Tag: Homeless

New program aims to employ unhoused people

~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

A new program is being launched in Biddeford to help find work opportunities for unhoused individuals in the community.

Organizers are calling it the “Biddeford Opportunity Crew,” and it is a collaborative effort between several organizations to help “champion a workforce with purpose.”

The Biddeford Opportunity Crew is a new initiative based on a nationwide model that provides paid, meaningful work for local residents who face barriers to traditional employment. Primary project partners include the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, Seeds of Hope, the Heart of Biddeford and the city’s General Assistance office.

Organizers say the new program will “give participants purpose, income, job readiness, and a direct way to contribute to the community.”

In a notice released by the Chamber, organizers said that “many people in our city want to work — but are held back by housing instability, a prior record, lack of transportation or work clothes. The Opportunity Crew will give them a path forward.”

From June 1 through Labor Day, a supervised team of five individuals will be hired to complete beautification and maintenance projects throughout the city – from public parks to sidewalks to eligible clean-up tasks for small businesses. Workers will earn minimum wage, receive breakfast and lunch, and be supervised by a city staff member. The program will operate two days a week for the pilot year and be managed through the city of Biddeford’s General Assistance office.

This will be a city-run program, but it’s powered by community partnership, say organizers, hoping area businesses will help support the new program with donations, sponsorships and job opportunities. Participating businesses will be mentioned in press releases and updated social media posts about the initiative if desired.

“I’m really excited about this program,” said Vassie Fowler, executive director of the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center on South Street. “We’ve been talking about this for a few months, and I think it’s going to be a really great opportunity for people trying to put their lives back together.

“We want to help people restore their dignity and self-worth,” she added.

Fowler said the new program will not be mandatory or a requirement to receive benefits. Instead, the new program is intended to give unhoused people an opportunity to begin putting their lives back on track.

To learn more or become a sponsor of the new program, please contact Jake Hammer, Biddeford’s General Assistance Supervisor at | 207.298.3913 or jacob.hammer@biddeformaine.org

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City council covers project shortfall

~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

The Biddeford City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to fill the gap in funding for repairs and renovations to the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, a private resource for the city’s unhoused residents.

The council’s move Tuesday is expected to solve lingering issues and questions about a shortfall of $255,000 of the $1.2 million project. (See Previous story)

Biddeford City Manager James Bennett reminded councilors and stressed the fact that the renovations at Seeds of Hope was never a city project. Instead, the city decided last year to award the non-profit agency with funding that would come from federal grants.

When the project was first proposed last year, the council voted to direct federal funds the city receives from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

Shortly after the renovation project started, the city learned that certain parts of the project did not meet the some of the criteria required for federal funds.

“I wasn’t happy with this from day one. The mechanics of this process were ugly from the start”

–– Councilor Marc Lessard

Jim Godbout – a well-known plumber and community volunteer – was chosen by Seeds of Hope to lead the renovation project.

Despite the fact that funding for the two-phase project was now uncertain, Godbout and Seeds opted to press forward with the work so that it would done before the start of winter.

Awarding money to the Seeds of Hope, gave the city additional leverage and options for dealing with problematic homeless encampments throughout the city.

When the city of Biddeford decided to clean-out an encampment located near Mechanic’s Park last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court had yet to rule on a case filed by homeless advocates. That pending lawsuit required municipal governments to provide an alternative if they would not allow unhoused encampments.

In July, the city decided to direct federal funds to Seeds of Hope as a way to move forward with cleaning out the encampments.

The former homeless encampment on Water Street in Biddeford

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Bennett told the council the city could “just swap some funding around” so that Seeds of Hope, Godbout and his team would not be left hanging for work already performed.

The city council unanimously voted to follow Bennett’s recommendation of pulling $255,000 from the city’s contingency account.

Councilor Marc Lessard said using the contingency funds was “the right thing to do,” but harshly criticized the process to help fund the renovations for a non-profit organization.

“I wasn’t happy with this from day one,” Lessard said. “The mechanics of this process were ugly, but we do have an obligation to make things right.”

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