HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-23 98-121 RESOLVEItem No. 8-121 . _
Date: 2-23-98
ItemlSabjech RESOLVE, Calling Upon Me Stale of Maine In Increase Funding for
Emergency Shelter Services for the Homeless
Responsible Department: City Council
Commentary:
Councilor Cmwley has requested that the attached Resolve be prepared for Council consideration. This
request was hdtuded by Damon R. Marble, the Executive Director of the Greater Bangor Area Shelter.
The Resolve calls upon the State to adopt the recommendations of the Interagency Teak Force on
Homelessness and Housing Opportunities. A copy of this report has previously been pmvidrd to the
Council. Mary Arms Cbalila, our Health and Welfare Director, was a member of this task have.
In particular, the Resolve supports additional state funding for our homeless shelters. Just as important, it
calls upon the State to adopt the report's other recommendations which, in many instances, address steps
which can be taken to reduce homelessness. Of particular interest to the City is the recommendation that
shelters develop annual plans describing how their guests will access mental health and substance abuse
services and a related recommendation that mental health agencies develop annual plans describing how
their services will be delivered to porous in homeless sheltes.
D:1'a:l
Manager's Comments: ate..__': -000t} rW {VtO ayNwrrO rc�. NtA+r�'Kn/.�.
City Manager
Associated Information:
Resolve
Budget Approval:
Finance t for
Legal Approval:
City So r
Introduced for
x Passage
firer Reading Pugs—_ af_
Referral
Assigned to Councilor Crowley February 23, 1990
CITY OF BANGOR
mn� IttC.._Caing[mooWeStateofMtineto ..increaseFmdNgfor
Shelter Services for the Homeless
By W City Owneit Write Cry ofBmWor.
RESOLVED.
WHEREAS, during 1999,14,219 Mainers were homeless and the States homeless shelters now demand
for their services increase 33%; and
WHEREAS, Maines shelters save adults with mental illness and substance abuse, families with
Children, victims of domestic violence, and homeless youth; and
WHEREAS, Show funding for shelters has remained flat since 19% while operating costs are increasing;
And
WHEREAS, state support currerfly represents less than 8%ofthe Average shelter's costs to provide
services; and
WHEREAS; the Maine interagency Task Force on Homeleamms and Housing Opportunities has
recommended that the State become an equal partner with local non -profits or meeting the
need for emergency shelter services and Nat closer partnerships be developed with Maines
mental health system;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMM OF TBE CITY OF BANGOR,
THAT: we call upon the Governor and the Legislature of the Some of Maine N adopt and son upon
the recommendations of the Maine Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing
Opportunities. In pmticulaq we call upon the Store to increase funding for emergency shelter
services from its current level he $3.15 million and m develop a closer partnership between shelter
providers, the States mental health system, the Mame State Housing Authority, and other state
agencies to insure not only Naz shelter services are adequately funded bar that the needed
resources and relationships are in place to address the causes of homelessness and to reduce its
incidence throughout Maine.
IN CITY COUNCIL
February 23, 1998
Passed
i
C CITY LEn
98-121
EES0LVE
Calling upon the State of Naine to in-
s Funding for Emergency Shelter
Services for the Homeless
ary of
rMWAINE NGOR M°rE w<o
EXECUTIVE DEPAWIME W aappxmv aa5 4400
Edward A Berner, Manager
4ea
February, 27, 1998
Representative Jane W Saxl
37 Pond Street
044
Bangor, ME �01�—
Dear ReprespSd tF Sax1:
At its meeting of February 23, 1998, the Bangor City County adopted Resolve 98-121, `Calling Upon
the State of Maine to Increase Funding for Emergency Shelter Services for the Homeless" A copy of
this Resolve is atnched.
TEe Bangor City Cowgi supports the recommendations of the Maine Interagency Task Force on
Homelessness and Houswg Opportunities. In particles we support additional State fording for
homeless providers and the Task Force's recommendations on developing a closer pannemhip between
Shelter providers, The Stam mental health system, and other state agencies to address not only the
immediate needs of homelessness but its sources Slid causes.
We are concerned that we continue to see an increase in the demand for homeless services during a
Paprocki of relatively stable economic growxh. Hds concern is compounded by the on-going fiscal
difficulties of NET shelter provides such as rhe Greater Bangor Area Shelter and Hope House. Weare
alsrraed that over half of those whom services are provided have either mental health needs, substance
abuse problems, or both and that this element of our population seems to be growing.
We believe dee Task Force developed a sound set of recommendations aimed at supporting the minimal
care needs of our population whileaddressing the need to work toward mitigating or eliminating the
causes of chronic homelessness.
We urge your support
Sincerely y'purs,
Edward A. Barrett
City Manager
EAB/m
cc. Dennis Marble, GreateBangor Area Shelter