North Star Planning supported Levine Planning Strategies and Human Service Research Institute on a study for Cumberland County to evaluate the need and options for services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Lakes Region, including the towns of Baldwin, Casco, Naples, Raymond, and Sebago.
Currently, there are no defined programs or services located within the Lakes Region to aid and support people experiencing homelessness with securing emergency or permanent housing, or to assist those at risk of housing insecurity with successfully maintaining permanent housing.
NSP reviewed housing data and zoning for the area towns, creating a housing profile for each community. The profiles quantified housing needs, estimated how many people in the town were at risk of homelessness due to extreme housing cost burden, and identified barriers to additional housing construction in the community.
Based on stakeholder engagement conducted by HSRI, NSP then prepared a siting analysis of potential locations for a one-stop homeless services center and temporary shelter, taking into account zoning, land use, and public transit.