Bangor Public Health Expands Collaborations to Address Housing and Homelessness Issues

The Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights in Bangor, Maine, highlighted significant collaborative efforts during their recent meeting on August 26, 2025. Key discussions centered around enhancing partnerships between community services and public health initiatives, particularly aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, including older residents and those experiencing homelessness.

Robin, a representative from the community development sector, emphasized the importance of finding common ground between various service providers. "We're really working hard to find where our points of agreement are," she stated, noting that many programs funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) overlap with existing services. This collaboration aims to streamline efforts and improve service delivery for those in need.

A notable initiative discussed was the introduction of a University of Maine intern who will work across public health and community services. This intern will focus on improving housing intake processes and exploring further collaboration with homeless services. Robin explained, "These are ways that we can continue to try to figure out how to stay connected."

The meeting also touched on the financial aspects of these partnerships. Robin clarified that funding is a crucial component of their collaboration with Bangor Public Health, which has evolved since the inception of the BCAT program. This partnership has allowed for targeted funding to address specific needs, such as securing state IDs and utility deposits for individuals facing financial challenges.

Committee members praised Robin's previous presentation on housing and economic data, which underscored the pressing needs within the community. "The amount of data you dove into was a lot of good information," one member remarked, encouraging others to review the findings to better understand the community's challenges.

As the meeting concluded, the committee expressed a commitment to utilizing the data collected from recent community events, including a successful Pride event, to inform future actions. "We're not just here to be present; we want to do something with this information," a member stated, reinforcing the committee's dedication to making a tangible impact in the community.

The discussions from this meeting reflect a proactive approach to addressing racial equity and inclusion in Bangor, with a focus on collaboration and data-driven decision-making to support the city's most vulnerable residents.