BRUNSWICK

Tedford Housing, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to find lasting solutions to the challenges of homelessness, held its annual meeting and awards event on June 16 at Moulton Union, Bowdoin College.

Honorees included Kay Wilson, Sally Loving, Kelly Bumiller, Dawn Flagg, Tammy Cutchen and Craig McEwen. Guest speakers included Greg Payne of Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and Frank O’Hara of Planning Decisions, who talked about the state of housing and homelessness in the Midcoast Maine region.

Outgoing board president, Craig McEwen, opened the meeting and shared some of the successes and activity from the past year for Tedford Housing.

“We now think of Tedford as a resource center for individuals and families facing housing challenges and myriad other difficulties — a resource center which happens to have some shelter beds and apartments for permanent housing,” McEwen said in his opening remarks. “Tedford is a center of navigation guiding over 750 people a year to the particular resources they need to get back on track. Tedford’s evolution reflects national trends and best practices in working on ending homelessness.”

Incoming board president, John Carson, closed the meeting reflecting on the challenges that speakers Payne and O’Hara presented with the prevalence of homelessness and lack of affordable housing in the Midcoast.

“The questions of how to offer appropriate sheltering and homeless prevention services are, indeed, important conversations for Tedford and the communities in which we work,” Carson said. “Especially as we approach our 30th anniversary of service to the Midcoast and our communities.”

Awards presented

The following awards were presented at the event:

• The Tedford Home Award — given annually to one or more organizations who have worked closely with Tedford Housing to help meet its mission of ending homelessness — was awarded to Kelly Bumiller, a clinician at Tri-County Mental Health Services; Dawn Flagg, family educator at Midcoast Maine Community Action; and Tammy Cutchen, an Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine parent.

• The Scooty Brownell Award — given annually to those who have a history of supporting Tedford Housing in more than one way including financial, volunteering, advocacy or leadership — was awarded to Craig McEwen and Daniel Fayerweather, professor of political economy and sociology emeritus.

• The Margit Cook Award — given annually to one or more people who demonstrate exemplary volunteer service to Tedford Housing, have served in a formal volunteer capacity for at least five years and are recommended by Tedford Housing staff as people of great integrity and outstanding volunteer service — was awarded to Sally Loving, a self-employed communications consultant for advocacy groups in Washington, D.C. and New York.

• Staff recognition

In addition, Kay Wilson was recognized for 10 years of employment with Tedford Housing. Wilson began working for Tedford Housing as a per diem shelter attendant and is now the adult shelter manager.