BELFAST — A group of concerned citizens met at Belfast Library Oct. 5 to discuss the issue of homelessness in Belfast, and brainstorm ways to potentially address the problem before the temperatures drop to deadly lows.

The group of 11 brought varying backgrounds, including a local pastor, a case manager from the Knox County Homeless Coalition, two nurses from Waldo County General Hospital, and a manager from General Assistance all present at the group’s first gathering.

In addition to being the meeting place, Belfast Library also serves as a pseudo-shelter for some, with homeless sleeping in the outdoor alcove.

Brian Englander, of the Knox County Homeless Coalition, which is also known as Hospitality House, said that administration in Waldo County have been “very open” to their involvement in addressing the issue of homelessness in Belfast, something not true of every community, he said.

Englander currently has several clients he serves in Belfast, with two clients actively involved, and another “elusive,” he said.

Hospitality House closed for over a year before being reopened by the Knox County Homeless Coalition. The shelter is run differently than many others, where clients are expected to leave each day at 7 a.m. with all of their belongings before being allowed back at 4 p.m.  

Instead of forcing people to leave each day and reclaim their space each night, residents of Hospitality House stay there until they’re housed, Englander said.

The program also has a much lower chance of its participants returning to a life of homelessness.

“Out of all my clients I’ve only had one return to homelessness, and that one was by choice. We’ve never had anyone evicted,” Englander said. It’s a feat that’s even more impressive due to the number of people being helped by the organization.

“More than 620 people have been moved into housing (across multiple counties) since Feb. 2014,” he said.

Currently there is no homeless shelter in Belfast, but even those in surrounding communities are open only to women, children, and families, leaving single men to find their own safe shelter. These men often end up staying in motels, though General Assistance Manager Pam Chase noted that the funds for covering those stays only last for a single week, and the stays inexpensive.

“After [a week], they’re back out on their own,” she said.

Beyond the issue of sustainability, many local motels are unwilling to accept the vouchers used to fund the rooms. Funding for rooms can be further complicated by a prevailing desire in each respective community to keep their taxpayer appointed funds within their own county.

One long-time Waldo County General Hospital nurse said she had only recently become fully aware of the issue, when she began working in the discharge section of the hospital. She noted her initial surprise at discovering the number of people who were homeless or living in substandard housing.

While the meeting spawned a variety of ideas and possible potential long-term solutions to be investigated, the focus remained on how to address the immediate problem facing Belfast’s homeless: Winter.

Ideas for addressing this issue ranged from asking local churches to coordinate efforts and share the responsibility of housing the homeless on a rotating schedule, to seeking grants with the aim of creating new housing for those most in need in Waldo County. With a traditionally strong sense of community in Belfast, the group hopes more people will be compelled to offer their support and possible areas of expertise to come together to help the neediest members of the community.  

While the October 5 meeting served as a first step in gathering and organizing concerns and ideas, a more concrete plan of action is needed as temperatures continue their descent. In the short term, the focus of the group will be on finding emergency housing for those homeless in Belfast, and organizing donation efforts to acquire needed items, like basic toiletries.

The group plans to reach out to local churches about the potential for their support in providing emergency housing to those in need. There are also plans to establish an official board to head the group and apply for nonprofit status, in addition to organizing future efforts.

Anyone interested in helping with the project, whether it be by spreading the word or joining the soon-to-be formed board is encouraged to attend the next meeting. The more compassionate minds and resources available the better the chances of successfully addressing the issue, not only for this winter, but also going forward.

The group meets again Oct. 19, though this meeting will take place at the Hutchinson Center. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. 

Email Belfast Homeless Coalition for additional information.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com