Everything we do here at Fair Tide centers around our mission of improving the lives of individuals and families in the Seacoast region. Whether it be securing housing for a family experiencing homelessness, providing financial relief for those impacted by the pandemic, or making headway toward building new affordable housing units, our successes on the ground result in positive changes at the local level. The story behind our accomplishments, however, extends well beyond where the impact is ultimately felt. I’d like to take you on a quick tour of the work we are engaged in outside of our immediate community and how it is integral to our ability to help our neighbors.
For better or worse, governmental regulations, policies and funding impact our daily lives in multiple ways. From the roads we drive on, to the schools that educate our children, to the reassurance that the food we buy at the grocery store is safe to eat, the government is much more enmeshed in our routines than we often think. The same goes for Fair Tide’s mission of securing affordable housing for our community members in need. Despite being almost entirely privately funded, the decisions made by those in power can either enable or stymie our work. It is, therefore Fair Tide’s obligation to educate our leaders about how their policies impact people on the ground. Carrying out our mission means lifting up the voices of the folks we serve that all too often get left out of the equation.
What this looks like in action is taking a seat at all the tables where relevant decisions are being made. In Maine, that includes participating in several local, regional and statewide councils which provide guidance and feedback to decision-making bodies. More specifically, Maine has an overarching Statewide Homeless Council (SHC), as well as three regional councils which meet monthly to coordinate efforts aimed at eliminating homelessness. Fair Tide is situated in Region One, along with others in York and Cumberland counties. This coalition of homeless service providers and stakeholders discuss issues particular to our localities and share information up to the SHC.
In turn, the Statewide Homeless Council is responsible for coordinating and establishing statewide policies and programs to end homelessness, and advising those in power on ways to carry out this mission. This group consists of representatives elected by each of our three regional councils as well as the State legislature, Maine State Housing Authority, and the Governor. As the director of Fair Tide, I was recently chosen as one of the three SHC representatives from Region One. I am very excited to be able to bring the concerns, ideas, and challenges faced by our particular locality to those who have the power to facilitate meaningful change.
One thing that has become clear through engaging in this collaborative work is that the challenges in Kittery may not be the same as those faced by citizens in Bucksport. Similarly, solutions that work in York may not succeed in Fort Kent. We need organizations like Fair Tide at the local level to tailor programs and services to meet the particular needs of their constituents. At the same time, this work relies on smart and thoughtful policies and sufficient funding originating from regulating bodies. Fair Tide is proud of the efforts we are engaged in on all levels to make sure every Mainer has a place to call home, including our neighbors here in the very southern part of our state. If you are interested in learning more about how you can contribute to our coalition and advocacy work, please reach out to chat! Executivedirector@fairtide.org.