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ABOUT US:
NEWS: Groundbreaking
at Evergreen Woods
Six homeless families
from the midcoast will benefit from permanent housing and
supportive services at Evergreen Woods. The groundbreaking
for construction of Tedford Shelter's latest housing development
was held on August 28 at the building site adjacent to the
Bath United Church of Christ. The Genesis Fund has provided technical assistance to the project since the idea was developed more than two years ago, including help in raising development capital. Genesis Executive Director Beth McPherson is currently working on a grant application that would increase the amount of capital available for programs. Groups and agencies already assisting the project include Sweetser, the Bath United Church of Christ, Maine Housing, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Evergreen Woods was developed to address the need for supportive housing for formerly homeless families. The State of Maine 's Action Plan to End Homelessness calls for the development of 2,550 units of supportive housing throughout this state. This project, the first for families in the midcoast, is designed to serve families in which one adult lives with a disability. Tenants will come from the Tedford Family Shelter in Brunswick or be referred by Sweetser's homeless outreach services.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Wendy McMickle, who has benefited from the services of the Tedford Family Shelter in Brunswick , offered some thoughts on homelessness and the need for supportive, affordable housing. She, along with Tedford Executive Director Don Kniseley, had the honor of being the first to break ground at the site. |
Support
to resident families – those formal and informal services
that have proved vital to helping vulnerable families thrive
– will be provided by Tedford and Sweetser and include case
management and skill-building. The Bath UCC congregation,
which made the land available at a below-market price, will
provide a range of volunteer services to families.