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Resident urges full-time shelter; commissioners explain legal and funding limits
Summary
A resident urged Strafford County to provide a full-time homeless shelter. Commissioners said municipal governments and the state, not the county, carry primary legal responsibility and outlined current funding for an emergency warming center and barriers to creating a year‑round shelter.
A resident addressing the Strafford County Commission urged the county to establish a full‑time homeless shelter in the region. Commissioners responded that creating and operating such a shelter involves legal, funding and operational hurdles that fall primarily to municipalities and state agencies.
The resident identified herself as Jennifer and said she is a Strafford County resident. Commissioners replied that "the county is not, legally responsible for these folks. The municipalities are, and that was a change in a law that took place in 1987," the chair said, explaining why municipal officials and local welfare directors have primary authority over shelter decisions.
Commissioners described existing arrangements: an emergency warming center operated for life‑saving…
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