Bangor, ME - Council Chair Joseph M. Baldacci

Park Woods Transitional Housing

In Park Woods, the City of Bangor converted 60 units of surplus military family housing into transitional housing for homeless individuals and families. Tenants, who may remain in the units for up to two years, are provided case management and an array of services which enable them to complete a custom transition plan and achieve self-sufficiency. The first tenants arrived in March 1995; all units were fully occupied by the following September.

The facility was made available for use by homeless people as federal surplus property. Its renovation was financed with $185,273 in CDBG funds, $295,025 in Maine State Housing Authority Municipal Infrastructure funds, and $126,700 in City of Bangor General Funds. The initiative involved a variety of partners: Maine's then-U.S. Senator William Cohen provided information and assistance regarding the federal property disposal process; the City Manager was committed to the project as a model for welfare reform; the Community Development Director oversaw the use of CDBG and Maine State Housing Authority funds to accomplish the building and grounds rehabilitation; the Health and Welfare Director established the transitional planning program and an array of services for homeless households participating in the program; the Bangor Housing Authority Executive Director oversaw the implementation of an effective and responsive rental management program; and a neighborhood resident represented the interests of the private homeowners in the immediate area.

In its first four years of operation alone, Park Woods provided transitional housing to 899 persons in 303 households. As a result, 70 households completed their transition plans, 170 persons obtained employment, 45 are attending training and education classes, and 77 households achieved self-sufficiency and moved from public welfare.

Contact: Claire Bolduc, Case Manager, (207) 990-1678

The United States Conference of Mayors

J. Thomas Cochran, Executive Director
1620 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone (202) 293-7330, FAX (202) 293-2352

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