[Adopted 3-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-107]
A. 
There is hereby established the Advisory Committee on Homelessness. The Committee's initial task will be to create a strategic plan for the City's response to homelessness that is data driven, evidence informed, and that considers regional and structural coordination. After the completion of this initial task, the Committee will broaden its scope to include more broadly developing and advising Council on strategies and policies to prevent and end homelessness.
B. 
The Committee shall consist of nine regular voting members appointed by the City Council. All members shall be at-large members. The Council shall work to include members with a wide variety of perspectives and interests on the Committee, such as, but not limited to:
(1) 
Local service provider(s) with experience managing shelters or other housing types for the unhoused population in Bangor.
(2) 
Local service provider(s) that provide direct service outreach to the unhoused population in Bangor.
(3) 
Local service provider(s) with experience providing mental health treatment or support to the unhoused population in Bangor.
(4) 
Local service provider(s) with experience providing treatment, including medication assisted treatment, recovery, or harm reduction services or support to individuals that are unhoused and with substance use disorders.
(5) 
Representatives of Northern Light EMMC, St. Joseph Healthcare, and/or Penobscot Community Health Center.
(6) 
An individual that is a landlord with experience working with individuals utilizing housing vouchers.
(7) 
A Bangor business owner impacted by the City's homelessness crisis.
(8) 
Representatives of Penobscot County and/or surrounding municipalities.
(9) 
Other experts in homelessness response or associated areas that Council believes contributes to the work of the Committee.
C. 
The City shall solicit interest in Committee membership through a public application and nomination process. Applicants will be interviewed and recommended for appointment by the Personnel Committee and appointed by the City Council.
D. 
The City Council recognizes that solutions to homelessness must be informed by those who have lived it. Therefore, in making appointments, the Council and the Personnel Committee shall consider applicants with current or past lived experiences of homelessness or housing instability as disclosed through self-identification with a non-binding goal of at least three Committee members with lived experience.
E. 
To ensure Committee recommendations are operationally viable, staff from the following City departments shall be assigned to serve as permanent Ex-Officio (non-voting) technical advisors: (1) Public Health, (2) Community and Economic Development, (3) Public Safety, and (4) School Department.
F. 
The Council Chair shall annually appoint a member of the City Council as a non-voting member and a liaison between the Council and the Committee. This term shall expire on the first Monday in November following the regular City election, at which time the Chair for the ensuing year shall make a new appointment. Any liaison appointed mid-term shall only serve until the next such Monday in November.
Regular members of the Committee shall be selected primarily on the basis of the guidelines outlined above, but preference may be given to appointing members who are residents of the City of Bangor and/or have lived experience with homelessness or housing instability. Committee members shall receive no compensation for their service.
A. 
For initial appointment, Council shall appoint three representatives for a term of one year, three representatives for a term of two years, and three representatives for a term of three years. Thereafter, the term of each regular member shall be for three years or until their successor has been appointed.
B. 
Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner for the unexpired term.
The Committee shall annually elect a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Secretary from among its voting members.
A. 
The Committee shall meet at least monthly, but more frequent meetings may occur.
B. 
Beginning three months following the date of the first Committee meeting, and quarterly thereafter, the Committee shall prepare and submit to the City Council a report outlining its activities during the preceding calendar quarter.
C. 
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the Committee's voting members and recommendations shall require at least five affirmative votes to pass.
A. 
The Committee's initial charge is to create a strategic plan for the City's response to homelessness that is data driven, evidence informed, and that considers regional and structural coordination. Critical components will include specific strategies for homelessness prevention, encampment response, and other necessary City policies needed to effectively address homelessness within the City. The Committee shall submit a strategic plan for Council review and adoption not later than 12 months from the Committee's first meeting.
B. 
Following the completion of the Committee's initial charge, the Committee's mission is to:
(1) 
Consider and recommend ways to ensure better regional and structural coordination on homelessness, which may include evaluating the policies and ordinances in surrounding municipalities and at the county level, advocating for a fairer regional sharing of investments, and evaluating how the City can better align with state-level efforts.
(2) 
Recommend a sustainable municipal funding strategy for the City's response to homelessness, including, but not limited to, planning for changes to state and federal funding to the existing voucher system, researching and presenting creative and non-traditional funding mechanisms, and reviewing opportunities to leverage existing and future City investments.
(3) 
Review state legislative proposals that impact homelessness and make recommendations to Council regarding legislative proposals that the City should consider supporting or opposing. The Committee may also make recommendations to Council regarding legislative proposals that the City should consider seeking sponsorship.
(4) 
Review, consider, and provide feedback on all items that Council refers to the Committee for this purpose.
(5) 
Proactively engage the City's diverse community stakeholders to incorporate broad community input into the recommendations made to Council.