WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG
FAIR TIDE ANNUAL REPORT 2023
A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS
Celebrating 25 Years
EST. 1998
The mission of Fair Tide is to reduce homelessness by providing housing and supportive services to individuals and families in the Seacoast.
A WORD FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends, As you read this letter, contractors are starting their work on our much anticipated six-unit affordable housing project in Kittery, Maine. Right next door, we have broken ground on the Mainspring facility, bringing a longtime collaborative vision to life. At the same time, Fair Tide’s new Director of Housing is exploring funding opportunities for our next housing project – a unique collaboration between Fair Tide, the Town of Kittery and Southern Maine Planning & Development. To say this year has been busy would be a gross understatement!
Photo courtesy of Olivia Falcigno
2023 has clearly been pivotal in Fair Tide’s growth trajectory, but these successes are the result of many years of learning, strategizing, partnership building, advocacy, hard work and your generous support. The fact that we are poised to expand our housing portfolio by 140% over the next few years demonstrates the critical point we have reached as an agency and the opportunity (and responsibility) we have to continue to make an impact on homelessness in the Seacoast. Fair Tide’s expansion and our innovative collaborations are a direct response to the increasing needs in our community. Inflated housing costs and lack of inventory
have fully jammed up our system – clogging our emergency shelters and leaving a growing number of households with nowhere to go but their car, or a tent. So often, we reduce the phenomenon of homelessness to individual flaws, illnesses or bad choices which presume that we have no role to play in remedying the situation. While these theoretical causes may exacerbate an individual’s crisis, the source of the increase in homelessness we are seeing is the simple fact that we don’t have enough housing. That, we can and must do something about. In the following pages, we’ll share more about Fair Tide’s plan to combat homelessness and how our services will be enhanced over the next few years. While we have ambitious goals, we know it is only in partnership with our community that they can be achieved. So, I invite you to continue reading, reach out with questions, and come alongside us – either again or for the first time – as a partner in providing solutions to people experiencing homelessness. By making a financial contribution, you are continuing to fuel our momentum into 2024 and beyond. Thank you for your incredible support and empowering Fair Tide to serve the Seacoast community.
Emily Flinkstrom EMILY FLINKSTROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
171
households secured housing through our Housing and Case Management Program over the past 25 years
464
households stabilized through short-term, information and referral connections since 2017
105
households supported through our client emergency fund since 2020
92%
success rate in households maintaining housing for at least oneyear with case management support
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
FAIR TIDE OVER THE YEARS Fair Tide was founded in 1998 by a committed group of community members who came together to support those experiencing homelessness. Over the past 25 years, Fair Tide has grown into a staple of the Seacoast, providing permanent and affordable housing, case management, information and referral services and low-cost clothing and housewares through our thrift store. Fair Tide’s evolution is a direct response to the growing needs in our community and has only been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our growing family of supporters. 1998 FAIR TIDE ESTABLISHED
2003 OPENED 5-UNIT KITTERY HOUSE
2016 BOARD HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO GROW ORGANIZATION
2019 LAUNCHED LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE (LEI) VISION FOR MAINSPRING IS BORN
BEGAN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM OPENED THRIFT STORE
2018 CHANGED TO HOUSING FIRST MODEL TO OFFER PERMANENT HOUSING + SUPPORTS
2021 AWARDED ARPA FUNDS FOR 22 SHAPLEIGH ROAD
2022 HIRED DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AWARDED MAINEHOUSING NAVIGATOR GRANT AWARDED HOME-ARP FUNDS FOR 6-UNIT HOUSING PROJECT AWARDED OLD POST ROAD PROPERTY FROM TOWN OF KITTERY
2024
MAINSPRING TO OPEN 6-UNIT HOUSING PROJECT TO OPEN
2023 JOINTLY HIRED LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR LEI GROWTH HIRED DIRECTOR OF HOUSING HIRED THRIFT STORE ONLINE SALES COORDINATOR
FIVE MORE YEARS OF GROWTH: 2023-2027 Early this year, Fair Tide’s Board of Directors and leadership staff created a five-year strategic plan that builds on the strong foundation and momentum currently in place. Our primary goals include: GOAL 1
GOAL 2
GOAL 3
Fair Tide is the leader in developing affordable, supportive housing in the Seacoast region.
Fair Tide’s internal capacity is strengthened to meet community needs and long-term sustainability.
Mainspring is created and fully operational, providing easily accessible services for individuals and families in the Seacoast region.
We’ve already made great progress in 2023 and with your support, we will continue making headway in 2024!
GOAL ONE Fair Tide is the leader in developing affordable, supportive housing in the Seacoast region. Fair Tide creates affordable housing opportunities for those who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Paired with case management, our model ensures long-term stability for households. Fair Tide’s approach to this work includes developing new units of deeply affordable housing, partnering with landlords and offering short- and long-term case management services.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT In addition to operating the five-unit house in Kittery, Fair Tide is bringing 12 new units online in the next two years through our housing developments.
2 NEW PROJECTS
slated to open in 2024 and 2025
140%
increase in units owned and operated by Fair Tide over the next few years This year, we hired a Director of Housing to identify opportunities for affordable housing projects and lead the development process. This new position will allow Fair Tide to continue to grow our portfolio of deeply affordable housing in the Seacoast.
WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG
EST. 1998
LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE Fair Tide's Landlord Engagement Initiative offers a menu of incentives to landlords who rent to households experiencing homelessness with rental vouchers. This approach creates affordable housing opportunities in the private rental market to meet the immediate needs in our community.
16 HOUSEHOLDS
secured housing through LEI since 2019
GOAL: 50 HOUSEHOLDS
matched with landlords during the two-year, MaineHousing Navigator grant - in partnership with York Community Service Association
CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT Working one-on-one with clients, our case manager provides connections to appropriate resources and assists individuals in achieving goals such as furthering their education, obtaining and maintaining employment, budgeting and financial management, stabilizing mental and physical health, and most importantly, remaining stably housed. Case management services will grow alongside our housing portfolio over the next several years.
30 HOUSEHOLDS
average caseload for long-term support
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES Fair Tide provides information, referrals and short-term guidance to individuals and families seeking assistance in meeting basic needs. This support serves as homelessness prevention and, through resource navigation, can get folks pointed in the right direction.
127 HOUSEHOLDS
prevented from falling into homelessness in FY23
WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG
EST. 1998
GOAL TWO Fair Tide’s internal capacity is strengthened to meet community needs and long-term sustainability. Fair Tide will expand our team in order to meet growth goals, build on the success of the thrift store, manage administrative and fiscal responsibilities and sustain a vibrant fundraising program. In the past year, we hired a Director of Housing, Development Coordinator, Thrift Store Online Sales Coordinator, an additional Thrift Store Sales Associate, and - in partnership with York Community Service Association - a Landlord Engagement Specialist. We will continue to add staff to meet the needs of our programs and services as they expand in the coming years.
HERSHEY HIRSCHKOP
TAYLOR JOHNSON
AMY KELLY
DEANNA FRIEDMAN
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
THRIFT STORE ONLINE SALES COORDINATOR
THRIFT STORE SALES ASSOCIATE
Growing our Board of Directors We are grateful for our Board of Directors who help guide Fair Tide and ensure stability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. We would like to add several more members over the coming years, so please reach out if you’re interested in serving Fair Tide in this capacity!
GEORGE DOW - SECRETARY
ALI GOODWIN: CHAIR
BILL DIGNAN
AARON AWBREY
RYAN POPE: VICE-CHAIR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS OF 11.01.23
DALE KELLER
STEVEN EPSTEIN: TREASURER
WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG
EST. 1998
GOAL THREE Mainspring is created and fully operational, providing easily accessible services for individuals and families in the Seacoast region. Mainspring is a collective of social service agencies working collaboratively under one roof to help households navigate the pathway out of poverty. As co-founding partners, Fair Tide and Footprints Food Pantry are developing and implementing this research-based model at a newly renovated facility in Kittery, with doors slated to open in Fall 2024. Mainspring will include various partners, programs, and services, including:
Your Donation Matched! In an effort to help us reach our $5.4M capital campaign goal, Peter Lamb and Faith Harrington through the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation are currently matching donations to Mainspring up to $100,000! Visit www.mainspringcollective.org to learn more and make a donation.
Fair Tide’s affordable housing programs, case management services, and thrift store Footprints Food Pantry’s market-model food pantry, cooking classes, home delivery and new refrigerated lockers for after hour services York County Community Action’s Outreach services and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program Kittery and Eliot General Assistance Kittery and Marshwood Adult Education Seacoast Outright’s LGBTQ+ programming Table of Plenty’s hot meal service MaineHealth and additional mental, behavioral and physical healthcare services Veterans services Legal aid Tax prep Substance misuse recovery support Cooling and warming center, as needed Computer and printing access Shower facilities
FAIR TIDE’S THRIFT STORE
$2.9M
raised over time to support our mission to eliminate homelessness!
When you shop at our store, your dollars help provide a stable foundation for individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. In addition, community members are able to access clothing and housewares at an affordable cost, leaving more room in their budget for housing, food and other critical expenses. We are so grateful for our volunteers who generously offer their time so we can keep operating costs down and continue to grow this incredible resource.
WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG
EST. 1998
SPOTLIGHTS IN THE NEWS Seacoast Online: “Kittery gets $210,000 grant to turn town properties into affordable housing.” Photo courtesy of Barbara MacLeod
Seacoast Online: “Emily Flinkstrom is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country.” Photo courtesy of Olivia Falcigno
Seacoast Online: “Hirschkop [is] transitioning from Seacoast Outright to a newly created director of housing role at Fair Tide in Kittery” Photo courtesy of Deb Cram
OUR FINANCIALS | 07.01.22 - 06.30.23
$516,779 total income
Thrift Store Sales - 46% Grants - 22% Program Income - 14% Private Donations - 16%
$391,452 total expenses
Program - 84% Fundraising - 13% Management - 4%
Financials are reflective of Fair Tide only and do not include Mainspring revenue & expenses.
WAYS TO PARTNER IN 2023 AND BEYOND A single mom caring for her young children was devastated when her place of employment closed. To make matters much worse, the family was hit by medical complications and hospitalizations. The set of circumstances pushed them over the edge and they lost their housing. They bounced from hotel to hotel while multiple agencies scrambled to find a rental unit, continuously retelling her story to each provider and feeling the full throttle of the housing voucher stigma. Through working with Fair Tide’s newest landlord partner in our Landlord Engagement Initiative, she was finally able to secure a home for her and her family. Now, and for the foreseeable future, her children have a place to call their own. Please consider making a gift this holiday season to help Fair Tide provide the stability of home today and in the year to come. One-time and recurring donations can be made online at fairtide.org/donate or mailed to 15 State Road Kittery, ME 03904. Fair Tide also accepts gifts of stock, donor-advised funds, and bequests. If you are interested in one of these giving vehicles, please contact our team at development@fairtide.org.
Celebrating 25 Years
Make a one-time donation as cash, check, or credit card
Set up a recurring donation
Give a gift of stock
Make a qualified charitable distribution through your IRA
Recommend Fair Tide through your donoradvised fund
List “Fair Tide” as the beneficiary in your will
Volunteer at our thrift store
Donate and/or shop at our thrift store
(207) 439-6376
WWW.FAIRTIDE.ORG/DONATE 15 STATE ROAD KITTERY, ME 03904
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO FAIR TIDE AS PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY GIVING.