What Kennebunk is doing to help the homeless
Select Board Chair Shiloh Schulte asked Winton how the town can best act to increase its capacity to help its un-housed population. Winton replied that people could share stories like the ones she and Ledoux and Schlein shared during the meeting – the ones about the mother with cancer, the man who sleeps in the woods, and the man whose car was repossessed, as well as others.
“We need to tell these stories and help people who are in positions of decision-making and power and have the financial ability to move money around,” Winton said. “They need to hear this too and know that it's important to our community.”
Winton acknowledged that homelessness isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Kennebunk.
“It doesn't mean it's not a part of our community,” she said. “If we have the ability to advocate for those resources by engaging those at government levels, that is important.”
It will take time to increase the number of beds and shelters and warming centers in the town and throughout the region, Winton added.
“It's about getting creative,” she said. Schlein said increasing the building capacity for shelters is a top priority, followed by focusing on more affordable housing and improving the overall mental health system.
Select Board Member Miriam Whitehouse said she recently held a successful blanket drive to help the homeless.
“People definitely want to help,” Whitehouse said. “I think you can tap into that desire.”
Schulte agreed. He urged Winton, Schlein and Ledoux to keep in contact with the Select Board about what is needed and what can be done to address the issue.
“If there are concrete things this community can do – not necessarily just this board – we should be making those very public,” he said. “People want to help.”