Almost a 12 months after transportable outside bogs have been faraway from downtown Bangor because of in depth vandalism, an advocate for the world’s rising homeless inhabitants mentioned the town wants so as to add public bogs downtown once more.
Brian Pitman, spokesperson for the Larger Bangor Houseless Collective, mentioned it’s the town’s accountability to supply and keep ample and ample bogs for its residents as a result of it’s thought-about a public service. The town, nevertheless, reported staffing limitations are hindering its capability so as to add extra bogs downtown.
The Bangor Metropolis Council voted unanimously in April 2021 to put outside public bogs in high-traffic areas, primarily for the town’s homeless inhabitants. The bogs price $70,000 yearly and have been supplied by Casella. Models have been positioned in Broad Avenue Park and behind the Hope Home, which provides well being care and housing to the town’s homeless inhabitants, in keeping with Courtney O’Donnell, assistant metropolis supervisor and director of human assets.
In early August 2021 nevertheless, Casella eliminated the general public rest room in Broad Avenue Park after it was repeatedly abused. O’Donnell mentioned trash and needles have been disposed of within the unit and human waste lined the partitions.
Fewer public bogs downtown can instantly impression not solely the town’s unhoused inhabitants, however those that want to make use of the lavatory continuously because of a incapacity, sickness or age, mentioned Brian Pitman.
“That may restrict the time folks spend within the metropolis as a result of they should construction their day round after they should go to the lavatory,” Pitman mentioned.
If the town have been to provide extra public bogs, Pitman mentioned it’d doubtless encourage folks to spend extra time downtown as a result of they’d be capable of entry the amenities when wanted moderately than go elsewhere.
In late August 2021, Casella eliminated the outside public rest room behind Hope Home for a similar purpose — repeated and in depth vandalism and misuse that made the unit unsafe to scrub, O’Donnell mentioned.
“At the moment, we reached out to a close-by company that was actively monitoring and cleansing the lavatory regularly, and was knowledgeable that because of security issues they might not service the unit and requested it’s eliminated,” O’Donnell mentioned.
Since then, Hope Home has not seen any points with residents or non-residents misusing or vandalizing the restrooms within the constructing, in keeping with Kate Carlisle, spokesperson for Penobscot Neighborhood Well being Care, which oversees Hope Home.
Although the outside bogs have been eliminated, public buildings together with the Harbormaster constructing on the waterfront, metropolis corridor and the Bangor Public Library proceed to supply public bogs.
Bangor Metropolis Supervisor Debbie Laurie mentioned the transit middle now beneath building in Pickering Sq. can even have a public rest room when it opens in October. The constructing will likely be staffed, she mentioned, giving the town a approach to monitor and keep the amenities.
Ben Deal with, Bangor Public Library director, mentioned he’s conscious of individuals utilizing unlawful substances within the library bogs, however he hasn’t seen substantial vandalism within the amenities.
“Utilizing medication within the library isn’t secure, and we do all the pieces we will to restrict each the chance and the looks of alternative to make use of substances within the rest room,” Deal with mentioned.
Inside the final 12 months, the library requested police for 49 legal trespass orders to maintain disruptive folks from re-entering the constructing. Of these, 16 concerned noticed substance use and several other others have been doubtless associated to folks beneath the affect of unlawful medication, Deal with mentioned.
The library has additionally served as a hub for dozens of homeless folks as a result of it’s one of many few locations in Bangor folks can escape the weather and entry free assets like wi-fi web, a pc and the restroom.
Deal with mentioned the library has elevated patrols of library areas, together with its restrooms.
“These patrols are supposed to each mission our occupancy of unstaffed areas and to establish unacceptable habits earlier than it’s encountered by patrons,” Deal with mentioned.
Laurie mentioned the town continues to search for methods to supply public bogs, however staffing is a significant barrier as a result of the town wants somebody to observe the amenities to make sure they’re used safely and appropriately.
Ought to the town try to provide public restrooms once more, Pitman agreed with the town’s intention to have a employees member oversee the amenities to discourage vandalism and abuse. The bogs, nevertheless, ought to stay open 24/7, he mentioned.
“If it’s unlawful to make use of the lavatory in public and the library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., when are people who find themselves dwelling outdoors supposed to make use of the lavatory when it’s closed?” Pitman mentioned.
He additionally really helpful needle drop containers be included within the facility, as it could forestall needles from being disposed of improperly. This could serve not solely these with substance use dysfunction, however anybody who wants to offer themselves an injection throughout the day, akin to somebody with diabetes who wants insulin.
Pitman additionally really helpful the town look to Portland, which used $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan funds so as to add three new single-stall bathrooms downtown. The bathrooms are transportable, non-flushable and manufactured from aluminum as an alternative of plastic. They are going to have air flow, solar-powered lighting and safe containers for sharps.
“If you attempt to be inclusive in your most marginalized folks, it finally ends up benefiting everybody else in the long term,” Pitman mentioned.
