Discussion held by Bangor City Council about homelessness and housing on January 6, 2026.
Disclaimer: The views I express here are my own and should NOT be construed as speaking for the City of Bangor or the City Council of Bangor.
Click here to read the meeting agenda.
The City Council held a special workshop on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to discuss strategic responses to homelessness, city ordinances regarding camping, and the formation of a new advisory body.
Recommendations from Former Councilor Sprague
Former Councilor Sprague presented a briefing paper written during his term to serve as a prompt for a multi-disciplinary plan. Key points included:
- Diverse Categories of Homelessness: He emphasized that “unsheltered” individuals in tents are only the “tip of the iceberg,” and the city must also consider the sheltered homeless and those “couch surfing”.
- Lack of Coordination: While over 50 community organizations are involved in housing and nutrition, there is no organized plan tying them together, leading to “siloing” of efforts.
- Investment and Accountability: The city invested approximately $10 million in resources in 2021 alone. Sprague suggested holding neighboring communities and the county more accountable for their residents rather than Bangor “holding the bag”.
- Carrying Capacity: He expressed concern regarding the city’s economic capacity to provide human services without becoming a magnet for the homeless.
City Camping Ordinances
The Council reviewed existing codes governing camping on city-owned property.
- General Prohibition: Camping is generally prohibited on city-owned parks, residential property, and non-residential property.
- Sanctioned Encampment Models: If the Council chooses to sanction an encampment, it would create tension with current building and sanitation codes.
- Third-Party Oversight: Most successful models in other cities involve a third-party nonprofit with expertise running the site. However, Councilors noted the challenge of finding a partner with sufficient expertise in a city of Bangor’s size.
Committee Formation and Strategic Planning
The Council debated whether to form a short-term task force or a permanent standing committee.
- Strategic Plan: Staff proposed an advisory committee to create a strategic plan over 6 to 9 months, focusing on community buy-in from landlords, businesses, and property owners.
- Permanent Commission: I argued for a permanent body to ensure “political heavy lifting” continues over the long term, noting that “entropy equals policy failure”.
| Feature | Proposed Advisory Committee | Proposed Permanent Committee |
| Duration | 6–9 months | No expiration date |
| Primary Goal | Develop a Strategic Plan | Ongoing policy implementation |
| Leadership | Public Health staff (initially) | Elected chair from the body |
Key Announcements and Actions
- New Hire: The city has hired Bruce Hews as the new Homeless Coordinator. Hughes previously served in housing stabilization and has significant experience in the field.
- Final Motion: The Council voted to move forward with a permanent committee (no expiration date).
- Next Steps: Staff will produce a draft for the next council meeting detailing the committee’s makeup, length of terms, and specific charges.
