LEWISTON — Panelists speaking Wednesday after viewing the documentary “Building Hope” at the Franco Center shared the challenges and hopefulness they have working with the homeless in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

The film, local advocates and community organizers said after the screening, is a reminder of the damage wreaked by homelessness, and of the duty to fellow residents in crisis.

“If we can make connections with the people in our community, show them kindness, show them hope, it can also go a long way,” said Sasha Anastasoff, homeless liaison with Auburn schools.

The screening was sponsored by the Bates College Harward Center and was accompanied by a panel discussion with local advocates and professionals who work to address homelessness in the Lewiston and Auburn area.

Panel members were: Anastasoff; Kevin Boilard of Kaydenz Kitchen; Jamie Caouette from The Store Next Door; Lisa Escobar, substance use counselor at Lewiston schools; and Greg Whitney, president of the Drop-In Center in Auburn. Panelist Amran Osman, executive director of Generational Noor of Lewiston, was unable to attend.

Dottie Perham-Whittier, the facilitator and most recent addition to the Franco Center’s board, thanked the other board members and local representatives in attendance.

“Perhaps this will be a call to action, individually, for all of us,” she said.

Preceding the hourlong film, panelists were invited to introduce themselves and “speak from the heart.” 

They spoke about the difficulty of their work and its high emotional cost.

“It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking work,” Whitney said.

Despite this, they emphasized the importance of their work in the community, citing the growing numbers of individuals who use their services.

 The most recent data available show that the number of people who are homeless in Maine has doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boilard reported that Kaydenz Kitchen served over 350 unique individual guests this winter.

Whitney said that over the past six months, the Drop-in Center served over 700 unique individuals.

Anastasoff added that 242 students have been identified this year as being homeless or underhoused, noting that this is a running count.

Caouette said that despite 448 students being officially identified as homeless, The Store Next Door has identified 674 throughout the school year. This discrepancy, she explained, is likely due to students ceasing to attend school or moving. 

“Building Hope” provided a direct confrontation with the homelessness crisis in Maine, showcasing stories that were complex and difficult to hear, in order to add depth to the issues of homelessness.

“We wanted to put a human face on homelessness,” said the film’s Co-producers Richard Kane and Melody Lewis-Kane. 

Through interviews with people who are homeless, community leaders, doctors, developers and government officials, the film showed correlations between domestic abuse, substance abuse disorders, mental health, and incarceration, as well as systemic failures that contribute to chronic or episodic homelessness. The subjects’ stories demonstrated the diversity of homelessness and the importance of the programs working to provide aid. 

The documentary also highlighted the cyclical nature of homelessness and how “no one’s immune from homelessness.” In addressing the cost of homelessness, the film explained that keeping people in their homes is less expensive than rehoming individuals.

The husband-and-wife duo behind the film hoped to show some success stories and focus on solutions by interviewing community activists and volunteers. 

The film has been shown in Maine churches, libraries, theaters, colleges and at the State House since May. By pairing free screenings of the film with panels of local activists, the couple also hoped to make volunteerism more accessible. 

Throughout the panel discussion, speakers agreed on the efficacy of wraparound services, or holistic support services for individuals and families. They also discussed the “housing first” model as a possible long-term solution for getting people off the streets, NIMBYism and their enduring need for more volunteers, funding and resources.

Panelists praised the film’s portrayal of homelessness and shared their personal experiences and perspectives on working with the local homeless community.

“All I could think about is every face that was on that video was a face for me of somebody that lives here in Lewiston, was one of our residents that I see every single day, that is somebody here, that is part of our community, that is what we’re dealing with,” Caouette said.

She said her job is more than just a job: “It’s something that you never shut off and it becomes a lifestyle.” 

Escobar and Anastasoff echoed this statement, adding that their work can often be painful, especially when it comes to losing students.

“I have lost a lot of people that I worked with and I carry each and every single one of them with me as I do this work,” Escobar said.

However, the panelists also expressed their hope for their future and their belief in the power of kindness to enact change.

Boilard, who is in the process of establishing Androscoggin County’s first 24/7 low-barrier shelter, said that despite the process being “one of the most challenging experiences (he has) ever endured,” he and his team are “extremely hopeful.”

Whitney also expressed his optimism toward local services, especially since the Drop-in Center moved to a larger location in Auburn and will soon be getting shower facilities.

Change, many of them expressed, starts with ending the stigma and negativity around homelessness.

“At some point, I think we really need to get past the stigmas and stereotypes and the negativity that we associate with homelessness and stop using it as the scapegoat for the downfall of our community, while completely refusing to produce the resources and address the concerns to potentially end the cycle,” Boilard said. 

For emphasis, Whitney added, “Being homeless is not a crime.”