Helping homeless part of the ‘common good’

Kudos to Joanathan Crimmins on his recent proposal in “Gimme shelter.” I concur with his suggestion that Bowdoin College donate a two acre parcel to Tedford Housing to build a comprehensive shelter with onsite support services and other resources for the increasing numbers of homeless teens, families and adults. Such a donation would be a substantial step up for Tedford Housing’s initiatives to end homelessness in our Midcoast communites.

As I write, there are families camping out, teens couch-surfing, and people struggling with mental and physical illnesses unable to obtain decent and affordable housing. As a former board member and volunteer for Tedford, I appreciate the skills and dedication of the staff, and am certain that a gift of this magnitude would allow the agency to better utilize its resources to reach more people and support them in transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.

And for Bowdoin College — a lasting legacy and a deepening of their commitment to the common good. I hope the college will seriously consider this idea and enter into dialogue with Tedford Housing.

Joanne Rosenthal,

Brunswick

Parking or people?

Now that Tedford Housing has given up on Baribeau Drive as the site for a homeless shelter, the Council should revisit Cedar Street and consider whether it makes sense to put a parking lot there or emergency housing for the homeless.

Tedford’s adult shelter on Cumberland Street dates back to the last century. A big improvement over the original shelter on Pleasant Street when it opened in 1994, it hasn’t grown with demand. Back then,16 beds were enough but the same 16 beds are well short of today’s needs. Tedford is increasingly unable to help many of the desperately poor who need a bed and have nowhere else to turn. Volunteers at The Gathering Place, Brunswick’s daytime drop- in center, regularly encounter visitors who are turned away at the shelter and are forced to sleep in tents, cars or the rough.

Few Brunswick locations are better suited as a site for emergency housing than Cedar Street. The lot is owned by the state and was once part of a rail yard Adjacent to many of the services used by the homeless, the lot is compatible with the neighborhood which includes a food pantry, soup kitchen, clothing bank and a drop-in center. Adding emergency housing would continue the area’s evolution toward a comprehensive hub serving the needs of the poor and homeless for food, clothing, shelter and companionship. It corresponds to the plan suggested by the 62 Pleasant Hill Road group which opposed the original Tedford site. “What we’d like to see,” said its spokesman Jim Bridge, “ is a holistic approach towards Brunswick’s homeless and others in need of emergency and transitory shelters. It’s critical to ensure that we get the best solution for them.”

Before the town invests $6 million in a car park, however, the matter deserves careful study. In the end, the decision may rest on the answer to the question whether the highest and best use of the Cedar Street lot is for parking or for people.

Arnie Besier

Harpswell

Note: Arnie Besier is a volunteer at The Gathering Place

Supporting Berry

“Positive Campaign” — I know that will sound odd to a lot of ears, but let me introduce you to someone who is doing just that: my local representative Seth Berry. He represents Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond, and Perkins Township. He’s one of the few politicians out there who actually cares about people feelings, not just their money —that’s why he runs a “ Positive Campaign.” When I’ve contacted him with questions or concerns, he’s always made an effort to respond to my emails. I truly respect someone who personally responds to me. I hope you’ll help re-elect this great person!

Deb Smith,

Bowdoinham