Sweetser News & Events

Tedford Shelter, Sweetser Break Ground on Permanent Supportive Housing

Posted on 08/28/2006 at 02:01 pm

Tedford Shelter and Sweetser joined forces today with the Maine State Housing Authority and the Department of Health and Human Services to dedicate Evergreen Woods, permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families in which one adult is living with a disability. Located in Bath, it is the first such facility for families in midcoast Maine and is in keeping with Maine Action Plan to End Homelessness which calls for the development of 2,550 units of such housing throughout the state. Evergreen Woods will consist of three 2-bedroom and three 3-bedroom apartments.

Evergreen Woods was developed by the Tedford Shelter, Sweetser, Maine State Housing, and the Bath United Church of Christ. Financing was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with matching funds from the Maine State Housing Authority. The balance of financing came from private donations to the Tedford Shelter—Homelessness to Hope Campaign. The United Way of Mid Coast Maine provides support for the Tedford Shelter.

Tedford, Sweetser and the Bath UCC will collaborate to provide a variety of formal and informal services for the tenants of Evergreen Woods. Tedford and Sweetser will provide case management and skill-building services to the tenants at Evergreen Woods while the Bath UCC congregation will provide a range of volunteer services to families.

“As we break ground on this new community to be known as Evergreen Woods we are grateful to be part of such a caring and resourceful community here in Bath and to have such strong support from the State. We look forward to expanding our community-based integrated network of care as we continue to serve people across Maine,” said Cindy Fagan, Sweetser’s executive vice president for programs.

With a history dating back to 1828, Sweetser is Maine’s most comprehensive behavioral healthcare organization dedicated to serving children, adults and families. Sweetser offers services that address emotional disturbances, mental illnesses, behavioral disorders and learning disabilities through an array of educational programs, preventive services, community-based support services and residential services.

Contact: Celeste Viger, Director of Government & Public Relations, cviger@sweetser.org, 294-4454 or 604-0610 (cell)