Tedford Housing

Tedford Housing is the only emergency shelter provider north of portland and south of rockland, offering shelter, on an emergency first-come/first served basis, 365 days a year/24 hours a day, to adjults and families experiencing homelessness. In brunswick, Tedford maintains a 16-bed single adult shelter at 49 cumberland stree, which is staffed overnight, and a separate family shelter at 34 federal street that offers 6 apartment-style units for families with children. Tedford Housing's emergency shelters provide a safe place for people to rebuild their hope. Shelter guests facing the crisis of homelessness work one-on-one with case managers to access to the health, human, and community services needed to overcome and address the challenges that created their Housing emergency, and achieve stable, permanent Housing. Case managers follow shelter guests long after they move into Housing to ensure that they are able to maintain their Housing and avoid a return to homelessness.during fiscal year 2024, Tedford provided 13,383 shelter bednights to 80 households. Of these 80 households, 64 were individuals staying at the adult shelter, and 16 were households staying at the family shelter. The 16 family households included 57 household members, of which 35 were under the age of 18.

In 2003, Tedford Housing made a strategic decision to change its focus from providing only emergency Housing shelter to providing homeless prevention services and supportive Housing services in the midcoast region. Tedford's permanent supportive Housing units are occupied by individuals and families who have previously experienced homelessness, and provides a vital platform for people to move forward in other areas of their lives like employment, education and improved health. Using a Housing first approach, Tedford housings 37 supportive Housing units provide safe, clean and affordable apartments with on-site case management. Many are occupied by adults and families who have experienced disabling conditions like mental illness and/or substance abuse and/or catastrophic events like domestic violence that have resulted in homelessness. Many have had multiple shelter stays and/or periods of unsheltered homelessness.tedford Housing has six supportive Housing apartment buildings; one in brunswick, two in bath, one in lewiston, one in auburn and one in augusta, with 19 units for single adults and 18 for families. Many individuals and families thrive in this supportive setting, resulting in more independence, greater self-sufficiency and a lower likelihood of these tenants returning to homelessness. Many have had multiple shelter stays and/or periods of unsheltered homelessness. Tedford Housing has six supportive Housing apartment buildings; one in brunswick, two in bath, one in lewiston, one in auburn and one in augusta, with 19 units for single adults and 18 for families. Many individuals and families thrive in this supportive setting, resulting in more independence, greater self-sufficiency and a lower likihood of these tenants returning to homelessness. In fiscal year 2024, Tedford served 37 households, comprised of 76 household members, in its supportive Housing units.

Tedford Housing's homeless prevention program is an essential strategy for reducing homelessness by preventing it from occurring. A costly car repair, divorce or medical bill can push a relatively stable household to the brink of homelessness. Tedford housings homeless prevention case manager works to provide case management to families experiencing a Housing crisis. Tedford partners with community agencies and utilizes funding from the united way of midcoast Maine to provide security deposits and rental assistance to prevent evictions and/or secure alternative Housing to individuals and families either in danger of eviction or homelessness or to those who are currently homeless. In fiscal year 2024, the program served 193 households, comprised of 301 individuals, with case management and outreach services, including those receiving rental and security deposit assistance. Our homeless prevention program also includes a separate emergency heating assistance program, warm thy neighbor, which Tedford Housing assumed in 2010. Warm thy neighbor is an emergency heating assistance program for those in brunswick and adjacent towns who are at or under 150% of the poverty level and without sufficient home heat. Eligible clients receive 100 gallons of heating oil or the equivalent of other fuel. The program is funded entirely by private donations. In fiscal year 2024, warm thy neighbor served 155 households, comprised of 284 members, and distributed $61,524 in heating assistance during the 2023-2024 heating season.