2000 Best Practice Awards

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 Maine’s 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: Portland’s Lead Safe Housing Program

Lead Safe Housing Program Helps Reduce Lead Blood Levels in Portland Children

Portland. During the last five years, Portland’s Public Health Department and the city’s Division of Housing and Neighborhood Services have combined their efforts and funds to create the city’s 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 Portland’s 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)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011