Advisory Committee on Homelessness 10.13.26

The City of Bangor Advisory Committee on Homelessness met on October 13, 2026. Members reviewed plans for winter warming shelters: Brick Church is scheduled to operate November 15–April 15 with capacity for up to 70 people, Mansion Church November 15–March 31 with capacity for 25, and Boyd will provide five additional mats. Together Place may provide up to 35 overflow spaces on the coldest nights, but that proposal and its funding and operating details were still awaiting City Council discussion at a workshop the following day. Members raised concerns that projected capacity may not meet actual demand and discussed staffing, training, coordination, and possible cold-weather policies. No procurement vote or award was made at this committee meeting.

The committee discussed funding and procurement arrangements for shelters and homelessness services. Brick Church reportedly received approximately $400,000 in MaineHousing funding, while Mansion Church did not receive funding; the committee noted that last year the city also used an RFP and contracts with requirements and reporting for warming centers, and staff agreed to provide those materials and relevant Portland and state guidance. A small subgroup was proposed to develop draft warming-center standards and policy for committee review. Separately, members were told City Council had declined the Project Hope proposal after the committee recommended a 50/50 match from Community Development Block Grant and opioid settlement funds; partner organizations planned to consider alternatives. The committee also discussed developing a city homelessness-response strategic plan, with shelter capacity, coordination, and potential policy changes as priorities.