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Tedford Housing tells Lincoln County commissioners shelter expansion has boosted capacity; asks continued county partnership
Summary
Tedford Housing reported a 60% expansion in emergency shelter capacity and increased homelessness‑prevention services; the nonprofit said county funding helped secure additional municipal and county partners and highlighted recent service metrics for Lincoln County residents.
Katrina Webster, director of development at Tedford Housing, updated Lincoln County commissioners July 21 on the shelter network’s recent expansion and local impact, saying county support has strengthened regional partnerships and increased service capacity.
Webster said construction completed in December 2025 expanded the emergency shelter at Brunswick’s Cooks Corner by 60%, increasing single adult beds from 16 to 24 and enlarging the family wing from six private family units to 10. She told commissioners that across those family units Tedford is serving between 40 and 50 individuals at a time and that the agency is seeing families with two to seven children in a unit.
Webster described three primary program areas: emergency shelter, homelessness prevention (housing navigation, rental and security‑deposit assistance) and permanent supportive housing for residents with disabilities. Since Lincoln County began funding Tedford’s work, the presenter said the nonprofit provided rental or security‑deposit assistance to 13 Lincoln County households in the past year, covering 21 household members; outreach and prevention staff had contact with roughly 200 Lincoln County households in 2026 through biweekly housing navigation at a local food pantry.
On funding, Webster noted the annual operating cost for emergency shelter care is now about $100–$112 per bed night and emphasized prevention assistance as the most cost‑effective tool. She also said Tedford received a one‑time $200,000 grant to distribute to households for back rent over the next nine months, increasing short‑term capacity for eviction prevention.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about program metrics, eligibility and regional referral patterns; Webster emphasized that residents sometimes access shelters outside their home county when beds are available and that a more regional funding approach helps meet varying demand. Webster thanked Lincoln County and Administrator Kippur for prior support and said the organization is aiming to post a larger request for FY27 support to reflect expanded capacity.
The presentation concluded with commissioners’ thanks and a request for her packet to be left with staff for distribution.
