ROCKPORT — The growing problem of homelessness in our community is being addressed by the newly created Knox County Homeless Coalition. Following the economic downturn that hit our state in 2009, many people were losing jobs, struggling to pay bills and experiencing a downward financial spiral that eventually resulted in homelessness. These people were our friends and families, not the stereotypical homeless population people felt they knew. Having a family member going through this sort of trauma brought the communities together to help find solutions for our new homeless.

The first Knox-Waldo Consortium in 2009 brought together resource agencies, care providers, direct state and private services, elected officials, and community members to share their knowledge, acquaint people with available services, explain existing systems, and to network.

Following the 2011 Consortium, a group of local people decided to work together to raise funds and submit grant applications for sustainable and successful programs; helping the homeless specific to the needs of our community. This group became an Advisory Committee for these grants and now serves as the Board of Directors of the Knox County Homeless Coalition.

The KCHC applied and received Community Development Block Grants from the Department of Economic and Community Development through the town of South Thomaston in 2012. "These grants were to accomplish two things," said Pinny Beebe-Center, chair of the board of the KCHC. "To develop a pilot program that matched intensive services and case management to homeless people, to provide an individualized plan to improve their education, training, housing situation, health, financial management and other areas, helping to achieve a self-sustainable living situation." Beebe-Center added that the second grant allowed KCHC to hire a consultant to look at the community and available resources for a sustainable emergency housing shelter.

The KCHC set up and began operation of a "shelter without walls" with the collaboration of two motels in Knox County to meet the objectives of the first DECD grant. The motels worked closely with the KCHC to provide affordable rates for rooms through last fall and winter. Local service providers, student internships in Mental Health and Human Services at the University of Rockland, and community members, combined efforts to develop care plans with clients that addressed multiple challenges as they worked to complete their plans toward self-sustainability.

Maine State Housing contacted the KCHC with hopes to provide continued services in the now-vacant Hospitality House, located on Old County Road in Rockport near the Rockland line. These services would expand current, direct care programming, as well as manage the shelter operations. The Knox County Homeless Coalition became a nonprofit and is pursuing its 501(c)-3 with the IRS and New Hope for Women has provided an umbrella for governing the funding and legal management of the KCHC until the 501(c)-3 is established.

The purpose of the Coalition is to recognize homelessness as a symptom of a number of regional challenges that include poverty and lack of affordable and accessible housing. It serves as an overarching organization for the many homeless efforts; The Hospitality House, Knox Interfaith Teen Safehavens and others, with one common goal. Beebe-Center said, 'The intent is to share resources, provide accurate information, identify gaps in service, and to ultimately support people who have been homeless become active and integrated members of their community."

Fundraising efforts are ongoing for the support of Hospitality House and the Knox County Homeless Coalition. To contribute, checks may be made out to the Knox County Homeless Coalition and mailed to PO Box 1696, Rockland, ME 04841.