Homelessness is not just a city problem.
Rent prices in more rural parts
of the state have doubled or even
tripled over the past few years.
While the average person's monthly income
remains relatively the same and that has
a lot of people facing homelessness.
Asking if I can't afford to live here,
then where can I go?
Here's new Center Maine, Chloe Tebow.
The Johnsons seem like your typical
family of four is all your toys.
Jerry 2 adults and two
kids under the age of 10.
Hi, but the place they've been calling
home recently isn't quite so typical.
It has four wheels
and an engine, but now we are.
Two months on this awesome journey.
Been staying in our car,
Jessica says. In April,
her family gave her 30 days notice
on their most recent apartment
after experiencing issues with
sewage water leaking into their
bathroom and flooding the basement.
She says they thought they would be
able to find another place easily in
the rural Romford area, but so far
just feels like endless endless.
You think you've got your hopes
up and then something happens.
Something like new landlords
refusing to accept the Johnson's
emergency rental assistance,
a program that began in response
to the pandemic to help eligible
people pay for rent and utilities.
But according to main housing,
landlords can't be required to participate.
Most places you go look at,
you find a 3 bedroom.
They want $1600 for it a month and
then the landlord wants you to make
three times the amount of the rent. He
says for them, that's just not possible.
The Johnsons are living on a fixed income
of a little more than $2000 per month
since Brian Jessica and their daughter
received disability through Social Security
every month, we're broke. By the
time the Bills come through anyway
to get help and find a community,
the Johnsons and becoming off and on to
the Beaconhouse peer recovery Center,
which has been around since 1991,
it acts as a resource for people experiencing
challenges related to mental health,
substance use and homelessness.
Jenna Mason is the center's manager. People
become really vulnerable here and
it's been a very safe environment.
The atmosphere is welcoming.
Mason says she has been in
Rumford since 2006 and has
recently noticed a growing need.
When it comes to housing
more so lately we've had people coming here.
People walking in saying
that they're homeless.
A couple we were able to give
them a sleeping bag in a tent.
Another we were able to use our Community
funds to help them get a campsite.
As for the reasons why the new
landlords coming into town,
they're coming from out of state.
They're raising up the rents,
the cost of living. The rents
have definitely gone up over time.
Michelle Wordley works across
town as the director of homeless
services at Rumford Group Homes.
One of the only shelters in the area. We've
had a couple of families that have come
into the shelter when I first started.
10 years ago. Well now their kids are
grown up having kids of their own.
They've also come back into shelter,
a cycle of homelessness that can
be hard to escape, and this acony
they're still going off the same salaries.
They're still going off what
everybody used to be making.
It was hard enough for families
to be able to afford housing.
You know, then, let alone now
a poverty issues. Have just,
I think, completely increased.
You know, from from COVID, if you will,
with the United Way of Androscoggin County.
That she gets calls daily from
people on the verge of homelessness.
It's heartbreaking, heartbreaking,
and heart to find solutions. People
that are on the verge of
homelessness in rural areas,
transportation is a probably a a
barrier for a lot of people and that
transportation could be to jobs.
It could be to a shelter
and for those who do have
transportation like the Johnsons.
Yeah, I wanna live here
sometimes it's all they have.
My daughter isn't me turning 9 July 27th.
Which she does know we won't
have a home for her birthday,
so it's kind of discouraging.
That's new center Maine.
Chloe Tebow. With that story,
Jolene Bedard says if you're in need,
there are places you can
reach out to for help.
She recommends calling, texting,
or visiting the 211 main website.
There you can find resources in
your area for your specific needs.