What: the city's winter warming shelter operated with Together Place.
Where it stands: A Council vote approving the arrangement passed; operations are planned for November 15 to April 15, as reported at the October 27 committee meeting.
Next: Staff and Together Place were to settle weather-report coordination and meet again the following Monday.
Maine Housing funded 65 beds at Brick Church and 5 more at Bangor Area Homeless Shelter; Mansion Church expects about 25 unfunded beds and Together Place was not funded. Sample data from 51 nights showed an average of about 85 in warming beds and a peak near 120. Staff are working on coldest-night overflow options.
Council discussed up to $90,000 for an as-needed Together Place warming shelter, to be paid with an up-front amount and then per day open (about 60 days projected). One councilor wanted the contract first. Councilors also discussed earlier planning and contingency funding next year. See CDBG Funding for Winter Shelters and Community Groups.
Council passed order 26-305 as amended, funding up to $90,000 for an as-needed overnight warming shelter by The Together Place, November 2026 to April 2027.
Staff budgeted the as-needed Together Place shelter at about $115,000 (60 days at $44 per bed per night) and recommended paid or stipend staff rather than volunteers. The chair stepped aside because of a conflict involving Together Place. Councillors also noted the city has contributed to warming shelters in recent years without taxpayer money and suggested the Advisory Committee on Homelessness set opening protocols. See CDBG Funding for Winter Shelters and Community Groups.
Staff reported about 95 warming shelter beds expected (Brick Church about 65 with Maine Housing funding, The Mansion about 25 without, five added at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter) against last year's average of about 85 a night and peaks above 100. Staff proposed The Together Place as an as-needed shelter on nights at or below 15 degrees, about $44 a bed per night, roughly $106,000: about $5,000 heating assistance, about $11,000 general assistance and about $90,000 CDBG for up to 60 nights. A councilor moved that the city apply directly for Maine Housing warming center funds from next year; staff said the shelters had declined an offer to apply on their behalf. The matter was sent to committee.
Brick Church opens November 15 to April 15 (4 PM to 7 AM), Mansion Church November 15 to March 31, plus five mats at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. The Together Place was proposed as an about 35-bed cold-weather overflow going to the Council workshop the next day. Members raised concerns about capacity against a last-winter peak around 125, staffing and training, and the gap before shelters open November 15; no recommendation was made.