As Maine’s housing crisis grows, Pine Tree Society’s Case Management team has seen more clients struggling with housing insecurity.
“Not having safe and adequate housing is hard,” said Case Manager, Joey Mullins. “You’re constantly living in survival mode trying to figure out if you have a safe place to sleep at night. That takes up a lot of mental and physical energy.”
Together with the Case Management team, Joey helped two clients find housing stability. One person was homeless and the other was in a transitionary program.
“Our homeless client had lived in same house for 20 years,” Joey said. “She and her mother were evicted because the landlord didn’t renew their lease. They couldn’t find an affordable apartment so ended up homeless.”
After a few months, they found an apartment in another town and moved their entire life away from everything they knew.
“They are in a situation where they are just trying to survive,” said Joey.
For another client, making the leap from transitional housing to an apartment was a long journey.
“He has been on his own since he was 18 and has no one. He was in transitional housing for five years. The average length of stay is usually six months. There simply wasn’t anywhere for him to go,” Joey continued. “Case Management assisted him and, eventually, he ended up getting a call from a housing agency with an opening for a reduced rent apartment that works with his income.”
Now that he’s found stable housing, he can start focusing on his goals which include getting a job, making friends, being an active part of his community and taking art classes.
“This transition been great for him,” Joey concluded. “Once you secure safe stable housing it gives clients the opportunity to work toward their individualized goals.”
To learn more about Pine Tree Society’s Case Management Program follow this link or contact us at 207-443-3341.