The fiscal year 2024 proposed municipal budget includes funding for expanded social service resources within the public safety department.
Scarborough Town Hall
The need for more social services is in response to the increased demand in the past year for programs like general assistance. The general assistance program sees more clients seeking aid for housing, food, and other public assistance. This need is being felt not only in our community, but statewide and beyond. It is largely correlated to the effects of inflation, the end of the Emergency Rental Assistance program, and lack of affordable housing. Maine is also experiencing a consistent resettlement of new Mainers seeking general assistance.
From a fiscal standpoint, the town of Scarborough has historically had relatively nominal annual general assistance expenses. The program was administered by a part-time employee for 12 years until their resignation in June 2022. The town shifted the model to a contract with The Opportunity Alliance in September 2022. However, with the increasing client demands, it is no longer feasible to fill this need on a part-time basis.
The town intends to expand its social services with a new position and migrate all resources and programs to be under the direction of the social services navigator. In its fiscal year 2024 budget, the town proposes to hire a full-time social services coordinator.
The position would support our social services navigator and be the primary role of Scarborough General Assistance administration. The role includes meeting with individuals who are unable to meet their own basic necessities due to lack of income or resources available to them. They would take applications for assistance, provide written decisions and vouchers for assistance when applicable, keep complete and accurate records, and maintain client confidentiality.
The social services coordinator would also provide in-person and phone support to individuals seeking referrals to local support services. These referrals will help to address community members’ unmet needs and provide a continuity of their care and well-being. Referrals may include local pantries, case management, primary care providers or other community and social service agencies. The gross cost for the position would be $76,000, however, the net impact would be approximately $53,000, reduced by the amount currently budgeted for part-time/contracted staff.
Homelessness has never fully been absent from the town of Scarborough, often only hidden and overlooked. Encampments were concealed behind the trees with these individuals unnoticed unless they created a commotion or a disturbance. The model has changed from ignoring that this problem exists, to starting conversations with individuals including, “How can I help you?”
The police department created the position of social services navigator in 2019 to support this model. Between July 2022 and March 2023, approximately 45 of the 115 referrals that came to Social Services Navigator reported being unhoused and seeking support with basic needs. The ultimate goal is to engage them in a conversation and offer support in hopes of helping them again reach and sustain self-sufficiency.
The social services navigator also serves in a clinical capacity as a licensed clinical social worker to help in assessing the imminent needs and risk of individuals who may be experiencing suicidal ideation or other clinical mental health risks. Additionally, this position supports the mental health and wellness of Scarborough officers on a day-to-day basis.
The trend of an increased demand for social services also led to the law enforcement assisted diversion case manager position, filled in April 2022. The program allows individuals engaged in low-level offenses a chance to address adverse challenges (i.e. substance use, homelessness, mental health) they are facing while being connected to a continuity of care, rather cycled through the criminal justice system. The case manager’s primary focus is linking program participants to substance abuse and mental health treatment, vocational/educational opportunities, local and federal housing opportunities, and community services with the goal of diverting the participant from the criminal justice system and reducing recidivism, thereby reducing criminal activity in our community. This is a three-year Department of Justice grant-funded position.
The addition of the social services coordinator position under the direction of the social services navigator would better equip the town of Scarborough to meet the increased demands for general assistance and social service resources. For more information about the proposed budget, visit www.scarboroughmaine.org/budget/fy2024.
Allison Carrier is marketing and communications manager for Scarborough. She can be reached at acarrier@scarboroughmaine.org.
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