Housing/Experiencing Homelessness News
New Maine Veterans’ Homes Facility in Augusta That’ll Feel Like Home Gets Ceremonial Groundbreaking
Thursday, April 18, 2019 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
Maine Veterans’ Homes host their groundbreaking ceremony for the new Augusta, Maine home. The 44-acre facility will have 138 private rooms with private baths.
Community Compass: A New Home for Women Veterans
Thursday, November 2, 2017 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
Andrew Breault, a veteran and advocate, penned this column announcing the opening of the Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope in Augusta, Maine. The Home, the first and only in Maine and northern New England, will serve several women veterans and their children who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. If a woman who served in the military needs transitional housing assistance, contact the Home at: www.betsyannrosshouseofhope.org.
Augusta Home for Homeless Female Veterans Nears Completion
Thursday, April 13, 2017 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
The Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 13, 2017. The house will be a safe home for a total of eight women veterans and their children. Founder Martha St. Pierre is focusing on completion of the first floor in the near future and then, welcoming the first two women veterans in need of transitional housing. When opened, the Home will be the sole home in Maine serving only women veterans and their children who are either experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. With a permanent address, it becomes much easier to connect veterans, and maintain that connection, with Department of Veterans Affairs services and benefits program managers, State of Maine veteran employment and education centers, and partner with other state and community agencies. Financial literacy, healthy cooking, and other personal support will be offered.
Homelessness is a Challenge for VA Center (Part 2)
Sunday, September 11, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
In this "Part 2" article published in conjunction with the Togus 150th year anniversary, veteran homelessness continues to be "just one of several complicated challenges" Veterans Affairs facilities are addressing. Maine VA, like all other VA agencies nationwide, face different generational expectations. Read Part 1 and Part 3 articles for more information about Togus history and the veterans they serve.
The Home Depot Foundation Pledges More Than $1.75 Million to Volunteers of America to Provide Homes and Services to Vulnerable Veterans
Monday, August 8, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
The Volunteers of America (VOA) will receive more than $1.75 million in new Veteran Housing Grants from the Home Depot® Foundation. Since 2011, the foundation has given VOA nearly $11.3 million to improve housing for homeless veterans and their families.
Housing for Homeless Female Veterans Moving Forward After Favorable Appeal Ruling
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
The Augusta Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously overturned the City Council's approval of the city’s Code Enforcement Officer's decision to deny the application for a building permit for the Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope for women veterans experiencing homelessness. Attorney Mary Denison represented the registered non-profit Home stating that the operation did not fit in the city's current ordinance definitions, which the Code Enforcement Officer had to reference. There were about 20 supporters at the appeals hearing including neighbors, veterans, and several members of the Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars. Renovations will resume with hopes of a grand opening on Veterans Day 2016. Donations--money, gently-used household goods, and time to help with renovations--are welcomed.
Transitional Home for Homeless Female Veterans Finds Building in Augusta
Friday, May 13, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
The availability of transitional housing for homeless women veterans is scarce in Maine and across the nation. The Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope on 8 Summer Street in Augusta, Maine will be one location where women veterans and their children can benefit from stable, safe housing while receiving services and benefits that will help them stabilize their life and move forward in positive, productive directions.
Augusta House Readied for Female Homeless Veterans
Sunday, May 8, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
Martha Everatt St. Pierre, founder of the Betsy Ann Ross House of Hope for homeless women veterans, stated: “These are women that served our country, and they need our help.” The older home on 8 Summer Street in Augusta, Maine has more than 4,000 square feet and an attic that may become a renovated efficiency apartment. The house will accommodate veterans and their children for up to two years. While living in a safe environment, they will benefit from access to state, federal, and community services to help them get back on their feet and become self-sufficient and independent again.
United Veterans of Maine Looking to End Veteran Homelessness
Tuesday, January 26, 2016 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
On January 27, 2016, the United Veterans of Maine volunteers will travel around County communities to survey how many homeless veterans there are.
It Looks Like There Are More Homeless Veterans in Maine. But the Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story.
Thursday, December 31, 2015 | Category: Housing/Experiencing Homelessness - ME
In the past eight years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data reflects the number of homeless veterans increasing by 70 percent. In 2008, 89 were counted and in 2015, 181. In some areas there's been a decrease, but in others like Washington and Hancock counties, there have been more homeless veterans identified. Phil Allen, Veterans Housing Services for Portland homeless service provider Preble Street, gives credit to more systematic outreach and quickly connecting veterans with services. Megan Burgess, veteran’s services case manager for Washington-Hancock Community Agency, finds her efforts hampered as federal housing vouchers are allocated by location. Her clients often are not within the Bangor service area. But, she agrees that outreach and having a presence in the community has made a difference. Additionally, providers and veterans themselves are reaching in for assistance.