CARIBOU, Maine — The Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope, a homeless veteran shelter project led by United Veterans of Maine President John Deveau, needs about $60,000 in additional funding to hit its Oct. 14 open house and completion date.
“The project started with us needing over $200,000,” DeVeau said on Tuesday. “Now there’s about $60,000 remaining.”
DeVeau said he’s seeking the aid of four banks, industries, or banks to each chip in $15,000 to ensure the shelter’s timely completion.
As of Aug. 29, much of the groundwork has been finished by John T. Noble, a contractor located within close proximity of the Washburn Road shelter. Moving forward, DeVeau said members of the Loring Job Corps Center would be coming to set pins before cement is poured for the foundation. Contractors with John T. Noble would then return to dig out trenches for the sewer and pour the foundation.
Once that is done, the next step will be to bring in four prefab duplexes, provided by Presque Isle Contractor Aroostook Trusses, Inc.
DeVeau said that since the structures are prefabricated, they would be “built pretty quick.”
“We’ll have four cement slabs for the four duplexes,” DeVeau said, “and a gravel walkway between each to get equipment in during the winter to move snow.”
The UVM president said the four duplexes will be 24 feet by 24 feet, with a six foot porch in front. An administrative building, located where the former Caribou business Phil’s Florist once stood, will be accessible from the housing via a small road that DeVeau announced will be named after a founding member who recently passed.
“We’ll be naming the road Staff Sgt. Daniel Durepo Lane,” DeVeau said.
While the project is primarily on track for it’s late 2017 completion date, DeVeau said there is “always a need for funding sources.”
“To look at the true scope of the project,” DeVeau said that the four duplexes combined cost about $200,000, “but with the greenhouses and what we’ve built so far, it’s between a $300,000 and $400,000 project.”
Those interested in making a donation can contact United Veterans of Maine at 492-2190.
