Cadence Kitchen seeks funding assurance as Maine Housing sets Aug. 1 deadline for shelter operations funding

Lewiston — Cadence Kitchen, the nonprofit selected to develop a new emergency shelter in Lewiston, has received a conditional state award but must show secured operating funding for the program’s first two years by Aug. 1, 2025, officials said at the Lewiston City Council meeting.

Key points - Maine Housing awarded Cadence Kitchen $2,500,000 for a long‑term shelter project, but the grant’s disbursement requires evidence that the shelter’s first‑ and second‑year operating budgets are committed. - Cadence and council advisors told the council the two‑year operating estimate on paper ran to about $3,000,000. Cadence plans to waive some administrative fees to lower the required committed operating total to about $2,600,000; that figure is the funding target Cadence says it must demonstrate to preserve the Maine Housing award. - Lewiston has budgeted $400,000 toward the shelter in FY2026; the City of Auburn has indicated a potential $200,000 contribution for FY2026 contingent on an operational plan and shelter opening. Cadence reported a projected carryover of about $655,000 from the state award that would help fund operations at startup.

Why it matters: without the operating funds, Maine Housing may rescind the $2.5 million award. Councilors and shelter committee members stressed urgency: Cadence said it expects to have a building under contract within weeks but cannot close or proceed without evidence of operational funding.

What officials said - Kevin Bollier of Cadence Kitchen summarized the funding picture and said Maine Housing set the Aug. 1 deadline to prove funding for the first two years. "Two years of operational costs on paper is approximately $3,000,000," Bollier said; Cadence has offered to waive administrative fees to bring the required committed total down to roughly $2,600,000. - Shelter Committee co‑chairs and council members urged focus on immediate next steps: identify gaps, contact potential funders quickly and explore whether Maine Housing would extend or clarify the deadline. - City administration and council members asked Cadence and the shelter committee to circulate the draft operational budgets and a short list of likely funding sources so the council and partners can act fast.

Numbers (as presented at the meeting) - Maine Housing conditional award: $2,500,000 - Lewiston FY2026 budgeted contribution (pending formal agreement): $400,000 - Auburn FY2026 budgeted contribution (contingent): $200,000 - Cadence‑reported projected carryover from Maine Housing development award: $655,000 (estimated) - Cadence‑calculated two‑year operating requirement (after proposed admin fee waiver): $2,600,000

Next steps requested at the meeting - Shelter committee and Cadence to provide the council and administration the detailed two‑year operating budgets and a list of pending funding requests. - City staff to prepare a partnership agreement template so the city and Cadence can formalize commitments if councilors want to allocate additional funds. - Shelter committee to continue outreach to Androscoggin County and federal congressional offices (Cadence said its congressional direct‑spend request was increased in response to state funding shortfalls) and to seek other philanthropic and public sources.

Quote - "If such commitments are not made, the $2,500,000 will be rescinded," a shelter committee update warned. Kevin Bollier said Cadence is willing to waive certain fees but needs funding commitments to move forward with property acquisition and operations.

Ending: Cadence Kitchen and the shelter committee said they expect to have a site under contract in coming weeks and asked the council and community partners to prioritize closing the remaining funding gap before the Aug. 1 Maine Housing deadline.