Homelessness Update: Cleanup, Housing First & Warming Center

Trauma Services personnel cleaning up the former encampment at Heritage Crossing.

Photo: News & History of Sanford on Facebook

By Zendelle Bouchard

Heritage Crossing Cleanup

At the City Council’s regular meeting on July 16, City Manager Steve Buck provided an update from the recent Homeless Task Force meeting on the closure of the Heritage Crossing homeless encampment. A staggering amount of trash and needles was collected from the site over two three-day cleanup sessions.

The first cleanup session, by the city’s Public Works Department, took place June 17-19. PWD staff removed nine 18-cubic-yard truckloads full of trash, waste and assorted materials by mechanical means. In addition, three full 20-gallon medical sharps containers were removed, as well as several five-gallon buckets partially filled with syringes.

The second cleanup session was done July 8-10 by contracted professionals from Trauma Services, who handpicked remaining materials from underbrush, around trees and scattered throughout the area. These trained personnel wore personal protective equipment to safeguard against needle sticks and contaminants. Trauma Services bagged 475 60-gallon bags of materials from the encampment area, as well as six 8-gallon containers of medical sharps.

While the second cleanup was ongoing, PWD employees removed two additional 18-cubic-yard truckloads of steel and other materials from the property.

In total, 347 cubic yards of trash and waste were removed from the site, as well as 110 gallons of medical sharps. Buck estimated that this equates to 14,716 syringes. He is in contact with Maine Access Points and the Hepatitis & Harm Reduction Program manager of Maine CDC to discuss new options on needle exchange and the improper disposal of syringes, which are causing a public health hazard.

Housing First

Buck said the Sanford Housing Authority and its consultants presented a pre-application on July 9 to construct a 30-unit Housing First development at the Heritage Crossing location. Housing First is a model for addressing homelessness that includes housing units plus 24/7 support services. The project is scheduled to come before the Site Plan Review Committee in August, with subsequent review by the Planning Board for a permit. An architect will be chosen by the end of this month, which should put the project on track for a spring 2026 groundbreaking. Funding for the project is expected to be granted by Maine Housing.

Latest Numbers

Buck said the city is working with 15 chronically unhoused people to identify shelter or housing options that will be accepted. Mayor Becky Brink noted that this is a huge improvement over the 200 homeless individuals that had been documented in May. She added that she had just learned that two unhoused individuals suffering from substance use disorder have indicated their willingness to go to rehab.

Funding Opportunities

Buck said there is a significant need for street outreach staff to continue to work with Sanford’s unhoused population and connect them to services. Maine State Housing will have a grant opportunity available that the city may apply for by Sept. 30. York County Shelter Programs will make the application, supported by the Task Force. Funding for winter warming shelters will also be available, with a deadline of Aug. 23 to apply. Buck said options with YCSP are still under consideration, but the Lafayette School will not be used for that purpose this year. An alternative location is being sought.

Layman’s Way

The expansion of York County’s Layman’s Way substance abuse and detox center in Alfred has achieved full permitting. Buck said the project is slated to begin construction by October and is expected to take a year to finish.