness in Maine, please, send your comments to the Chair: rich.hookswayman@voanne.org.
I look forward to our next Council meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Thank you for all your efforts to end homelessness in Maine! Have a healthy and happy summer!
Peace – Rich Hooks Wayman
Chair, Maine Statewide Homeless Council