Bangor approves $100K for warming centers ahead of winter
Together Place Secures $90,000 in Federal Funds to Open Overnight Warming Center
A local nonprofit that serves homeless and low‑income residents has obtained a $90,000 grant from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support the launch of an overnight warming center set to open this November.
Together Place, a Maine‑based organization that provides food, housing support and outreach services, announced that the funding will cover the operating costs of the new facility. The warming center will offer a safe, heated space for people to sleep, receive meals and access basic amenities during the cold months.
“We’re grateful for the support from the Community Development Block Grant,” the organization said. “The funds will help ensure that the center can open on schedule and remain open throughout the winter, giving residents a place to stay warm and safe.”
The CDBG program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides grants to local governments and nonprofit partners to address community development needs. Together Place’s grant is part of a broader effort to expand services for Maine’s homeless population and to provide critical resources as temperatures drop.
The new warming center is scheduled to open in November, coinciding with the start of the coldest season in Maine. The facility will operate nightly, offering free meals, hygiene supplies and connections to housing and employment programs for those in need.
The grant, awarded to Together Place on behalf of the city, will be used primarily for staff salaries, utilities and supplies essential to maintaining the center’s operations. The nonprofit plans to track its impact, reporting on the number of residents served and the services delivered each month.
Together Place’s effort comes amid rising concerns about homelessness and the challenges of keeping residents safe during Maine’s winter months. The opening of the warming center is expected to provide a much‑needed refuge for many who otherwise would have no secure place to stay overnight.
