The Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope seen here soon will have four duplexes to house homeless veterans who will be able to live and work on the farm, regardless of psychological or substance abuse issues. United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau said during a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, July 15, that the organization plans on holding an open house for the duplexes on Oct. 14 of this year. (Christopher Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
CARIBOU, Maine — Maine Gov. Paul LePage and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, each participated in and spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope, a self-sustaining shelter for homeless veterans over the weekend.
The shelter, named after local Congressional Medal of Honor recipients Edward Dahlgren and Donald Skidgel, has made significant progress in the past year, receiving support from donors and volunteers as well as local and state political figures.
Local news studio WAGM-TV raised over $45,000 for the shelter via a telethon in early March, and Farm Credit East recently donated $10,000 to help United Veterans of Maine, the organization spearheading the project, purchase the property.
Locals will recognize the administrative building as the former Phil’s Florist greenhouse, which was lost to a fire in early 2014. While an open house was held for the completed administration building in mid April, the Saturday, July 15, groundbreaking ceremony marked UVM’s next step to construct four duplex cottages for homeless veterans to live, work, and ultimately transition back into society.
Unlike standard shelters, the Farm of Hope allows veterans to earn an income during their stay, and also welcomes those dealing with psychological or substance abuse issues.
Before brandishing a golden shovel, LePage touched on his experience with homelessness.
“No one should ever be homeless, especially our veterans,” the governor said. “I was homeless at a young age, and I will tell you it is not a pleasant experience. If it wasn’t for United Veterans of Maine providing this facility for homes for our homeless veterans, we would still be suffering.”
LePage added that the state is “making headway in eliminating homelessness,” telling attendants that “since 2014-15, we’ve reduced homelessness by 46 percent in Maine.”
“People of the United Veterans of Maine, thank you so much for your efforts. It’s very important that we look after those who look after us,” LePage said.
Poliquin’s comments about increasing military spending elicited applause from the small audience.
“I am very pleased to tell you that yesterday we passed, in a bipartisan way, funding for our Department of Defense,” Poliquin said Saturday. “Here’s the important part: there is a pay raise for our men and women in uniform.”
The congressman added that increased defense funding will provide additional ships, funding for intelligence “so we know what the heck is going on in North Korea,” and “additional funding for missile defense.”
“You did not fight for your country so we could gut the military,” Poliquin said, addressing veterans in the audience. “The major function of Congress is to make sure the military is fully funded so we can keep our country free. If we don’t have veterans, we don’t have our country, and we don’t have our freedom.”
United Veterans of Maine President John DeVeau announced that John T. Noble Construction in Caribou will handle groundwork for the duplexes.
“What we’ve done is because of everyone here,” DeVeau said. “I applaud each and every one of you.”
The next step for the shelter will be an open house for the four duplexes on Oct. 14, according to DeVeau.
