Bangor’s largest homeless encampment will now close two months later than planned.
Bangor city councilors on Monday approved delaying the closure of the encampment in the wooded area behind the Hope House Health and Living Center until Feb. 28, 2025.
City staff asked to postpone the closure after hearing Penquis’ project to turn the former Pine Tree Inn into permanent supportive housing for people who are homeless isn’t going to be finished by the end of year as initially expected. Once that 41-unit project is finished, city staff hope it can house some of the dozens of people living in tents, vehicles and rudimentary shelters between Texas Ave. and Cleveland Street or free up space in shelters and warming centers.
The city initially planned to close the encampment at the end of the year after moving everyone into some kind of housing. It’s indicative of the challenges the city has faced in securing permanent housing for everyone who has been living in the encampment.
Though the encampment has existed on the land — and grown in size — for years, the city decided to shutter it now due to a rise in illegal activity and violence in the area, according to Debbie Laurie, Bangor’s city manager.
Since announcing the plan in October, outreach workers had moved at least 15 people into permanent housing as of Nov. 26, but roughly 50 people still remained on the land, said Jena Jones, Bangor’s homelessness response manager.
The two-month push will give outreach workers more time to build trust with encampment residents and find housing for them. The goal of the housing effort is to break the cycle of chronic homelessness that many face, Laurie said. In fact, Laurie called the area “perhaps the most entrenched encampment in the state.”
Jones emphasized that the encampment closure is not intended to be a sweep, as those have proven to be harmful and ineffective. The goal of the city’s efforts is to help people find “the next right place” for each person and ensure people are sheltered and safe, Jones said.
