Lewiston council to discuss makeup of new shelter committee
May 17—LEWISTON — The City Council will discuss the membership of its new ad hoc shelter committee Tuesday, with councilors seeking to have input on appointments that are ultimately decided by the mayor.
According to a council memo, Councilor David Chittim requested that an item be added to Tuesday's agenda for the council to discuss potential members of the committee.
The council voted earlier this month to create the new committee, which will make recommendations surrounding the city's homelessness issue, including the establishment of a "permanent shelter to be managed and/or overseen by the city of Lewiston or its designee."
The City Charter states that ad hoc committees may be created by the mayor or city council but that "the mayor shall ... after consulting with and offering the councilors an opportunity to comment on proposed appointments, appoint members of ad hoc committees created by the council."
The council order on May 7 calls for the appointments to be made by May 31.
Members of the community and homeless advocates have been calling on city officials to pursue a 24-hour low-barrier shelter for years.
The committee will be tasked with identifying services, a preliminary budget, funding sources, locations, and other details related to a shelter.
Prior to the council's vote on May 7, members of the city's Housing Committee, which urged the council to form the separate shelter committee, said there has been some concern from the community about a lack of action.
Cara Courchesne, chair of the Housing Committee, said some see it as "more words and less action," but that addressing homelessness is complicated and the city should have a "really clear understanding" of the details prior to pursuing a shelter.
"The best way we can do that is with experts," she said, adding that the council's choices and who is appointed will reflect "the values this council wants to lead with."
The committee makeup, approved by the council, will include at least one city councilor, a member of city staff "to liaise with Code Enforcement, Police, Fire, General Assistance, and Economic Development," an individual who is or has been homeless, and no more than 10 other members, the council memo said.
Councilors did not specifically name residents who they believe should serve, but the memo said examples include "providers experienced with homeless services and state/federal funding structures; funders for homeless services and site costs," and more.
Councilor Josh Nagine said he's concerned that the Androscoggin County homeless response hub coordinator would not be included in the appointees.
Councilors and those on the Housing Committee said the end goal is to increase the amount of affordable housing in the area, but that a shelter is needed in the short term.
"Until we solve the housing problem, we're going to have a homeless problem," Chittim said.
"A shelter is not the end point," Courchesne said. "Safe, stable housing should be the end goal."
Others thanked the nonprofit Kaydenz Kitchen and its staff for operating the city's warming center this winter. Councilors said talks should begin soon on standing up a similar operation this winter.
Megan Parks, who worked at the center, said negative comments officials have heard about the shelter committee "come from a place of frustration."
She said efforts to stand up a permanent shelter go as far back as 2009.
"There's a very long history of talking about homelessness and not doing anything," she said.
Officials in Auburn, which recently established its own homelessness committee, said that committee would coordinate with Lewiston's effort.
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