City: Time to Step Up for Shelter Services
- May 23rd 2025
- Community
Early Shelter Logo
By Lee Burnett
Sanford’s political leaders are calling on all 29 communities in York County to contribute funding toward the continuation of emergency shelter services.
Services were disrupted May 9 when York County Shelter Programs suspended operations at its emergency shelter in Alfred. Some 37 people were displaced, although alternate housing was found for 11 people, according to Sanford Mayor Becky Brink.
At a Sanford City Council meeting on Tuesday, Brink urged other communities to step up and match Sanford’s pledge of raising $2 per resident ($46,000), which she said would collectively raise more than $500,000.
“We’re hoping all of York County will feel this is very important because we all send people to these facilities,” she said. “And then other businesses and organizations would be willing to donate money because all of York County being willing to donate money.”
Leaders are scrambling to find funding, not just for the shelter that closed but others managed by York County Shelter Programs still operating. That includes a 16-bed family shelter in Sanford, where families with children live, and 117 subsidized apartments throughout York County. Layman’s Way, a 17-bed treatment center in Alfred, will continue operating until June 30, when scheduled closure will coincide with opening of York County’s new recovery center and training facility. The food pantry in Alfred will continue operating with a temporary infusion of funding from York County Commissioners and a pledge for more. Books Revisited, a used bookstore in Sanford staffed by volunteers, will continue operating. The meals service program, which includes a bakery in Alfred, will close.
Leaders were brought together May 12 at a Zoom meeting called by Rep. Anne Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, and Michele Meyer, D-Eliot. Attending were York County Commissioners, the Homeless Task Force, York County legislators, outreach workers, Sanford city councilors Ayn Hanselmann and Maura Herlihy, and Sanford City Manager Steve Buck, according to Brink.
Brink said the issue of most immediate concern is the continued operation of the family shelter in Sanford, which costs $17,000 per month to operate. Both interim funding and long-term funding is being sought, as well as an organization willing to take over operations.
“If we have funding, there are several organizations willing to run that program,” said Brink.
