-Hi, I'm -Eric Ford for Made Here.

-Long time Maine filmmaker -Richard Kane looks at social -issues in Bangor -with the documentary Building -Hope: Ending Homelessness.

-This project gives a voice -to the unhoused.

-Sharing personal stories -and experiences along -with potential solutions -to this widespread issue.

-You can watch Building Hope -and other great Made Here -films -streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the -film and thanks for watching.

-How long you've -been living here?

-Since May.

-What brought you here?

-Lack of employment.

-COVID.

-Life?

-Yeah.

-Hows this place to live.

-You okay here?

-No, it's freezing.

-!And apparently they're kicking -us out on December 15th, -and I'd just like to -know how people can -kick the homeless -out of being homeless.

-Like, -where is everybody -supposed to go?

-You don't live out -here by choice.

-Have you had a job?

-!Yeah, I've done a lot of jobs.

-I actually was a preschool -teacher for a while -and this is not where I -thought I would be at 30.

-Like you go to -college and you think, -okay, -I'm doing everything right.

-I'm doing everything everyone -said I'm supposed to do.

-You go to college, -you get a degree, -!you get a job, you don't expect -life to throw you -curveballs like that.

-And then you end -up in places like this -and a lot of people -are very judgmental.

-People will stand out, -you know, with signs -!trying to get help and stuff and -people will scream -at them to get jobs.

-!And the thing is, like they're -trying And a lot of people, -you know, -!they don't have the background -or the education -to get jobs like that.

-And like even with me, -I've applied to I don't -know how many jobs -and I haven't gotten one -yet and I have two degrees.

-We all used to help -each other out and stuff -But it's gotten to the point -now where everybody is -getting desperate.

-We're helping as much -as we can bring food to -It's like the cycle -of homelessness, -substance use addiction, -mental illness.

-Once you get in that cycle, -you have no identification, -!you have no birth certificate, -you have no telephone number, -you have no phone, -you have no food, no address.

-!It's a very, very complicated.

-And these people here -!are human beings just like us.

-And if we can just -do anything to help, -!like give a little bit of food, -they desperately need water.

-!How do they dig themselves out -of where they are?

-what these people are missing -and lacking is hope.

-There are a couple -of deaf people up there and -crying her eyes out because -she was so cold and there -!was nothing that they could do.

-the big reason -that I'm here is that -my daughter is an addict -and I can't help her.

Why?

-the outcome is not good.

-I can help these folks.

-!So that's what I do on Tuesdays.

-These people break my heart.

-my son is also has substance -use addiction.

-And I've been trying -to help him for many.

-I'm sorry.

-I've been trying to help him -for many years.

-And he's walked -these very streets -homeless and cold.

-Im sorry, -I don't want to -do this.

I'm sorry.

-Sorry.

-So, no.

-!So I'm here to try to just give -a little help that I can, -that's all.

-Cause these are people -just like you and me.

-I was in an -abusive relationship.

-I was assaulted by a partner -and my landlord -said because I was assaulted, -they -didn't feel safe and -asked me to leave.

-!leaving us with no place to go.

-We went to my mom's house.

-!My daughter lived in the house.

-I lived in their camper.

-We had a portable heater -and it would run 24 / 7 -and would not get -up over 40 degrees.

-You know, the YWCA closed -and they ran a shelter -for women and for girls.

-Maine Adoption -Placement Services ran -a shelter for pregnant -and parenting teens.

-That's closed.

-!Ingraham used to run a shelter -that's closed.

-Youth Alternatives ran -a shelter that's gone.

-Catholic Charities got out of -the shelter -business in Portland.

-Salvation Army got out of the -shelter business in Portland.

-I mean, these are facts.

-These are important -organizations.

-Well, you know, -well respected organizations -that all said shelter work?

-We can't do that.

-It's too expensive.

-There's no funding.

-The politics are awful.

-The neighborhood -!neighborhood issues are awful.

-The trauma for -staff is terrible.

-!The turnover is extraordinary.

-So this -doing shelter work is it's -kind of the third rail.

-Years and years ago.

-I ran away from home, -so thats how I -ended up homeless.

-13 years old.

-I ran away from home.

-Didn't want to live up -underneath my father rules.

-!And one of his rules were that -you cant obey his rules -Find somewhere to go.

-!So I started living out in the -woods in tents -and stuff until I got -a job, which my grandmother, -she come, got me one day.

-She got me a paper route.

-some of my friends -who were making $4-500 a day.

-Here I am working -40 hours a week, -you know, -!and only making $100, you know.

-So the money looked enticing.

-looked real good.

-But the downfall of that is -I got popped by the cops -and I end up going to prison -for possession of cocaine, -delivering sales of it.

-You know, -Possession of a firearm.

-!I knew that I didn't deserve 30 -years just for -possession of a fire arm.

-I didn't brandish -I didnt strike.

-I didn't discharge I didn't -threaten anybody with it.

-It was in a duffel bag, -zipped up in the -back of my truck.

-So while I was in prison, -I read a book by Malcolm, -Malcolm X and -!I said that if he could do it, -I could do it.

-!And I thank God for my grandmom -because she used to -write me all the time.

-!And she would tell me you could -either let that prison -system taint you, -or you could take it -and you could use it -for knowledge and -come out of better man.

-I like to be a advocate -!for the Native American people -In my prayer time?

-I asked God.

-I said, Well, -what I'm going to do, -you know, I was kind of like -in a jam about this -and that being homeless.

-So he told me my spirit.

-!He said, You're going to places -where youre gonna -try to help people.

-When somebody -needs some some help, -I know that they're down and -!out because I know how it feels.

-!I want to see the Native people -have something in their life -worth living for -and be proud what they are.

-!They don't have to live in any -!kind of misery or hopelessness.

-these people here has been -a big help to me, the staff, -the residents.

-!You know, I get along with them, -they get along with me.

-And so I'm thankful for that.

-So it's been very -difficult for me.

-But, you know, -lifes lifes gotta go on and -I'm trying to -make the best of it.

-now, since I'm homeless, -I'm living in the Bangor -Homeless Shelter, -I have a case manager -and she's the one who -called me in the -office because she said -that I fit the criteria -and she would like to see me -get the apartment -And then after the briefing, -then we'll just.

-We're going to go over, -like, what's next?

-What are we going to do next?

-The next steps to getting -you into your apartment?

-Okay.

Good.

-Hey James, -how are you?

Not -bad this morning.

-Its saying that when we -check to see if you're -eligible for the program, -!part of what we look at is ... -Cullen Ryan: Most of the -resources that we depend on -to work to end homelessness -are federally sourced.

-biggest among those -are through HUD -and biggest within -HUD is a rental subsidy.

-like uh Section Eight or -!tenant-based rental assistance -!is determined on the household -income and household size.

-Homelessness is -premised on the idea that -weve a lack of -affordable housing -Rental subsidies, -more than anything, -level the playing field -!so everyone can afford housing.

-Two and a half -years ago we started -collecting information about -!who was touching the hospital, -who was touching the -jail on a monthly basis.

-And so we've been -looking at that data -and we found that -the same population -is up to 29 times more -likely to be in the hospital -and up to 45 times -more likely to be in -jail when unhoused -than when housed.

-Maine housing helps -you pay your rent.

-The family will pay -30% of their adjusted -gross monthly income... -The contrast is dramatic.

-When people get into housing -they stop richocheting -through all of our -most expensive -emergency systems.

-When somebody stays -in the hospital for a night -you know thats a $1000.

-You know they touch the -!Emergency Room thats a $1000.

-When police, fire and rescue -come and pick somebody up, -!that's thousands of dollars.

-If somebody stays an -extended period of time -at a hospital -psychiatric facility -its $160,000 a year -All that changes when we -!have people out of that stress -into a stable home and people -are feeling good -about themselves.

-They're not tangling up our -police and rescue services.

-They're no longer obviously -at homeless shelters -and theyre not outdoors -they're in apartments, -and they dont go to -the hospital anymore -They don't go to the -Emergency Room.

-Oh, the Viewing.

Yup.

-Um, -!that's the one that we had avail -through Community -Housing of Maine.

-Yes!!

-Big tub.

Not no -shower.

A BATH tub.

-Who doesn't like cupcakes?

-I like to, you know, -to be funny, -make people laugh, -communicate with people, -make them feel important -and listen to them, you know, -make sure that they're heard.

-I think a lot of times -people just want -to be heard, right, -Somebody to talk to.

-I'm 13 years in recovery.

-I was in active use, -probably about six years.

-It came to an end -when I had no place to live, -no family that would -help me anymore.

-!They were basically enabling me -at that time, -so I was out of options.

-From there I went -to a methadone clinic.

-I was there two years.

-!I successfully came off of it.

-I went to Beal College.

-I got my Associate's Degree -in Addiction Counseling.

-And then the pilot -program Diversion -came into play and I applied -!for that position and I got it.

-And I've been -doing it for about a -year and a half now, -and I love it.

-!Am I the best at it right now?

-Absolutely not.

-It's growing.

-I'm learning and we're just -figuring it out as we go.

-But I love my job.

-I love being able to help -individuals where I once was -Turning something negative in -!my life into something positive.

-!And I think it's really good to -!like have somebody to advocate -for these individuals who are -experiencing -substance use disorder.

-There's so much -stigma surrounding that.

-Yeh, -shes not a bad girl.

Shes -a pain in the ass sometimes.

-But she's a good girl.

-He put a rose on -my car for me as a -thank you for the -help... Are you -saying I'm a pain -in the.

(laughter) -!the sweeps make no sense at all.

-And I say that -knowing that these -encampments are awful places, -They're not safe.

-!They're public health disasters.

-We get that.

-But the solution is not -to just tear 'em down -Bulldoze 'em and assume -everything's going -to be okay then.

-It puts people in distress -and more physical harm -if you sweep encampments -than if you keep them.

-(Off camera) Where are people -going to go from here today?

-Into another encampment.

-I'm not saying where?

-Because that I'm telling you, -Id be telling you -where they're going -so that these folks -can go get them.

No.

-That's someone's stuff -that they're taking away.

-These are people's homes.

-They have to take what they -can to carry to go -somewhere else.

-They have to -start all over again.

-Finding tents, -finding places, you know, -to sleep, finding food, -finding clothing.

-I remember when we didn't -have shelters all -over this country -!or food pantries every 200 feet.

-It's a new phenomenon.

-I have a big fear -that we're going to move next -into an acceptance -of encampments, -!and we're going to go so far as -!to have sanctioned encampments.

-But we're also I think we're -settling when we do that, -like, okay, -this is the best we can do.

-This year was -the first time in the -point in time count -for the whole country -that we had a higher -number of people -who are unsheltered -than sheltered.

-That's shocking.

-That's shocking.

-That's something that we've -!never crossed that line before.

-And it is growing.

-We're seeing outdoor -outside homelessness -in Maine like we've -never seen it before.

-!It is miserable being outside.

-!It is miserable being homeless.

-and we are all -bettered by making -sure that everybody -is included in society.

-!Especially during the pandemic, -we saw an increasing -number of individuals -who were unsheltered.

-And there aren't -enough resources being -deployed in the state -to address the need.

-10 to 12 outreach -workers is not nearly enough.

-And the fact that -how long it takes -from the point you -make that first contact -to build a rapport, -to build a relationship, -to build trust, -!to get the documents in place, -to get an understanding -of the barriers, -or the struggles -the individual may be facing -and how best to connect them.

-There has to be urgency -in the work that you do -Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross: -We didn't just arrive at this -crisis yesterday.

-We have had an issue with -affordable housing -stock in this state -!dating back to the mid-seventies -if you're only able to put -online less than -1000 units a year -and your need is -upwards of 20,000 -we must take dramatic steps -But it became very, -very, very clear to us -as we began the -131st state legislature -that not only did we have -!to address the housing crisis.

-But we had to prioritize it -in all of our work.

-Tracey Hair: What -we're seeing now -single mothers are homeless, -fleeing domestic violence.

-!Single adult men are homeless.

-I've seen pilots, -Ive seen school -teachers, -opera singers homeless.

-!Entire households are homeless.

-People who are -employed are homeless.

-!The reality is homelessness is -not a condition -or a circumstance -that anybody is immune to.

-Yeh.

It has been so nonstop -since I got in -here this morning, -I'm trying to think about -!what I need to catch you up on.

-!...

Shelter staff.

Jane.... hi!

-How are ya?

I had -to check it out here, -see?

-How are ya?

-good.

That's in.

-I have the voucher, -so.

Were just looking -for the apartment.

-That's right.

-That's right.

-Were looking into the Bangor -!and Brewer area for apartments.

-Cause my seniors job -is is in Bangor, so, -And that way we'll also have -ongoing navigation with Jane -for a year after she -gets into housing.

-Right.

So I keep everything.

-!my suitcase and backpacks now, -You're sending -the energy that way, -right?

-Right.

She's ready to go.

-Yeah, I'm ready to go.

-!Thanks, Jane.

Good to see you.

-When I was a child, -my father starved me.

-He was an alcoholic and -Pastor and Mrs.

Schmidt -of the Seventh Day -Adventist Church -came in and they -would buy me groceries.

-They gave me a little food -cupboard and with a padlock -and would buy me -groceries once a week.

-!Diana Schmidt was a teacher and -Pastor Schmidt, -they were just like -my own parents.

-I had children Gene -Strout and Jamie Wells -and I'm trying to find them.

-And my husband, -we're trying to find -is Ferris George -Lewis from Manchester, -New Hampshire.

-We have not found anybody.

-!It's due to I had a long term -memory loss and I -my memory wiped out, -had no memory, -and ended up in -Canada for 25 years.

-And I wanted to come home all -these years just -to find my family.

-I haven't seen my -family in 25 years.

-If you had your own -place for 20 years -and all of a sudden -not have a place to live -and none of your -friends and family -and I'm all alone.

-I'm in this search -of trying to desperately -find my family -the idea of people who -are falling on hard times, -!getting to connect with members -of their community -and be engaged -and develop those -kind of relationships -!that help people to to wellness.

-You can't go wrong with that.

-Another thing, Cullen, -that's really cool -is across the street, -Freshwater Stone.

-theyre a second chance -employer.

I love that.

-!and will often reach out to us -to see if there's anyone -!who's having a hard time finding -!work.

Theyll often call and ... -most of the people that are -there are trying to get help, -!they're trying to find a home, -they're trying to find a job, -We want the -community to be strong, -you know, -!and and we want to be known as a -as a company that, -you know, is good -for their employees and -!good for and good for the area.

-You know, -you're helping the person, -!but you're also helping yourself -and you're helping -the community.

-Yeah, -!A couple of our guys from years -!and years ago are still over the -so.

-And making good -money.

Its really cool.

-Anyones homeless.

-Poverty exists -prior to our affordable -housing crisis.

-So the missing link now is -is housing and affordability.

-I was homeless -most of my childhood.

-I've also been -homeless as an adult, -and I was living -in a homeless shelter -when my mother died.

-And so if you can imagine -!being alone in that experience.

-And then I was in the shelter -when my sister died.

-And so just utter -terror that there's -nothing else but the -grace of the people -!that are working with you that -can keep you safe and alive.

-The isolation of -being unhoused and -you can't really -pick yourself up -from that situation -without help.

-That feeling of hopelessness, -I can really identify.

-People who are going to die -in their fifties or forties -or thirties because of the -stress of long -term homelessness.

-Yeah.

-if they go past -one year in housing -!and they start to get treatment -for all those things that -they've ignored for years, -we watch people actually -stay well for much longer.

-!And Ive seen people who I knew -when they were -chronically homeless, -One individual who was -homeless for 34 years, -he looked younger in 2014 -when he was housed than he -did in 1997 when -he was unhoused.

-!Younger, well, healthier like, -you know, a double take.

-It's just really, you know, -you look great.

-She worked in Guatemala -!and her life is being threatened - 'cause she was a -police officer there.

-And this cartel -has gotten out of -prison and they're -threatening her life.

-!So she fled to the United States -got to -!the border of Texas in September -just -a few weeks ago, -and they deported her -immediately to Mexico.

-So she crossed again.

-And she's just been in -my office with her child.

-And I called an attorney -while she was in here -!and the attorney said, there's -there's not no hope.

-!so there's a terror there that -the I don't know.

-This is a hard one.

-Yeah.

It's hard.

It's.

-!We live in such an unjust system -One week from today, -there will be a new shelter -!in Portland strictly for asylum -seekers who are on their own.

-!That population of new Mainers -currently takes -up more than half -the space at the city's new -homeless shelter -on Riverside Drive.

-The city is hopeful -that more beds -overall will help -both asylum seekers -and unhoused people -So, yeah, the rationale for -having a separate -facility is that -asylum seekers -need different services -than other homeless folks -that are already here.

-!And if there's funding available -!for an asylum seeker facility, -then you can go build one.

-And if there isn't, -then you cant.

-Many from Senate -President to the Governor, -bipartisan support we have -invested and committed over -$100 million into housing, -!the immediate impact sends such -!strong messages, to developers -who now have confidence -that they can pursue projects -because they know that -there will be state funding -We're lucky enough to host a -number of asylum -seekers in our town, -and they've been tremendous -contributing members -of our community.

-great additions to -our school system.

-So, I, I think it's terrific.

-!we have in Maine, for example, -asylum seekers, -who aren't allowed to work.

-I mean, that's just crazy.

-We've got this huge -workforce shortage.

-We've got -people who want to work -and often are well-trained -and the law doesn't -allow them to work.

-Senator Collins and I -have a bipartisan bill -to lower the -waiting period for a -work permit from -180 days to 30 days.

-Again, -just to say, look, -!this is this doesn't make sense.

-So you're forcing people -on to public support, -taking up beds in -homeless shelters -!when they don't want to be there -!and they don't need to be there -!if they're allowed to go to work -and make money and take -care of their -families and pay rent.

-!If they can enter the workforce -!to get into the housing market, -!free up a bed for someone else, -then we can actually create -more capacity in -the shelters that -we do have in this -housing crunch.

-!the Homeless Services Center was -needed because -our shelter downtown -was not an adequate shelter.

-because it was just former -!three story apartment building -!that was converted to a shelter.

-It didn't have, -food service kitchen.

-So folks had to leave to -get meals three times a day.

-this design really also -took into account COVID -Because every -time I try to see her, -And so the the four foot -high walls are designed -to give a bit of privacy, -but also space for -social distancing.

-other design -features of the building -include the 3000 -square foot clinic -that GPH runs that has four -exam rooms and -two dental chairs.

-And that clinic is open to -!not only guests of the shelter, -but also the community.

-We've wanted to -lower barriers there.

-So more people who -are in encampments -can can can feel -comfortable there -can feel safe there, -will be feel welcome there.

-And so when this -new shelter opens -for asylum seekers, -there'll be dozens, dozens -and dozens of beds, hopefully -more than 100 beds -suddenly freed up.

-We confront NIMBYism on -every single project we do.

-someone will show -up at the planning -board saying it's -the worst thing ever.

-Homeless shelters obviously -face additional scrutiny -!and additional negative comments -because of the -perceived nature of -!what goes on there.

Ultimately, -!its a skill to figure it out.

-And it's worthwhile to -get these projects done.

-Because when you've -!accommodated as much as you can, -when you've taken all -the good suggestions -and made the project -as good as you can -Its a fight worth having.

-!We had a Zoning Board of Appeals -meeting in Rockport -this past week, -and there's a lot of -fear and it's unfounded.

-And their representative -essentially evaluated -the fact that we were going -to be partnering with Maine -Behavioral Health -on bringing services -into this housing -project and connected -the word behavioral -to schizophrenia -and that that this -was going to be -some kind of -mental health facility -and that landed in the paper -I do not believe maybe -there maybe people here -know differently, -but I don't think -!there's been a clear statement -!of who will be in this project, -what sort of services -will be provided, -!whether or not schizophrenics, -for example, -are going to be in -the project or not -!There were other comments from -some of the neighbors -around how they will -!no longer be able to let their -grandchildren play -outside anymore.

-And they were going to -be locking their houses.

-And what's really interesting -!to me is that that is NIMBYism, -!that is judgment in advance of -really getting to -know a human being.

-Most of our -clients are hard working -or want to get back -to having a job with a -!little extra education or help.

-I think we need to -do a lot of education -around the reality of -hardworking human -beings who are -making minimum wage -People have a right to be -concerned about -their neighborhood.

-I've lived for, I don't know, -40 years on the same street -that has a Section Eight, -!has a house with Section Eight -let's see 50 yards away, -just down -the street catty -corner from our house.

-And hows that -been.

It's no big deal.

-I mean, it's never occurred -!to me that this was a problem.

-!And we owe it to our community -to provide a space -that's full of dignity -and respect for everyone -thats our ultimate -goal is to get folks -!on a path to self-sufficiency, -whatever that -self-sufficiency looks like.

-The biggest problem we -have in housing right now -is that there's -not enough of it.

-And the one law -that Congress can't -repeal is the law of -supply and demand.

-if the supply is short -and the demand is high, -the price is going to go up.

-And that's what's happened.

-So fundamentally, -we need to also be -talking about how -to expand the supply.

-And that's what -this bill is about.

-the nature of -affordable housing is it's -an economic term -that's a market failure.

-!And what that means in economic -terms is the market -won't provide it.

-So there have to be -all these programs -and incentives -to try to provide it.

-And none of them -are nearly big enough.

-So it's a societal thing -and the Affordable -!Housing Credit Improvement Act -is going to be a -boon to those of us -who are in the business -doing these projects.

-But at the same time, -it's not you know, -it's not enough -to fix the inequity -in our society -that we're trying -to trying to fight.

-if you build units -that will house -extremely low income people.

-There is in the Maine State -Housing Authority -has these tax credits -!it can allocate to your project, -which you can then sell, -which becomes part of -the capital of the project.

-In other words, it -!it lowers the amount of equity -that you have to put in -!and therefore makes it a more -attractive financial deal.

-Maine has all sorts -of revenue right -now that they're -putting into affordable -housing, the Governor, -!Governor Mills, has been great -about directing a -ton of resources.

-Federal resources -have been coming -in, and state resources -toward affordable housing.

-But the development -capacity of the State, -developers like me, -bankers, contractors, -architects, loan officers, -everybody is red lining.

-Everyone is trying -to develop as fast -!as they can, as much as they can -because of all the -demand for the housing.

-And at a certain -point you can only stuff -so much money in -the top of the funnel -and spit out housing -units the other end so fast.

-And to the extent -that that is not -increasing the -velocity of housing, -!all it's doing is inflating the -prices and creating a bubble.

-The rents from a low income -person can't possibly pay -the cost of building an -apartment or a house.

-we have to talk about housing -!costs, the cost of construction, -the cost of building a house.

-And then talk about how do -we make housing affordable.

-My answer is -sometimes you have to do -something that's a -little less profitable -and maybe a little harder, -but it's really -better for all of us.

-What does it cost for one -person to be on the streets?

-paramedics, police, courts, -emergency rooms, -and that added up -to $20,000 for Utah, $36,000 -per person on the streets -per year in Los Angeles.

-So Utah went to -developers and they said, -what would it cost -to house them?

-Use the housing first model, -no questions asked.

-!And you do wraparound services.

-That works, by the way.

-And they did it.

-!They did it and for five years.

-They reduced -homelessness by 93%.

-They were on track to be -!the first state in the country -where everyone has a pillow -to lay their head on.

-And new leadership came in, -said, -We're not going to -coddle them anymore.

-!They need to be self-sufficient.

-Took away the -housing first model.

-And now Utah is -spending millions -because people -are on the streets.

-The Concept of Housing -First is that everyone does -well with housing and that no -!one does well without housing.

-It doesn't make -sense for anyone to -have to be entirely well or, -you know, -healed of all their -issues before wed -start thinking about -getting into housing.

-When we move people -!right into housing, what happens -is that we subtract -all that stress -and we watch -people get well right -in front of us just -from having housing.

-!Now, that doesn't do it alone.

-!You still need support services.

-Absolutely.

-But support services -go a lot further -when somebody is -clear and stable and safe -and in the privacy and the -dignity of their own home.

-What size shoe are you?

-usually between -like 6 1/2 and 9 1/2.

-My ankles I had -them broken at 12 -and I didn't get to go -to the hospital for it, -mainly because we didn't have -enough money to pay the bill.

-There was a time where I -made myself go homeless -like on purpose.

I went -out and I didnt wanna -Didnt wanna go -home cause they didnt -really want me there -in the first place.

-So I was probably like 15, -16 when that happened.

-!I would have little to no food -you would go a few days where -!you're just really hungry until -finally you're just -not hungry anymore.

-And sometimes, sometimes -you'd get to a -point of desperation -!where you're about to just cry.

-!So your friends were from here?

-!Id have to ask people for help.

-Sometimes theyd help and -sometimes they wouldnt.

-Ive been here for - 'bout two months.

-Its been OK.

-Ive been trying my -best to find a place.

-Fill out paperwork.

-Sometimes all -you can do is wait.

-So I lost my only -best male friend -that I've ever had, -due to an extensive period -of being exposed -to drugs over his life.

-you know, it devastated me -because I never really wanted -to be into that scene.

-and I just didn't realize how -!big of a problem it was for him.

-I mean, -I've heard everything's -good in moderation, -but I don't really think -!that's the case for everything.

-OK.

I want to welcome -back Gordon Smith, -Director of Opioid Response.

-I'm very thankful -for you being here, -!If there's a positive comment, -I could make it.

-It is that based -upon our own data, -the percentage of -people experiencing -homelessness that fatally -overdose has not -has not increased -as a percentage of -our overall overdose.

-The problem is that -the number of overdose -fatalities has -increased substantially.

-the federal -government has put out -that information -nationally that they think -that fatal overdoses -are plateauing -because the increases -are coming down.

-I'm not going to say that -!because they're still increases -and people aren't -stupid in my opinion.

-They're going to realize that -if we have a 15% -increase from 2021, -that's 90 people, -additional people who died.

-Katie -!Theres some very brass tacks, -things that we can do -to start to arrest the number -!of people who are going to die.

-Everybody CPR trained, -every every -institution or agency -has an AED machine -Every institution -has access to Narcan -widely available and -we should be training -not only our staff but also -!other people in our community.

-I really do think there are -dynamics in place right now -with this Governor -and the Speaker -!and others that we've never had.

-And there's an -opportunity to do more -than I think we've -ever been able to do.

-Six months from -now were going to see -changes and support from the -legislature in terms -of real resources -so that were able -to end homelessness -So I remain very -!optimistic.

We will get there.

-Having personal experience -around the challenges -of staying in a home.

-Personally knowing how -difficult it is sometimes -to afford health care -and go to the doctor -Personally knowing -and having family -members experience -food insecurity.

-Trying to figure out if -!you're paying the utility bill, -you know, or your rent.

-Even with a number -of services available -and benefits through -a safety net system, -all of those things -can fail to address the -cycle of homelessness -if you do not connect -and first have housing.

-There are three housing -first models in Portland.

-But we've also -made room for small -scattered sites throughout -the state of Maine.

-Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, -Chris speaking.

-We have a bed available.

-Are you able to come in?

-Like a young man this -morning came here, -Utilized our warming -center last night.

-But he had family in Arkansas -that was willing to -!have him come back and stay with -them and help -them get on his feet.

-So we were able to -purchase a bus ticket and -have him go all the -way to Arkansas today.

-So with the Warming Center, -folks, -!when they walk in off the street -We're not asking for -their mental health history.

-We're really asking are -you safe to be in community.

-Come on in.

-We we have a growing -crisis across the state.

-It used to be restricted -to Portland and Bangor.

-!We call them long term stayers, -people who are in shelter -for longer than 180 days.

-Our average length -of stay is currently -just over 70 days for a lot -of folks to get re-housed.

-All shelters -throughout the state -operate on a -prioritization system.

-We prioritize veterans.

-People escaping -domestic violence, -for example.

-We also prioritize youth -and families with children -You haven't received the -Social Security card yet?

-No, I have not.

-I've been waiting.

-If we don't get it by -the end of next week.

-we should call over to Social -Security and have -them look into it.

-Okay.

Because you do need to -!get her hooked up on services.

-So you dont have any -!trouble with the medical bills.

-!The Youth Empowerment Supports.

-Its permanent -supportive housing, -which means that -every one of our tenants, -!our young people has a voucher -and the supports come is the -form of the caseworker -So how's the -apartment hunt going?

-Not so good.

-The rent thousand, -they want you to make -over $3,000 a month.

-Yeah.

-You wouldnt have -a voucher probably -if you're making over -$3,000 a month.

Yeah.

-We'll find places -that are cheap, -!but they don't accept vouchers.

-The market is just terrible.

-It is.

It's really -its sad right now.

-What's going on?

-Weve seen the -rate of rehousing -folks drop off precipitously.

-we used to rehouse -30 households a month.

-Now we're lucky if we rehouse -two households a month.

Why?

-There's just not -enough affordable -housing.

The housing -market was hot -And a lot of those -properties were -!purchased by corporate landlords -who just raised the rent.

-!So we've got this perfect storm -of housing has disappeared -or become more expensive and -more people are unstable -in their housing.

-Whats great about -our program is that -they can keep Cathy, -our case manager.

-!She can follow them out into the -community to continue -to case manage -and help them stay stable.

-Nobody should -get left behind right.

-And there are people who -have major mental illness -and have some really -extreme behaviors.

-!And they still deserve housing.

-Returning citizens, -people who are -leaving incarceration.

-They've paid their -debt to society, -!but they have no place to go to -once they are -released from prison.

-And people with -addiction.

It's an illness.

-And we know that -when you have a roof -over your head, -you're much more capable -of dealing with those issues -than if you're unsheltered.

-Low barrier is -the gold standard.

-we we have animal guests -we've had dogs, -cats, guinea pigs, -!These are her emotional support -!animals.

Wanna hold one?

Yes.

-!Yes.

They help with my mental -health, with my depression -!I used to self-harm, and with -them, they prevent that.

-!Folks need those animals for a -whole host of -therapeutic reasons.

-!And if they have a disability -and they have -a clinician signoff -Then we are required to -try to accommodate that guest -!Providing low barrier shelter, -our basic philosophy -is we have one rule, -one core rule for everybody, -whether you're an animal or -a human guest in our shelter.

-!And that's we want everybody to -be safe in a -congregate community.

-Rapid rehousing is -another program it's -been running in -other parts of the state.

-!Their experience of homelessness -is triggered by some -sort of structural -issue.

Right?

-The landlord has sold and the -new owner wants -vacant possession.

-!We can work with that household, -right?

-They've got income, -they've got jobs, -!They've got everything in place.

-They just haven't -been able to find -a unit and what -rapid rehousing does -is offers some -landlord incentives -!Landlord incentives can include -everything from -enhanced security deposits, -help with getting -units up to code.

-We know from the -data that the experience -of homelessness -is what is considered -!an adverse childhood experience.

-It's a traumatic, -destabilizing experience, -and the likelihood of a child -!who's experienced homelessness -repeating that experience as -an adult is -significantly higher.

-So when we can -divert a household -with children from -coming into shelter, -we're having a two -generation impact.

-ACES can add up, right?

-!So an experience of homelessness -combined with domestic -violence or a parent -with a poor health or a -history of incarceration, -and are much more likely to -rely on systems as they get -older rather than -self-sufficiency.

-So it is really critical -that we keep kids out of -homeless shelters.

-!What were hearing more about, -which I'm grateful for -is positive childhood -experiences.

-!And in many cases it's the lack -of positive -childhood experiences -that are as detrimental, -!if not more than adverse child.

-So creating positive -opportunities so -that youth have -positive experiences -in their life to draw from, -that builds resilience, -that builds hope.

-The vast majority of -youth that come here -I think they come -because they feel -like its a welcoming place -where they can be themselves -where they know were going -to be excited to see them.

-Um, a lot of the youth -especially the younger ones.

-arent necessarily homeless.

-But they have -challenging home lives.

-In many cases they are -!being raised by a single parent -or a single grandmother.

-They have families -who are experiencing -incarceration and in -some cases addiction.

-!Youth walk in often times where -!they are not having a good day -where they're escalated, -where they're -starting conflicts.

-And that's part of -the work is to try -to create a place -where it gets back -to all of us kind -of being guided -by what's respectful, -what's kind.

-You know, a lot of our youth -!experience tremendous depression -!and anxiety and in some cases -suicidal ideation and, -!you know, an increasing amount -of sadness and despair.

-So having those connections, -having a sense of belonging -is all part of part -of the experience -here at The Landing Place.

-You know if we're treating -!young people with respect, then -and providing for basic needs -more often than not, -we're met with respect back.

-So when somebody is not -able to live up -to that basic level -expectation, -then we work with that.

-You know, -we address the behavior.

-We don't we don't -shut down the individual.

-We say you have to -look at this behavior.

-I'm glad you're here -at The Landing Place.

-!Did uh Melissa, I think I talked -to Melissa the other day, -so she.

-Did she tell you -a little bit about -!all the stuff that we have here?

-Oh, a little bit.

-Okay, cool.

Well, if you -have any questions, just ask.

-All right.

-You want to help us make -some food and set up?

Sure.

-Whered you put the -other box of brownies?

-Over here, Ill show you.

-I'm either blind or -you're just moving, -!No, No.I might have put it back -!Well this young man is somethin.

-Hes definitely -one of our all star, -rock star -!regulars at the at the Drop In.

-And uh, He uh, -you know he just -has one of these -electric personalities -that you know -when he walks in the door -you always know -that hes in the room.

-and uh, -hes had his fair -share of trouble.

-at school and with -peer relationships.

-Every now and then -Ill bring out the guitar -and well play some -music and his first -song lyrics that -Eric came up with, -!

"I ain't got no self control .

-So this tells you -a little bit about -and we wrote a -blues song about it - "Workin on my Self Control.

-Workin on my Self Control -and workin on it -... I just go with it.

-!and we just yell out the lyrics -and every now and -then he just ... its -like the best thing -in the world for him.

-Im so proud of -him.

He's on his way.

-Why do I do this work?

-if we could help young people -not only survive their -their teenage years, but -to actually have hope -for their adult years, -and we could do it as a team -and as a community, -I can't think of a better way -to live and to spend time.

-Are you coming up for -the Rent Smart.

Later?

-Okay, -So I'm going to -chase down Jolene -and try to keep working -on this thing for Steven -It's called Rent Smart.

-to help people to um -Re-think about what is -needed to actually rent -How much does it cost to -rent and can you afford it?

-!First the amount that it would -cost for you to do -the down payment -and the first month's rent.

-!And when you add up, maybe if -they say you have -to pay electrical, -right, -!then that would be part of it.

-first month last month -and security deposit.

-All the costs you -don't realize at first.

-All right Jane.

This is -the date that you signed -your lease and got your -keys from your landlord.

-!And that you're on Shelter Plus -Do you get food -stamps and MaineCare?

-And we had that.

-You were in a shelter, -correct?

Yeah.

All right.

-So you were literally -homeless?

Yeh.

-They said that they had one -coming up and it was mine.

-Oh Wow.

-!And we wasn't getting anywhere.

-So I told Andrew and Andrew -took it over and -got me right in.

-He straighten it all out.

-Yes.

Its good to -have a caseworker.

-It definitely is.

-Its one of the -traumas that people -experience when -they lose their housing -They have to surrender -all of their possessions -You can get an apartment, but -when you move in you -dont have any furniture, -you dont have any dishes, -you dont -have any sheets.

-You dont have a bed.

-So all of those things very -often have to be figured out.

-Good to finally have a home?

-Its going to be cozy.

-!But I think we can make it work -We got the Christmas tree.

-Now we just need the -bed frame and the iron -BANG!

-Oooops!

-You want the bed up against -this window here?

Yes.

-to go out and get some more -sheets tomorrow.

-Well all right.

-Well talk tomorrow about -getting a microwave.

Yes.

-Sounds good.

And you're -staying here tonight, right?

-Yes.

Okay.

-!All right.

A lot of work to do.

-Congratulations.

Thank you.

-Wheres my hug?

-Ha ha ha!

Pat pat pat -I got the best -caseworker in the world -Ha ha ha.

See ya.

-so Amelia just closed -on her house Friday?

-We're excited to -finally start planting -the seeds and the herbs for -my herbal apothecary business -that I can actually -get back working into -and just makin -our life as calm -and peaceful as possible.

-!And a lot of it was the support -of Knox County -Homeless Coalition.

-I've been employed -for the last ten years.

-!just proves that having multiple -college degrees, -working full time, -!raising a child, not on drugs, -and still ended -up in this situation -that we cant possibly do -without our community.

-We just got dealt a raw hand.

-And even though I work -every day of the week, -!still ended up on the streets.

-Just as we invented -homelessness in the 1980s by -!making a decision to allow our -!government to cut its resources, -its safety net, -the fabric of care for -people who were -really struggling.

-And that allowed us to have -homelessness.

-I can tell you that as we -start to normalize stepping -over people on the -streets and having people -clog our sidewalks with -makeshift encampments -to try to survive -out in the cold, -especially in colder climates -where that doesn't work -and it leads to death, -We are really taking a step -further away from -a civilized society.

-How long altogether do you -think that you were -living outdoors?

-7 to 8 years.

-it was scary for me.

-I always had to look -over my shoulder -and, you know, -make sure no one's -!following me or taking my stuff.

-!at that point, I was I was so -disillusioned with everything -that had been -happening in my life, -that I just, I just gave up.

-And when I first -got to that shelter, -it was the scariest -day of my life.

-And so years of being outside -in the winter -sleepin in bus depots -and the rainy weather -and so on and so forth -sleepin in Lincoln Park -down there many times -you know, -!we're not on the street anymore.

-And we we have each other, -and we got a home.

-I feel so good about -being here and being able -to have a normal life again -!To be able to have a roof over -your head is a -really good thing.

-Nobody really likes being -out in the rain at night.

-!And if youre homeless you only -!really have what youre wearing -And maybe a few extra pairs -So it can be really hard.

-Second and final -set of the four chairs.

-Honestly, -!I'm really excited I can't wait.

-Right this way.

-Self doubt really -gets to you cause -!when you think everything is bad -and you dont feel like -you can even trust yourself -you perpetuate your -own circumstance -So it led me to believe -that I wasn't good enough -that people wouldn't believe -me even if I was -telling the truth.

-H.O.M.E.

has given me -a lot of opportunities -for self-growth.

-Being angry at -myself and at life for -dealing me the -hand that I was dealt.

-I just kind of started -trying to work with it.

-And I would recognize -the times that I did -try and I did recognize -that I had these failures, -these moments where -I needed to do better.

-!And so I kinda worked on that -Part of being the navigator -is also advocating for them, -you know, -letting them know -that regardless of -whether they have any rental -history or any references, -letting them know -how well they did -in the shelter, -how good they kept up -their rooms and cleaned, -and how responsible -they've shown us.

-So it's basically just -advocating for them -and letting them know that we -believe that they'd -be a good fit for it.

-Right now where -he doesn't have a job -Maine State Housing -is covering everything -and then once he gets a job -!he will have to report it to us -and we report it to -Maine State Housing -And then what they -do is they calculate -how much he would -make for a year, -!and then it's 30% of his income.

-And that would be his part -that he would have to pay.

-I've been in contact with -one of my old managers -and they told me -that the position -at McDonalds -right now that I had -before I came to the -homeless shelter is open.

-A new job will give you a new -opportunity to learn -where I'm appreciated, -helps with how you -feel about yourself -!It's kind of like a helping hand -pushing -you forward into -doing something better.

-Someone that's -making it believed in me, -Someone taught -me I wasn't stupid.

-Someone didn't judge me.

-They understood that the -things I was doing in the -war zone of poverty were what -!I needed to be doing to survive.

-And rebuilding my hope and -rebuilding my confidence.

-Welcome to Chipotle -what can I do for you today.

-How about a Carne Asada?

-!Some people fell on hard times.

-!And ouldn't pay their rent for -!one month and they get evicted -!a lot of people will say, well, -they got no excuse.

-They got you know -why you can't pay your rent?

-if I'm making $12 an hour, -I'm working just to pay rent -There's not a single county -in the United States -where a person making -the minimum wage can afford -to rent a two -bedroom apartment.

-Think of that for a minute.

-when you have to pay more -than 50% of your income for -for housing, that doesn't -!leave much for everything else.

-I didn't understand.

-When people say, well, -I have to make a choice.

-Buy my insulin or to, -you know, pay my rent.

-!But then I start seeing people -you -know, -!with swelling up their legs and -because they couldn't afford -!to insulin.

I looked at it like, -wow, -Yall should give -homeless people a chance, -because the winter -time is so harsh.

-And I was giving people -blankets out of the shelter.

-!I'd go into in there and get a -blanket to bring it -back out there and -give it to them to because -I've seen the black toes -or the frost bent -fingers.

And I'd be like, -Oh my God, -just to see how desensitized -everybody was to, -you know, -!to the homeless.

And and that, -like I said, I was too, -!because they were like, well, -that's what they choose.

-That's what they wanted, -you know.

But -that that's incorrect.

-I did not choose it -and it happened to me.

-And I know I have never went -six months without -a job in my whole life.

-And I'm 33.

-I mean, (laugh) -!Thats funny you don't look it.

-63 todays my birthday guys, -by the way.

-Yeah.

Happy Birthday!

-May 10th, -!May 10th.

Well buy your dinner.

-Yeah.

-They had a big cake in -there in at Chipotle for me.

-But turned 63 today.

-But I do.

-I feel like I'm 33 years old -again because to have hope -And to know that peoples out -there that really -care about your stuff, -It give you, you know, super -strength, you know, what?

-You can get up -every morning like me.

-And I'm like, Oh,I don't care -!if my leg hurtin me, my toes, -hurting me, -or my back hurt.

Chipotle -is my number one, you know, -!because I know this right here -is my livelihood now and this -is able going to -keep me afloat.

-This is not a poor country.

-We're spending billions -on the symptoms of poverty.

-We we could invest in kids.

-We could invest in the -adults and save money.

-It's way more expensive to -!pay for the symptoms of poverty, -I think the average person -needs to get involved -and needs to speak -up about all this -and needs to get it -needs to get informed -!and not not just get angry that -there are encampments, -but get angry -that we're in a -society that that's okay.

-We may not see everything -!we want to see in our lifetime, -!but we've got a responsibility -!to keep pushin pushin pushin.

-hope, hope springs eternal.

-I grew up at a time where -neighbors looked -after neighbors -and it was not at all odd -for for me to walk to school, -to walk home and -along that route -people would look -out the window, -look for me if I ever -needed anything -along that route, -I could stop anywhere.

-I believe we've got -to get back to that, -that time where we are -not afraid of one another.

-that.

We have to get back to -being true neighbors -to one another.

-There's nothing that -matches making a -difference for your -fellow human beings.

-Nothing, no piece of jewelry, -no trip, no car.

-!Let me use what's in my hands, -my wisdom, my expertise -to see if I can't leave -you in a better place.

-Good to finally have a home.

-In these times, -!We must be mindful of the gift.

-In these times, -Use our hands -and hearts to lift -!The fallen spirit in this land.

-Growing gardens in the sand.

-Reaching out and helping hand -In these times -Vermont Public -Partnering -with local filmmakers -to bring you -stories made here.

-For more, -visit vermontpublic.org.