Bangor Hotel Closed to Public, Leased by State to House Homeless

With the homeless population continuing to grow in Bangor all while a viral pandemic is happening, officials are running out of places to house them all.

According to WABI, Penobscot Community Health Care says that they are out of room at their Hope House to house homeless people while allowing for social distancing. The Ramada Inn on the Odlin Road in Bangor is now going to be used to handle the overflow that the Hope House is currently experiencing.

The hotel is now closed to all public guests and is being used as a temporary homeless shelter. Officials say that the State of Maine is currently leasing the property for this very purpose. WABI is told that the lease is being paid for by the Maine State Housing Authority and that the plan is that this is only going to be a temporary solution to the problem. Bangor city manager has said that a permanent change in the building's use would require possible zoning changes as well as city approval.

While the Maine State Housing Authority is paying for the building's lease, the facility is in fact being staffed by members of Penobscot Community Health Care.

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