"BUILDING HOPE explores stories and more of those caught in the daily crisis of homelessness. With the help of respected state advocates, many have risen above their circumstances to find housing and jobs and are becoming productive members of society. Others, due to mental illness and substance use disorder, have yet to succeed.
Today, it is even more difficult due to the dearth of affordable housing and the influx of asylum seekers taking up so many of the beds at our cities’ shelters. The film explores the whys and the hows our society can heal the suffering. Maine’s Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross talks about her own vulnerabilities growing up, and now the $100 million dollars that she has led the state to invest in affordable housing. Maine Independent Senator Angus King addresses the inadequacies of our minimum wage and the government tax incentive bills he co-sponsors to give confidence to developers to create affordable housing and emergency shelters. Developer Kevin Bunker, the force behind building Portland’s new Homeless Services Center and the new Asylum Seekers Center, talks about the root causes of inequality in our system."
Watch the documentary film trailer here:
For more information about the film, please visit: https://www.kanelewis.com/building-hope-homelessness
SCREENING SCHEDULE:
• September 19, 2024 6:30pm Alamo Theatre, Bucksport, Maine FREE. Panel includes: Tracey Hair, former director of H.O.M.E; Dr. Katie Spencer White, President & CEO of Midmaine Homeless Shelter & Services; Rep. Ron Russell, Maine Legislature on the Housing Committee; and Melody Lewis-Kane, “Building Hope” film producer. Donations accepted for continued distribution.
• December 13, 2024 5:30pm The Strand Theater, Rockland. Panel includes: Joseph Hufnagel, director The Landing Place; Melody Lewis-Kane, Building Hope film producer; others TBA
• December 14, 2024 3pm Portland Museum of Art. FREE. Panel includes: Cullen Ryan, director Community Housing of Maine; Melody Lewis-Kane, film producer; and TBA.
• Other locations in Maine TBA including: Belfast; Ellsworth; Rockland; Waldoboro; Damariscotta; Bar Harbor; Farmington; Winterport; Bethel; Millinocket; Waterville.
If you would like to have this film screened in your community, please contact kanelewisproductions@gmail.com