BANGOR, Maine — Wednesday night’s public meeting by Penobscot Community Health Care officials to talk about a proposed expansion of Hope House attracted 30 people, as well as many comments, questions, complaints and answers.
One thing the 100-minute meeting was short on, however, was solutions.
“The issue tonight isn’t about if Hope House serves a needed function or provides employment for a lot of people. I think that’s great,” said Dunning Boulevard resident Ginger Ward Green. “The issue is seeing problems we are already experiencing expand.
“I believe in transitional housing, but where it’s currently located just does not make sense for us.”
Green and about 20 other residents from neighborhoods near the Hope House — a “wet” facility at 170 Indiana Ave. that provides emergency food and shelter to alcoholics and drug addicts, as well as on-site medical care, mental health services, housing support and social service case management — attended the meeting to voice their concerns about the facility’s plan to expand its transitional housing operations.
“The premise is if you provide people who are homeless or severely disabled housing rapidly, because that’s their more acute need, then they’re more likely to do the other things they need to improve their lives like job training, education, substance abuse and mental health services,” said Dr. Trip Gardner, PCHC’s chief psychiatric officer. “And based on this evidence, we’re hoping people stay homeless for a lesser amount of time.”
PCHC has asked both the Bangor Planning Board and Bangor City Council to change zoning rules in the area to allow for more rooming houses, boarding homes or congregate housing facilities owned and operated by public or nonprofit organizations.
The planning board voted 4-3 against PCHC’s amendment request. The Bangor council voted to postpone voting on PCHC’s request on July 9.
“We heard you loud and clear at the planning board meeting,” said Ken Schmidt, PCHC chief executive officer. “We’re here to listen and try to learn more about your concerns, as well as answer any questions we can.”
Ward Green opened the public comment portion of the meeting by talking about problems created by Hope House residents and clients while narrating a slide show presentation which showed numerous photos taken of a wooded lot near Hope House which has become inhabited by many of its residents.
“We came home from a trip over Fourth of July to find sleeping bags on our garage floor,” said Gayle Kinney, another Dunning Boulevard resident.
The photos showed trash including everything from empty liquor bottles to toilet paper to cigarette packs, empty food containers and even underwear. Other photos showed crude, makeshift shelters and discarded tents. A few showed several marijuana plants someone had planted with potting soil from an empty bag laying nearby.
“We are a magnet for the wrong kind of people, and expanding Hope House is the wrong way to go,” said David Green.
The owner of the wooded lot said her “No Trespassing” signs are posted high up on posts and trees — at the suggestion of Bangor police officers — and routinely taken down. Neighbors said makeshift campfires are started in the woods once the weather turns cold.
Dunning Boulevard resident Alfred Mosca told officials how his 10-year-old granddaughter wasn’t allowed to be in his backyard without another adult present, and that his wife was afraid to go out there alone.
“We’re sure you’re well aware of the problems we’re having with transients here,” Mosca said. “You have intoxicated people and people with problems from all over who are drawn here.”
Gardner noted that only 10 percent of Hope House users are from out of state, with the majority of them being from Penobscot County.
“You shouldn’t have to live like that,” said Gardner. “But if you eliminate transitional housing, you’re still going to have homeless people.”
Hope House currently has transitional housing room for up to 24 people. PCHC secured grants from Maine State Housing and some foundations to construct an 8,000-square-foot building that would add 24 more small bedrooms as well as improve its current clinic.
Three Bangor City Councilors — Pat Blanchette, Nelson Durgin and Charlie Longo — attended the meeting along with city manager Cathy Conlow, Bangor Homeless Shelter Director Dennis Marble and Shawn Yardley, Bangor’s health and community services director.
Blanchette asked Schmidt a direct question toward the end of the meeting after noting that she thought he failed to answer it fully when a nearby resident asked it.
“If council votes against this, do you have a backup plan?” she asked.
Schmidt said he did not.
“At this time, we don’t because we hope this goes through,” he said.
Schmidt said PCHC’s board will likely call a special meeting for next week, and another meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Sept. 10.
“We will discuss this further to see what our best route is,” Schmidt said. “We’re totally committed, as our neighbors are, to helping homeless people.”
The homeless and all the issues that come with them are already there. I think it is better to provide some stability, structure, and safety for them rather than have them out in the streets and crashing in residents garages. Once they are housed, then it is possible to work with them to stabilize other parts of their lives. I used to work in Boston for the Dept. of Mental Health, and we too had transients from all over the country, with all the problems that come with that. I won’t say that housing fixed everything immediately, but it was a good start and made it possible to address other case management needs. The NIMBY attitude is understandable, but won’t help here because in reality, they are already in your back yard, and they need to be dealt with.
I suggest that the bleeding heart liberals invite the people they are xso concerned about into their own homes. Let’s see how that goes over in THEIR neighborhood. I recall Catholic Charities ruining a Central Maine town a decade or so ago with their undying sympathy.
agreed. How about Ken Schmidt who said, “We’re totally committed, as our neighbors are, to helping homeless people.” If Mr. Schmidt is “totally committed,” how about he open his own home to the homeless and not earn a cent from the homeless. His salary depends on these people, just like Bob Carlson’s did.
Wow, I knew that there were some problems around there but geez, poor home owners. I couldn’t imagine buying a house 20 years ago, keeping it nice, then have people come camp in your garage while you are away. Now, I am sure their home value is brought down so low it would almost be upside down for the folks who have spent 20 years paying for it.
I bet their taxes don’t reflect that their home is now worthless.
Ha, I bet not.
You can remove the Hope house entirely and the homeless most likely will hang out in that particular area. The clutter and mess is obvoiusly a security and management issue. Are the police patrolling the area. ????So whether there is 12 beds or 40 beds I think thats a moot point. As far as the sleeping bags in the garage… I would be infuriated too. There is always a risk when someone leaves their home . Next time install surveilance….very cheap … have a neighbor check ur house….These issues are in the country too…where there is no homeless shelter. In fact, during the day light last week there was a burglar scoping out my neighbors house. Instead of taking pictures all day make your time valuable and implement a neighborhood watch.
was there anybody there that was mad that bangor has a homeless problem. seems like everyone there was cranky and selfish if u ask me
Problem Solved. Instead of expanding of the Hope House, “Joe” has offered to welcome “down-on-their-luck” individuals to his place, so he can do his part to help the homeless problem. You are right “Joe,” people did seem “cranky” and “selfish” that residents are only asking for “a well-thought-out-plan” of safety and security for the new project. Imagine, the current “non-homeless” residents are placed in such a hostile environment with the “homeless problem” that the “non-homeless” lose their homes and the current “homeless” get to move-in the previous “non-homeless” home because it has become a “homeless shelter” because “homeless people” made good neighborhoods go bad. “Joe,” hopefully you have enough yard space for cultivating pot. This will be an expectation of the “homeless.”
We need to be smart and compassionate. These people are not bad people–they need some assistance. We are not better than anyone else…..perhaps our role on this earth is to make life better for those that do not have what we have. The reality is that without this type of option, there are more desperate people on the street–and how does that help anyone. I wonder if the question should be: How will PCHC structure the program sites so that problems for the community and neighbors specifically are minimized?
It is not that they are “bad.” Their addictions are leading them to criminal behavior and trespassing and the people who own homes near this facility should not be subjected to this. Sleeping bags on someone’s garage floor? Come on! No way should this go through.
At least Pat Blanchette has come down to earth these past few years and is asking sensible questions.
Most of the residents on Dunning Blvd. are very smart and compassionate. Most of them probably voted for Obama and think everyone needs to pay their fair share. My guess is that a couple residents probably hung out at the librabry during the occucry movement. They are compassionate people………..until it comes to their own back yard. Entitlement programs are viewed great by many libs and dems until it has a negative effect on their lives, their land, their status then they ask for police protection and run from such programs they once viewed vital for the little people.
I agree, we were all created equal but that doesn’t mean we stayed that way. Either way, I say let them expand the shelter, maybe that will keep them out of my neighborhood.
I agree but there is no accountability for their actions. They should be jailed and FORCED to treatment. If they do not accept ACCOUNTED FOR treatment jail is the solution
ust because it’s a wet shelter, doesn’t mean pd can’t bring the dogs through on a regular basis… shoot, people go there specifically to do drugs!
I agree, I can’t see why anyone that voted for Obama could have a problem with this. Aren’t they smart enough to know if you keep feeding a stray dog it will keep coming around? When you stop feeding them and tell them to get lost is when they bite.
Now LePage on the other hand is trying to reduce entitlements.
Paul Lepage is doing his best to increease people who need goverment help. That’s how Lepage ran Mickey’s store by milking the workfare system.
He ran that? Wow, thats a huge multi million dollar operation that pays big taxes and signs big payroll and creates jobs in Maine. When someone gets a job and supports themselves they are less likely to need a room at the “Dope House”( like it, i just came up with it but you can use it). I saw and electric shock fence over there to keep junkies and child molesters off my property. I knew I should ah’ bought it…..when I saw it…..at mahhhhhdens”. I went back to get it but some guy that runs the shelter had a “SOLD” sticker on it.
Lepage used workfare rules to avoid paying the help a living wage. He would make sure each employee worked as few hours as posible to make sure the tax payers supplied his workers with healthcare, food stamps and housing.
Lepage isn’t the only one using this corupt form of corporate welfare of course . It is the SOP for all the big box Chinnes importers in the USA.
Now that Lepage and the Republicans have lowered the max amout of hours people can workk and still get welfare you will see a few more people get hired to these part time jobs but it will create a net increase in the number of people collecting.
I know you don’t really care since your not from Maine.
Not from Maine? Excuse me? Wrong. Born and raised and live here.
You think it’s bad big business practice now? Just wait. Wait until Obamacare gets in and you will see many big business finding the loopholes, and there are loopholes, on how to underpay or spread responsiblities to reduce the number of employees under the roof. You will also see less expansion of business. This would be a good time to invest in India or Thailand given the fact that many American companies that are capable are already on their way and will not deal with getting forced into doing something as unconstitutional as having to provide healthcare to ALL. This should be a perk, a goal for hardworking employees to do better. The guys at the top will not let Obamacare interefere with their profits. Contrary to liberal belief, businesses are still created on the capitalism philosophy. Profits are the number one goal of a business, providing jobs is the result of a good business model. Only government tries to create jobs with no return on investment. 16.5 Trilion to China validates that. Obamacare will destroy many employees careers. The big guys at the top knew how to get there and they know how to stay there. I know these people and they are not all kind hearted compassionate Mainers like me. They don’t only have a loud bark, they also know how to bite when put in a corner and Obamacare put many in a corner.
I own a business. Why do you Republicans think it’s my job to provide affordable health care??
You do realize that LePage’s plans will create hundreds if not thousands more of the people Hope House serves right? And that his plans will also diminish the help these people can get to. I truly do not understand how the Republicans can claim to be the party of Invisible Sky Wizard fearing Christians, and then act to destroy the meek. Many of these people are mentally ill, substance abuse is very common in that population. Let me see if I have the Republican platform correct, fight to the death to protect a fetus, but once they draw breath, let them suffer and die, and if they should become a criminal, we will kill them ourselves with the electric chair or lethal injection.
your logic is illogical….the combination of drug addiction and welfare dependence is a recipie for social disaster…as determined by…lets see…oh yea, the last 10 years of the explosion of this population….
I am quite sure you are not advocating for the continued system currently in place, which enables homelessness, alcohol and drug abuse…because the current system enables this polulation to stay in this destructive, dysfunctional, inhumane system….and allowing them to live comfortably in that system is inhumane for them and destructive to this community who ALL want to sensibly help this population. As I look into your crystal ball and bangor allows the expansion to 48 beds…..lets start a pool…how long before that nnumber becomes 96…….then 192?…will it grow because the population continues to grow due to some social or economic factors?…no, because addicts know they can come to Bangor where they will be allowed to live in ther addiction without consequence….well, the only consequences are to the taxpayer and the citizen, but other than that..no consequence. That is the Democrats platform, and it is inhumane and anti-societal and Gov. LePage will not allow it no matter how loud you yell for the contrary..
Actually, LePage will kill people with his policies, so yea he will save the state money. Like I said before, a large portion of this population are mentally ill, and LePage has, like many governors before him, ignored the Consent Decree. So yes, the system as is doesn’t work, but they are doing the best they can with what they have. Under LePage they have a lot less to work with, LePage could care less about a Judges order. The system plan is good, the financial ability to implement it has never occurred. Oh, and you can’t force people to quit, they have to want to do it. So tell me exactly when LePage cuts services to the mentally ill, how exactly does someone who is mentally ill, homeless, and an addict get the help they need? At least we have a “system” as flawed as it is, LePage’s system is to tell them to simply “get off the couch.” Yea, that’ll work well. Not!
Excellent, excellent points!!!
Let’s see, that is the talking point of the week for the dems. Randy Rhodes, Ed Shultz, all the lib radio jocks say the same thing. Uhhhh, lets see, “you save the fetus but then once they are born”….blah, blah blah. You guys need a new talking point of the week. That one is a little old.
Actually, no. We have been trying to save the fetus and then we have been the hard working Americans creating jobs and paying taxes to support this garbage as the rest of the unworking drug induced world sits on a park bench outside a methadone clinic, shelter, or GA building with their hand out biting the hand that feeds them.
You should take them in.
Really? That why your party gives the tax breaks to the 1% and ignores the hard working middle class and working poor? Your lip service is just that, you have no actions to back up your words. Tax breaks to the “job creators” is a new name for Reagan’s failed Trickle Down economics, it didn’t work 30 years ago, and it is not going to work now. Republican homeless policy: Put em on a bus, take em somewhere else, problem solved. How many of those “unworking drug induced park bench sitters” ya think are veterans the Republicans love to make so many of? Do they deserve your scathing comments? Or are you one of those in the PTSD isn’t a real thing, types?
Yep, Ed Shultz is who I’m going with as your major source of spew.
Can you point out somewhere in the republican handbook the Republican Homeless Policy you speak so eloquently about. I missed that in the ‘Republicans are Evil’ seminar I attended last week. It was the same class where we just bring babies into this world to push them off a cliff when they get old and sick.
Want to make some money? You ask what % are veterans? I ask what % isn’t? Rather, I would bet you your paycheck, you could have mine if you win (that would be better deal for you), that the % of registered sex offenders at the “dope house” is greater then the % of vets. Wanna bet?
You people are unbelievable.
20-25% of all homeless people are veterans, 40-45% of all homeless people are mentally ill. Without an address, these people don’t get any other social services other than at places like Hope House. So 60-70% of homeless are either veterans or people with a mental illness… I know republican math is fuzzy, but if everyone of the remain 30-40% of homeless are sex offenders, that is still a smaller number. I hope you believe in God, I don’t but I hope you do because I would love to see the look on your face when St. Peter double locks the Pearly Gates to keep you out.
If I believed in St.Peter locking the pearly gate I am sure I would be kept out, but that’s another subject.
So do menatally ill people molest children? So what percentage is higher at the “Dope House”? Are there more vets there or more registered sex offenders? My paycheck is waiting.
I will make a claim with no research. Very few to none of the transients around bangor are vets. most are young highschool drop outs.
I don’t know about that. Bangor spends 40 million a year on a school department and pays the super 150k a year with benefits and there is a drop out rate? Mmmm, I wonder what those numbers are? Lol.
oppose war call for an end to killing
supports killing unborn babies…
QQ
Why not require PCHC to hire private security to patrol the vicinity where “overflow” and its consequences is most egregious? Skim a little bit from the top administrators’ salaries and that could help pay for crowd control.
Also, the people who are “consumers” of the Hope House likely have too much time on their hands. Why not require a work exchange for the services they receive? How can they transition to becoming responsible for their own lives if they have all their needs met by “helping” agencies?
Does PCHC have data demonstrating the efficacy of its program? How many people served by Hope House go on to live more healthy and productive lives? What percentage of the total who come through the doors?
Finally, the concept that if a person’s most basic needs are met then the individual will be able to apply energy to fixing other problems such as addiction, unemployment, etc., may be true….but how do people break away from this life-style when they are immersed constantly in a pool of like-minded cohorts? It seems this is an inherent flaw with the program.
Excelent suggestions.
A ‘wet’ facility does not necessary have the sort of long term efficacy goals that you are suggesting. A better measure of the facilities effectiveness is: how many people lived through the night because they had a safe place to stay. How many crimes were not committed because there was a safe place to go. I highly doubt that anyone expects a mentally ill homeless drunk to spend a night at Hope House and come out with a plan to solve all of their problems. Be reasonable.
Can we also add to your measure of efficacy, garages not broken into, signs not ripped down, pot plants not planted, threats and thefts from homeowners not committed. I DO expect an alcoholic or drug addict to respect mine and others property rights. They are not victims the people who property has been damaged and invaded are the victims. I have had drunks walk into my house, steal propety from vehicles and my yard numerous times. It’s reasonable to expect your property to be free from unwanted intrusions from people drunk or drugged. The zoning does not allow this as proposed there are issues with the people who use the facility, PCHC’s attitude is once they leave the facilty they are not our problem.
Are you really saying that if we provide a space for every homeless person EVERY night in Bangor, that people will never die (due to chronic homelessness), crime will go down, and neighbors will never feel unsafe around this (or any other) shelter?
Wheew…..I would never subscribe to that stretch……Locally the plan is very simple (to at least solve this issue locally, not nationally)…have mandatory services for those who are addicts, alchoholics and homeless with the strict support from the entire community, that they will become self-sufficient in bangor, maine. Abstinence in drug and alcohol abuse (not give them more or make drugs legal..or give them a man-made equivilent).this is where you put your money. Even if you improve thier material condition, thier social condition will continue to deteriorate…….why will this work?…because addicts, alcoholics and those who are homeless and have no intention of changing will go somewhere else under such requirements…but at least Bangor faced the problem with some principle and humanity and this will make Bangor’s homeless issue cyclical and not promote it as a ‘way of life” so to speak.. …allowing (enabling) people to barely survive under these conditions is not a humane position and is destructive to thier lives and the community..
Would you rather have 1000 homeless people drift into Maine per year with 1000 drifting out once thier benefits have run out or would you rather have 1000 homeless people drift into Maine each year and turn out 500 sober fairly healthy humans wherever they go next, be somewhat productive and know that Maine did not enable their condition….
“Are you really saying that if we provide a space for every homeless person EVERY night in Bangor, that people will never die (due to chronic homelessness), crime will go down, and neighbors will never feel unsafe around this (or any other) shelter?”
What are you saying mrwaldo…we already do! It doesn’t seem to be working so the thought process from the Hope House Execs is lets do it some more! Brilliant! The people running this place are as crazy as the ones they house. It must rub off in time. Half the people that run these places are certifiable and you will notice that if you really listen.
You are right.
As ‘wet’ facility they do not have long term efficacy goals
Problem #1 . “Clients” don’t have to be drunk or high to get a bed there.
So let’s Be reasonable. They need to have requirements beyond being inside by a certain time at night and out at a certain time in the morning.
Problem #2. See Problem #1. Then factor in that the average clientele being serviced here is not your stereotypical mentally ill homeless drunk,
Social Experiment # 1
DAY 1: Drive up to Hope House. Sit and watch in the mornings as they pile out at the appointed time. Then at Noon, drive downtown to Pickering Square. It will amaze you how many familiar faces you will then see.
DAY2: Drive up to Hope House. Sit and watch in the mornings as they pile out at the appointed time. Then drive over to Acadia. Go around to the parking area by the methadone clinic. Sit and watch but look at the familiar faces. Drive back downtown around noon. Spend the afternoon parked near Pickering Square. Watch the wheelers and dealers there. I bet by now you will see A LOT of faces that are more recognizable.
Day3: Drive up to Hope House. Sit and watch all morning as they pile out at the appointed time. Sit. Wait. Enjoy the view. Watch the wheelers and dealers conduct business. By now, unless you are blind, you WILL recognize the faces.
So please, let’s be reasonable!
If that is what you can see on a 3 day experiment then what should we think the people running the place know. Anyone that owns a business knows their clientel or they wouldn’t be in business long. The people asking for this expansion know what they are doing and the first goal for them is to pull the wool over your eyes and get this expansion passed. It’s good to see a stance from the locals but usually the organization has deeper pockets and ends up getting what they want.
I see your point, but a ‘wet’ facility that’s a revolving door of no consequences for one’s actions doesn’t help anyone either. BBDNFAN had some good suggestions. Why not try them?
As far as crime is concerned, don’t kid yourself. People have gotten beaten up while at Hope House too.
agree…PCHC…. get the money then make the plan, and ask questions later, like.. is this legal? will the city allow this? what will the local residents think? how can we help with the big picture?
PCHC already has the money per the news report, so they applied for the grants and money without even checking to see if this expansion was acceptable to the city or the residents. As the article said…”no back up plan” and really is no plan except to get money.
Good idea. If the residents are required to work at least a few hours during the day for the right to spend the night, there would probably be much less of a demand. I noticed the other day that the ramp from I-395 to I-95 N was badly littered with trash. Hell, they probably made most of it – have them work for their supper and bed. I have to.
The Dorathea Dix Building is vacant. Relocate the Hope House to an area that has no family housing and this wouldn’t be an issue.
That is a good idea. I wonder if anyone has even thought of it.
That facility is located much closer to a densely populated residential neighborhood. The simple fact is that this expansion affects only a few people. The facility is located on a large tract of land bordered by the interstate and the airport runway. ‘In town’ doesn’t get much more remote than this. I feel bad for the handful of homeowners involved, but let’s not blow this up into something more than it is.
I think in reality, there is no perfect place, either way someone is going to be upest/feel unsafe etc.
I don’t have a solution, unfortunately.
How about an islean… about 12 miles out?
No matter where you go, you are going to have people that are not going to want to have to “deal with” the homeless… just because this expansion only affects “a few people” does not make the concerns of those people any less.
I do agree with the “but by the grace of God…” mentality, and I do agree that something has to be done to help the people that need help… how much Hope House actually set up to truly help them in life VS help them “make it through the night alive”?
Might actually solve more than one problem there – rather than build a newer building, rehab an older one – one less older building sitting empty and deteriorating.
Let’s put the addicts on the moon then everyone would be happy….Pffffffffffft.
““The premise is if you provide people who are homeless or severely disabled housing rapidly, because that’s their more acute need, then they’re more likely to do the other things they need to improve their lives like job training, education, substance abuse and mental health services,” said Dr. Trip Gardner,”
_______________________________________________________________
To me the premise is that if you work hard and buy a home, you should not have to worry about homeless shelters for druggies and drunks expanding virtually in your backyard.
From this article, I hear what sounds like a complete lack of respect for residents of the area (trash all around, garages broken into, no trespassing signs torn down). Yep, sounds so good, we better expand.
I also don’t buy for a second that 90% of the “clients” are Mainers. They might have lived in Maine for a while, but I bet way more than 10% are from out of state….or maybe the social services on those states just do a better job of educating their citizens on what services they can get when they get on the bus to Maine.
I do believe that the US should not spend one dime on foreign aid as long as we have a homeless problem in the US. That said, organizations should be mindful (or in some cases, MUCH more mindful) of where they believe these services should be placed (or expanded upon). When people are afraid to let their children out in their backyard, we have a huge problem.
This premise is actually false…If you meet thier acute need, what is the reward for moving to job training, education, substance abouse and mental health services….there is none, because addicts dont need anything more than that, if its being provided…now, you and I THINK that is how it works, but folks, it doesn’t…..there is no proof whatsoever that the homeless are ‘more likely to do the other things they need to do to improve thier lives” if you meet thier homeless needs…..this expansion is built on that absolutely false premise.
This current movement, such as the Hope House issue, is a wasteful, aimless behavior IF you are trying to reduce homelessness…..now, we can start the ideological debate…..
It is just a cash cow for them. The staff they have their is mostly minimum wage. They get $65.00 a night from the feds for attendance….
Please look into this Bangor
Can you please provide details or facts for this reimbursement from the federal government? I ‘d love to know more about it.
It is a 501c…go ask them to give you their income report. They have to by law being a non profit. They are allowed 100 occupants and have a payroll of about $750/day while taking in $6,500 daily ???????
Homeless is one thing for compassion,, drug addicted alcholic transients is different… Being an inabler is aganist all logic.
The logic is somewhat sound. If Hope House weren’t a “wet” facility, they wouldn’t go. By getting them into the shelter and offering mental health services, you begin the process of getting started on recovery. Can’t get them on that path if you don’t interact with them. Some will use the house as just a safe place to use, others will use the house as the first step in getting better. Plus when it comes to helping people with their addictions, logic goes out the window and is replaced with what works for the individual. There is no magic formula, and if this particular formula helps some of the people going to Hope House, then keep it going.
If I was unfortunate enough to live by or have any type of property in the vicinity I would liquidate immediately. A magnet for trouble for sure. Its so nice and noble to offer services then turn the lights off and go home for the nite. Leave your troubles behind you. Every liberal should take some home with them now that would be a great help and a humanitarian effort!!
property values LOL
,.,
I notice a inconsistency here. Why not let Dr. Gardiner, Shawn Yardly, and the rest of the Hope House supporters trade houses (and neighborhoods) with the folks who currently are dissatisfied living near the Hope House? This would save the Hope House staff and friends money by making their commute shorter, and get the formerly discontented neighbors far far away from this facility.
Another Idea might be to move the Hope House facility to the middle of the Bangor Mall complex, that way more people could get a close up view of the problems neighbors are facing every day.
I am prohibited by law from running a auto recycling facility in view of passing motorists. I must put up a fence which covers my operation from view. I doubt sincerely that a home owner can locate a mink farm on their land within Bangor’s city limits. A couple of years ago, I believe that Bangor outlawed chickens and roosters from residential areas. Bangor has a city-wide noise ordinance.
Personally I would MUCH rather live next door to a auto recycling facility, a mink farm, or a stamping mill than a “wet drunk/homeless” facility. Remember Bangor’s other laws have forced many child predators into homeless facilities, like Hope House.
There are NO residency restriction against sex offenders who have raped children. Convicted predators can live anywhere in Bangor, including right next to parks, schools and daycare centers. There are rooming houses in Bangor that cater to sex offenders, located right in the middle of neighborhoods and residents don’t even know what is lurking in their midst. Bangor’s city council refuses to stop the influx of sex offenders being sent to Bangor by other cities and even other states. There’s BIG money in providing free food, housing and other services to convicted sex offenders. Clearly, that money is more important than the safety of Bangor’s children.
I do agree with the “but by the grace of God…” mentality that many have mentioned here. I also agree that something has to be done to help the people (the truly homeless ones, like mentioned) that need help… but, it seems as though the drug addicts/alcoholics need so much more than Hope House can/will offer. Does any one know how much Hope House is actually set up to truly help these people in life VS help them “make it through the night alive”? Also how many people that show up at Hope WANT the help VS just wanting a place to “sleep it off”?
Hope House has become a dumping ground.
I know of at least 3 cases whereby DOC/Probation & Parole referred and secured beds for their parolees who were addicts PRIOR to their incarcerations and in 2 cases dangerous criminals. However clean and sober when they come out they were back into the ‘game’ within a matter of weeks and committing crimes to then support their re-awakend habits.
BPD is no better. I know of at least one case where an officer picked up an intoxicated individual who was walking home after the bars closed (notice I said walking Home). The officer forced the individual into his cruiser and transported across town (past the home’s street) and dropped him off at the Hope House~ despite the indiviuals protests.
Shaw House routinely refers their plus 18 former clients to the Hope House when they go there looking for a place to hide from police and family because they wish to avoid the consequences of addiction and choices.
The concept behind Hope House is admirable. But like most of Bangor’s social programs, it doesn’t require accountability of its clients. It doesn’t require accountability of the referring agencies. If they wish to expand their beds, they need to first expand and require services and treatment of their clients as a condition of the bed. If they wish to expand their beds then they need to protect their neighbors.
Hiring security guards is not enough. Let them hire police officers. Yes plural. One for parking lot/entrance area and one for the wooded area surrounding the residential neighbors. Start busting the ones who are shotting up, selling and/or snorting pills. Bust those who are stopping by to sell their daily Acadia rations of methadone. Bust those who are hiding there on active warrents.
I know critics will say this will cut into ‘client privacy’ thus drive people away. But honestly, if you drive away people who have no true interest in being clean and sober; who create an atmosphere of continuous problems and illegal activity, are you doing a disservice or are you creating an atmosphere which promotes safety and recovery for those who want it?
“Bust those who are stopping by to sell their daily Acadia rations of methadone”.
Woa, woa, woa! You are telling us that not all methdone junkies take their methadone? Are you saying that some of them come to Bangor to get their daily amount and then sell it to someone on the street? Are you telling us that the methadone clinics are nothing more then the kingpin of a gigantic drug ring? IS that what you are saying? Mmmmmm, who knew? Oh, that’s right. Most of know and it is time for change. Real change, not hope and change.
the liberals will come on here and hate on you…but i applaud your efforts. bangor has in the last 5-10 years become a dredge of a city. it used to be a great town and great fun…now it is full of addicts, criminals, homeless, drug abusers, methadone treatment, and other bad seeds…there are numerous programs in the city that allow transients, homeless, criminals, addicts and other people to come to the city for “aid” and are highly unaccountable. the panhandler situation in bangor has gotten to the point of maybe occasionally seeing one guy on the broadway exit off of I-95 to almost every entrance/exit to the shopping plazas on Stillwater.
I know some people deride my treatment of panhandlers, addicts, transients and homeless amongst the other scum of the city it is truth. I have seen cops drive by panhandlers and do NOTHING. There should be a law against that. As most of us know the police station is situated across from the homeless shelter and the park THEY use to shoot up, drink up and otherwise commit other crimes in. People are sleeping out on the benches in broad daylight…in bigger cities such as New York, Boston, hell even Portland they would be told to move along…not in Bangor.
Pickering Square is another problem that needs to be addressed. I went through that vile disgusting piece of crap land 2 weeks ago while barhopping with a bunch of friends to see the city’s scum out in full force – mothers smoking with their children in strollers, black people making drug deals, wiggers hanging around on “trickstyle bikes” and panhandlers asking for “50 cents for the bus”. I went to the Zac Brown concert back in June and was approached by two “homeless” wanting money. I didn’t even answer the scum.
Bangor PD needs to do more. I am not a resident of the city and I don’t see what goes on every day but the city needs to stop allowing people to take advantage of the city’s programs. There needs to be more accountability. But as I stated in a previous post the city allows this to go on because of the kickbacks in receives.
Thanks you.
schmidt and gardner should advocate for changing the zoning rules in their neighborhoods to accomodate intoxicated and antisocial transients.
I wonder what lawmakers in augusta are associated with hope house?and did their grants from the houseing authority come from the new rep. director or the old crooked one?
The only hope that this place has is that the HOPE that it closes for good and sends all its addicts, homeless and criminals back to Lewiston; Boston
Yes because clearly after the HOPE house closes Bangor will have no more problems with people who are addicted……they will just magically disappear… HILARIOUS and yet so uninformed.
I am the 1%
I was thinking about coming on here and leaving my typical comment
about how this situation is getting out of hand. Balloons being
released, bracelets being made, people having a memorial service
featuring rap music with profane lyrics all in the “memory of someone.”
Honestly – situations like this one, the GTA on Harlow Street a few days
ago, bath salts, criminals running rampant, homeless sleeping in broad
daylight in a park RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE POLICE STATION, panhandlers
being allowed to stand out on every corner of Stillwater Avenue and cops
just drive by – getting asked for 50 Cents for a bus ride outisde the
damn Zac Brown Concert, ‘wannabe white crips/bloods’, and every single
murder, assault — the list of my griefs can go on for days.
I’ve personally seen 2 dead bodies in Bangor in 5 years. Both from
hit and runs. I’ve seen single mothers smoking and puffing downtown
pushing their children in strollers. Methadone addicts lining up at the
clinic then go to the bus stop by the Hope House shoot up.
People what we are dealing with here isn’t just one incident that is
affecting my post on this article. Its everything that the BANGOR you
know isn’t what it says it is. Granted crime compared to most any other
city is not comparable to Bangor but what has happened in the last 5
years that has made this city go loudly and violently down the drain? I
could explain to you again my belief (which I will post briefly) but
nobody will take action. I do not currently reside in Bangor but do a
lot of business there, I have friends who live, work and reside there.
I’m sure most of us who come on here are upset that this is what our
city is becoming. I’m sure I’ll get some idiots on my reply list that
will say its the “casino’s fault” but the more and more I realize it:
IT IS ALL OF OUR FAULT. We ALLOW this crap to happen. WE allow this
to go on. Being more vigilant, defensive, protective and observant will
help each other, Bangor, and the surrounding community. I am sick of
having to see this trash all over Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Orono, Old
Town, and many of the other surrounding communities. Someone else has to
be. Why do we allow this to go on? Is it because Bangor is becoming a
bigger community? Is it because city programs, police and other programs
get ‘kickbacks’ by allowing trash into the community?
More laws are needed against Panhandlers, Homeless; and Addicts
should be REQUIRED to get treatment before receiving benefits such as
housing, welfare, child care, and other forms of assistance.Pedophiles,
murderers, rapists, and all of them should be imprisoned for more than
120 days and a $500 dollar fine. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve
heard of in my life but it happens ALL THE TIME. AND IT NEEDS TO BE
FIXED.
My assumption is that this case has gone to a larger drug running
and/or gang in Mass, Rhode Island or Connecticut. IF IT HAS HAPPENED
BEFORE they will be back. I guarantee it. Its time for Bangor to also
wake up in this fashion. Not just some silly lolipop guild bangor gang
that spray paints on inane objects. This is a national gang (I’m not
sure which one but I am assuming it is) that will stop at nothing to get
their money. This type of event has happened all across the country and
was bound to happen here. I’m not saying that its acceptable but it WAS
ALLOWED TO.
We must stop this.
we need to send a message that we are vigilant and we are not going
to take this anymore. here is my previous statement on the subject.
please take the time to read and I will be back with more in the future I
promise you:
its a secret that the both the city and the newspaper don’t want to be known publicly. If my post gets deleted (and I do at times write jocularcomments – this not being one of them I understand why I’m flagged) itsbecause they don’t want it known.
In 2008 I was a student at Husson University where one of my professors took our class on a “field trip” to meet then mayor/city managerSusan Hawes (I think thats what her name was). As part of the class we had to come up questions in a journalistic view. One of my classmates put the question to the city manager/mayor why (at that time compared to now itsmore poignant) there was an increase of crime. The answer from her was:
The city gets what is essentially “kickbacks” from the federal andstategovernments, private and public programs, and other sources to”accept”more homeless, addicts, criminals, mentally challenged and other ‘bad seeds’ such as funding for city projects – like the waterfront, and downtown revitalization and police force enlargement among other things.
I use the term “accept” these people by evidence of the opening of
homeless shelters, the allowing of panhandling and homeless sleeping in city parks, methadone clinics, and offerings to other people who have disabilities or in effect allowing people to stay here and giving them ‘free roam’ of the city. I don’t know what the current policy is but I do know that they advertised it and in many other cities Bangor has sunkits teeth into getting people who have issues like these to come here for the benefits.
I don’t know about you or anyone else but I think its time for the city to stop allowing people to have ‘free roam.’ Granted its not an overnight thing but more patrols in seedy areas such as Capehart, Outer Hammond Street, Pickering Square and in general other unsafe areas are needed. Arrest or at least detain panhandlers on stillwater avenue – I went there today and I counted 6 of them up and down the street. Arrest or at least “move along” homeless from city parks and recreationalareas- theres no reason for kids – hell even adults like ourselves to be exposed to it. Patrol the homeless shelter and the park nearby – as muchdrug dealing, and other crimes are in that area. THere are more murdersin Bangor on Main Street from the Main Street Tavern to Manna Ministries than in the entire city.
Bangor needs to clean up its mess – and again I’m sorry if this gets
deleted because bangor doesn’t want this to be known. But I am pleading
with you to change the course. I have a hard time coming to bangor and
seeing what it has become. And one more other thing – squash the lolipop
guild gang before it expands. If you don’t know what I mean take a look
at the graffiti up and down and all around town!
Ask the city council how many sex offenders are being housed by rooming houses in Bangor. Some of them cater to sex offenders and sex offenders are sent to Bangor not only by other cities but also by other states. Bangor’s city council has done nothing to stop the influx of sex offenders. Demand action!
http://www.familywatchdog.us/
do a search of bangor…particularly look downtown :)
260 sex offenders THAT WE KNOW OF in the area alone.
Like Carlson?
I know that these guys want to help people, but that part of Bangor has turned into a complete toilet. The homeless shelter is right down the street, the tavern is right across the street, and the housing around there doesn’t help either. A facility like that needs to be in a more remote area of Bangor, where homeless aren’t able to easily gain access to bars and bad neighborhoods.
FYI, if someone is on your property and you feel your life is in danger you can shoot them.
No
Let me give you my address………
Ahh the Hope House. Well since I had the distinct pleasure of dropping, the same individuals, off there many, many, many times let me voice my opinion. This is nothing more then a methadone clinic for drunks. So many times I have dropped off a person there only to see them walking down the road drunk 3 days later. Rehabilitation, well lets see the numbers of how many people have been rehabilitated there or just used it as a place to sleep and eat until they could get a few more bucks for booze.
These hospitals, clinics and re-hab locations are big business. Yes I said it, big business. I’m sure there are some clinicians that really want to help and make a difference. But you read it yourself, we have a grant and want to use the money. So, yes people that grant didn’t just appear it came from us working folk, as usual. Recently they found that 2 hospitals in California were recruiting transients to come into ER’s for treatments so the hospital could bill the Government. Millions in Fraud was discovered.
We are not going to stop drug and alcohol abuse but we can certainly stop catering to their needs. Stop building clinics and re-hab centers. Let them go to some other town or city. Believe me if the clinic moves they will follow. We had a saying in Law Enforcement, crime prevent by relocation, guess what it works. As for the location behind the Hope House that’s private property. Basically the only way the police can enforce this is if the owner is there make trespassing complaints every time someone is on the property. I think it should be done and start arresting these people. Yeah yeah yeah it will clog up the jail, oh well. Chase them out of the city. Personally I feel Bangor should resort back to the old days and give them 2 options, jail or a bus ticket to Boston.
Oh, are you offended by my bus ticket comment. Well here is a not so well known fact. The City of Portland has a system where they offer their Sex Offenders free bus tickets to Bangor. That’s right people that’s why you are seeing so many sex offenders arriving in Bangor, not because they are trying to have a fresh start. Nope, because Portland tells them it’s a good place to go because no one will know them.
i agree with you whole heartedly.
I like this idea South Park had…build a bus that plays http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2zGFXaPn0o and then drive with the homeless in tow LOL
they need to fix the video its not playing all of the meeting
This problem is analogous to the problems that wildlife experts have with bears in places like Yellowstone Park.
You see, out west bears were never problem with people, until some foolish ones started feeding them. Then bears found out that rooting around for berries and bugs and honey was very bothersome when all they had to do was show up at a picnic grove and people would feed them. However, the problem came about that bears are, well, bears and every now and then they resorted to basic natural instincts and when it appeared that their food source was threatened they would actually attack the same foolish people who were providing them the food. The results were they got a good dose of drugs and taken far, far, away. Again, unfortunately, the bears did not like having to work hard for their food so they would often find their way back to same picnic grove and resort to back to their natural behaviors. However, t his time when they injured or threatened a human that was foolishly feeding them they were killed. Not a good ending for the bear and not the outcome sought by the fools that were feeding them in the first place.
To make this short, let’s turn this problem over to the Maine Warden service instead of to police and social services. These wandering drug addicted, homeless, criminals could be drugged (I am assuming they all would love that) and taken to remote parts of Maine (you know where the areas are numbered and not named) and let go to live a green lifestyle and try to make it on their own. Yes there might be a few bodies we would need to clean up in the spring, but what a terrific way of quickly ending a lifelong addiction problem. If they should wander back to Bangor, then they would face the same proposition that bears face in Yellowstone when they are repeat offenders. And seeing how often the Maine Warden loves to shoot animals when they are in urban areas the Warden Service would be most adapt and might even enjoy this new assignment.
I am sorry but it is time we apply some societal triage here and realize that we cannot save most people from themselves and that all we do when we try is hurt others or ourselves with these useless Sisyphean efforts.
Your empathy is amazing. I wonder if you feel the same way about someone who has cancer or diabetes or some other disease besides addiction. Let’s hope you don’t become ill because I hear the woods north of Moosehead are a wonderful place to live- let us know how you like it.
hey i live here…don’t hate on me LOL
I only ‘hate on’ people who have no compassion or empathy for other people who suffer from an illness or other issues ……..simple as that………as your moniker would attest to- you have a misunderstanding of others less fortunate than you.
Hey. Hold on there crazy man. These are victims brother! They didn’t choose to shoot heroin, they didn’t choose to hang with the wrong crowd. They didn’t choose to rape children. They didn’t choose to become violent to get what they want. They didn’t choose to become career criminals. They didn’t choose to pick up the bottle instead of a text book. They didn’t choose to throw their life away. Oh wait, yes they did.
You’re clueless per usual…..talk about needing to read a text book..you’re an uneducated joke.
I love it when news stories compliment each other. Another article headline in today’s paper:
“Transient with knife breaks into Hampden home, police say”
We cannot keep inviting these transients to Bangor with a place to sleep and hot meals. A good number of these folks are BAD news and that’s just the reality. I would rather have that tax money given back to me so that I could give it to less fortunate folks who deserve it. Everyone who would like to expand these services should put their name down on a list so that the transients can stay at their house instead.
I wounder just how long that list would be…
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/08/31/living/maine-has-been-discovered-by-drug-dealers/
I recall Hope House when it was dry, before DHS took over. I attended AA meetings with my partner there and watched many people gain control over their addictions as the weeks went by. No, of course, not everybody was fortunate enough to do this, but one requirement of bedding down at the House was that one must be sober or commit to staying long enough to be treated. It was cold turkey, and the residents, if memory serves me, were responsible for each other . . . nobody was taking care of them. If a first night drunk vomited in the bed, s/he and the roommates were responsible for cleaning it up.
I felt no apprehension in driving to the facility to visit or attend meetings because I knew that the majority of the people there were concerned with freeing themselves of the ‘monkey on their backs’ and not just with a place to lay down because they were too messed up to stand. I’ve had occasion to go to the present facility 0nce . . . it was quite a different experience. There were many people hanging around outside who were obviously under the control of something other than air, and I felt a great deal of apprehension as I walked to the building.
It seems to me that the facility now does not require the ‘resident’ to take responsibility for anything other than showing up to sleep and getting out in the morning. I fail to see how expanding this would help anybody.
Great comment, Barb. I thought it was just me that got that same feeling of apprehension every time I’ve had to go in there… very creepy, my first impression walking in just about knocked me off my feet, like there should have been yellow hazard lights going off and an auto voice on the speakers saying “alert, alert!” like a war zone with casualties. I don’t know, something needs to change and your comment is like a breath of fresh air that the Hope House wasn’t always so hopeless and that we as caring, articulate people can hopefully change that and demand a sense of direction for these peoples lives and our community… with the power of technology and the internet, they are seeming more and more like one of same.
People who want more assistance for people in the city will find that the reason we have burned cars, murders, criminal trespass, home invasions and panhandling is all a result of becoming a hub for aid.
Really?? Cite your sources that support your opinion……and you can’t big surprise…….
The Toyota commercial sucks.
With regards to Al Brady’s
“People who want more assistance for people in the city will find that the reason we have burned cars, murders, criminal trespass, home invasions and panhandling is all a result of becoming a hub for aid. ”
I respectfully disagree with you. The reason behind burned cars and murders is because Bangor is being quietly infiltrated by persons from out of state who have ties to national organizations. Criminal trespass and home invasions are by-products and symptoms of our areas burgeoning drug problem.
In reply to TLMMSW’s
“Your empathy is amazing. I wonder if you feel the same way about someone who has cancer or diabetes or some other disease besides addiction. Let’s hope you don’t become ill because I hear the woods north of Moosehead are a wonderful place to live- let us know how you like it.”
While I do Not necessarily agree with the solution Hussar proposes I do see the crass logic behind his idea.
I personally have been closely touched by the cancer and diabetes you mention and well as the mental illness’ and addictions/alcoholism that Hope House deals with. In the same vein as I have had to watch and stand by helplessly frustrated with the anti-societal behaviors associated with addictions and mental illness; I have had to cope with the same type of helpless frustration as I watch people I care for who’ve suffered with diabetes and cancer who ignore their care and place the same disregard for their lives as the addicts I’ve known.
The system is as much to blame for the problems here as the people involved. The mindset of the practitioners who treat these people Needs To Change in order for the clients to want to change their behaviors and life-style choices. Over the last 20 years families and caregivers have been told to stop enabling these people. They must hit rock bottom before they will want to change things for themselves. Those within the system of care seem to have forgotten this key fact!
Empathy is one thing, Tough Love is another.
They need to stop giving these people drugs.