Nobody chooses to be homeless.  Especially in the arctic cold of winter, it’s inconceivable that anyone would voluntarily subject himself, herself, or their children for even a few hours to life on a sidewalk, in a tent, under cardboard, next to the town gazebo or the like.   

Since 1987, Tedford Housing has been the only Brunswick resource to help people transition from homelessness to permanent housing.  In addition to temporary housing for a limited number of single adults and families, Tedford provides support, counseling, connections to other agencies, and practical skills to help temporary residents find and maintain a permanent home.  Of the huge number of Tedford “graduates” over 30 years, the recidivism rate to homelessness is only 10 percent-11 percent. 

Tedford’s extremely limited capacity means that far more individuals and families in need of transitional temporary housing are turned away than served.  In fiscal 2018, Tedford’s capacity for individuals was 12 men and 6 women, and the agency served 87 people; 354 people singles were turned away.  The numbers for families are worse.  Tedford can only handle 6 families.  In fiscal 2018, a total of 18 families were served, and 228 were turned away.   

Tedford currently operates from four or five different sites in Brunswick for administrative offices, support services, and temporary housing for individuals and families.  Not surprisingly, this arrangement is unwieldy and inefficient.   

To help combat a part of the excessive “turn away” rate and to streamline operations, Tedford embarked in February 2018 on a plan to expand units to 30 for individuals and 12 for families as part of a beautiful new Resource Center that would have all operations in one place – temporary housing, administration, and resident support services.  The expansion and consolidation would, among other things, allow Tedford to more expeditiously transition more people to permanent housing.   

The agency chose a site for the Resource Center, but a consortium of neighbors joined to oppose Tedford’s plans.  After hearing the opposition, the Town Council decided that there was a need for an amendment to the Zoning Code to designate areas and a licensing ordinance to impose conditions for emergency shelters.  Of course, Tedford is the only emergency shelter that has ever been in Brunswick.   

The Council appointed a Task Force of three councilors only – no stakeholders or transitional housing experts – to develop the zoning amendment and licensing ordinance.  At the same time, the Town Council declared a 6-month moratorium on Tedford’s Resource Center plans, which subsequently was extended twice until June 2019, a total of 15 months.   

It took until a few weeks ago (an entire year) for the Task Force, with support from the Town Manager and Planning Commission, to propose a zoning amendment and licensing ordinance.  In the meantime, Tedford unsurprisingly lost the chance to purchase the original property; has been unable to search for another site; and had to place on hold a capital campaign to raise funds for the new Resource Center.   

The zoning amendment effectively excludes the Resource Center from all but a very few of the designated zones due to building and lot size, density restrictions, and resident transportation needs.   

And if the Town Council adopts the licensing ordinance for emergency shelters, Brunswick will be the only Maine town or city that requires a license for emergency shelters.  Instead, all other communities rely on the experts at the Maine State Housing Authority to apply and strictly monitor standards for performance and operations of all temporary housing agencies funded in part by the MSHA, including Tedford. 

Portland is now faced with the replacement of a dilapidated and overfilled emergency shelter.  In contrast to our Town Council, the Portland City Council didn’t establish a task force or request city staff to research and propose significant limitations for a new 150-bed facility.  Instead, staff was tasked to identify potential shelter sites for the City Council to consider.  Staff recently proposed 14 sites of 30 identified.  A new emergency family shelter apparently is also in the works. 

Rather than supporting Tedford’s relatively modest expansion and much-needed consolidation – at no expense to the town – the Town Council has proposed significant hurdles for the new Resource Center. 

Having lived in Brunswick for over 25 years, I take great pride that we are a compassionate community that is home to many agencies for traditionally underserved populations – people with disabilities, people who are hungry, people without housing, at-risk teens, and more.   

We should embrace Tedford’s goals and efforts, not spurn them.  Tedford deserves far better.  

Jamie Kaplan lives in Brunswick.