2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Maine
Best Practice: Homeless Youth Demonstration Project
Maine Legislature Tackles Youth Homelessness
Bangor. Recognizing the need to address the
growing problem of homeless youth in urban areas, the Maine Legislature
enacted a law to establish the Homeless Youth Demonstration Project. Its
purpose is to explore services for unaccompanied youth and youths-at-risk
and will result in strategic recommendations regarding youth homelessness.
The project targets Maines urbanized areas communities that
are attractive to youth who have left home because of economics, disciplinary
reasons or abuse. These youth are subject to homelessness, sexual and drug
abuse, and violence. Two pilot sites will be established initially. These
pilot sites will provide the state legislature with documented data about
the increasing problem of homeless youth.
Contact: Becky Hayes-Boober, Phone: (207)
561-4197
Tracking Number: 548
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Penobscot Riverfront Development
Redevelopment of Dilapidated Riverfront
Begets Attractive Community Center
Bangor.
The City of Bangor has invested 15 years acquiring and clearing property
and making environmental improvements along a one-mile stretch of riverfront
in downtown Bangor. These efforts have resulted in the removal of a leaking
petroleum storage tank farm, a closed shoe manufacturing plant, a large
railroad switching yard, a dilapidated paper products warehouse, and a coal
yard which relied on neither water nor rail to receive and ship its products.
In place of these eyesores are a popular brew-pub and restaurant, a landscaped
park and open space, parking, and a replica of an early 20th century rural
Maine train station that houses meeting areas, offices, and an observation
deck overlooking the pleasure boat docks of Bangor Landing. In addition,
construction of an amphitheater is planned to accommodate the annual Maine
Shakespeare Festival. As a result of these efforts by the City to resolve
environmental and land acquisition issues, the entire area has been renovated
and has attracted prosperous private sector businesses. City officials anticipate
an enormous return on their investment in the form of increased revenues
from tourism and convention business.
Contact: Stan Moses, Phone: (207) 945-4400
Ext. 211
Tracking Number: 2889
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Portlands Lead Safe Housing
Program
Lead Safe Housing Program Helps Reduce
Lead Blood Levels in Portland Children
Portland.
During the last five years, Portlands Public Health Department and
the citys Division of Housing and Neighborhood Services have combined
their efforts and funds to create the citys Lead Safe Housing Program.
The program provides loans and grants to eligible property owners to reduce
lead paint hazards in their buildings. Research indicates that Maine has
the 7th oldest housing stock in the nation with 70% of Portlands housing
stock constructed prior to 1960. Seventy four percent of the families living
in neighborhoods with older housing have low to very low incomes and many
of the children have elevated blood lead levels. The Public Health Division
has conducted blood screening of children, created educational awareness
programs and materials, provided case management for lead-poisoned children,
assisted housing staff with the temporary relocation of tenants, and has
managed the data collection responsibilities of the Portland Lead Safe Housing
Program. The Division of Housing has focused on abatement of hazards. The
city already has abated 100 units, surpassing its goal, and plans to abate
another 100 units by 2001. The collaborative efforts of the health and housing
offices have resulted in an effective citywide effort to intervene in childhood
lead poisoning cases and to prevent children from getting poisoned in the
first place.
Contact: Roger Bondeson, Phone: (207) 874-8711
Tracking Number: 476
Winning Category: Program (Office of Lead Hazard Control)
Best Practice: Bayview Heights Community Collaborative
Facilitated Living Home Meets Senior Needs
Brunswick.
Bayview Heights Community Collaborative purchased and renovated a building
for senior residents. In evaluating the space available, the Collaborative
realized that the kitchen space available in the building far exceeded the
needs and resources of the group, and sought out other uses for the space.
The collaborative partnered with two existing organizations, Kids Katering
and the Stone Soup Kitchen, that offer culinary and food service training
to at risk youths and homeless individuals, respectively. Both groups utilize
the kitchen facilities in the senior complex for their operations free of
rent, and in return provide healthy meals at least twice a day to the senior
residents. By creatively thinking about maximization of space, the Collaborative
is benefiting from kitchen staff not on their payroll, providing food free
of cost to residents, and assisting two local organizations in accomplishing
their missions in a more cost-effective manner.
Contact: June Koegel, Phone: (207) 373-1140
Tracking Number: 2261
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)
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