Latest news with #EmergencyShelterandHousingAssistanceProgram

Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
York County's only homeless shelter on brink of closure for lack of funds
May 2—The sole homeless shelter in York County is shutting down because it can no longer cover the cost of running its programs. York County Shelter Programs, a nonprofit in Alfred, laid off 20 of its 70 employees on Thursday and is working with other agencies to try to find new housing for the 65 people still staying at the shelter. The decision to suspend operations comes as shelter providers across the state push for additional state funding to cover the cost of operating homeless shelters. Kelli Deveaux, spokesperson for the agency's board of directors, said the decision to close is "gut-wrenching," especially as the need for shelter services grows. "Despite our collective efforts, and the gracious support of many donors, volunteers and partners in York County, the challenges faced by the organization have become insurmountable," she said. The news was devastating to residents staying in the shelter, who said they were notified Thursday and told they have to be out by noon on May 9. "I was just heartbroken. I was shocked because I didn't think a homeless shelter would close. I assumed I had a safe place to be," said Joanne Goodreau, 62, who has been staying at the shelter since she lost her housing in the Sanford area last November. The leaders of the program, along with directors of other shelters, have been trying to raise the alarm about the lack of funding for homeless shelters and other services. Emergency shelters in Maine receive $7 per night per bed in state funding, although a recent study by MaineHousing found the actual cost per bed is $102 per night. That widening gap must be covered by fundraising donations, an increasingly difficult task, Deveaux said. The York County shelter has an annual budget of $5 million. "We are in a financial situation in which it is impossible to cover even basic expenditures," Deveaux said. The board has not yet decided if the organization's food pantry will continue operating. The pantry feeds about 6,000 people each month and provides special food distributions for Thanksgiving and Christmas. FUNDING CHALLENGES The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that proposes a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The increase would bring state funding to $19 per bed per night. The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund at $2.5 million since 2016. Shelter providers say the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and the state's persistent housing crisis. Diane Small, executive director of the Sanford Housing Authority, testified in support of the bill, telling legislators that "a stable shelter network is essential for our work." "Without adequate emergency shelter options in York County, many individuals and families will have nowhere to go. This would lead to increased homelessness on our streets, greater strain on hospitals and first responders, and additional pressure on an already overburdened housing system," she said. "Our ability to help people transition into stable housing depends on having a functioning shelter system that ensures individuals are safe while we work to secure them permanent housing solutions." Deveaux said the board knows the closure will leave a gap in services in the county and hopes it can reopen at some point with additional funding and partnerships. "The primary concern for all involved was how do we best support our clients with what can be an incredibly difficult notification that can be absolutely anxiety causing, especially when they're already in very precarious circumstances and in need of our support," she said. There are currently 37 residents in the adult shelter, 16 in the family shelter and 12 at Layman Way, a recovery program run in partnership with the county. The shelter program is working with York County Community Action, Caring Unlimited, Sanford Housing Authority and United Way of Southern Maine to find alternative housing for residents. Deveaux was not able to say exactly when the programs will shut down because the board and staff are still working to determine next steps. York County Shelter Programs was established in 1980 and serves approximately 650 people facing homelessness each year. In addition to emergency shelter, the program combines support services for mental health, substance use treatment and employment training to help people move into affordable housing in the community. Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman said losing the shelter is "a huge blow" that will impact communities across the county. Since Biddeford closed a major encampment last summer, the city has been working to address homelessness by bringing together outreach workers and service providers to assist people in need. It also partnered with Seeds of Hope to open an overnight warming shelter, but it does not offer beds for people to sleep in. At least three Biddeford residents are currently staying at the Alfred shelter, Grohman said. Grohman said the York County shelter has done a nice job of providing case management and support to residents to help them find stability and permanent housing. "Many people stay there 12 to 18 months, get really recalibrated and have a chance to bounce back," he said. "That's a key part of the ecosystem that we'll be missing. There's nobody else that does that." 'WHAT DO WE DO?' Goodreau, who arrived at the shelter last year, said this is the second time she has stayed at the Alfred shelter. Unlike some others who are staying there, she said she is lucky to have a car she can sleep in if she can't find somewhere else to stay. She has been working with a housing navigator, but has not been able to find an apartment she can afford and there are no housing vouchers available. "It's scary. I'm afraid for myself, but more so for the sick and the elderly who are here," she said. "They can't tent it. I don't want to go to an encampment and tent it." Goodreau said everyone at the shelter "is in chaos." They've been calling campgrounds and other shelters, but most are hesitant to go to the shelter in Portland, she said. "What do we do next Friday when they lock the doors and we have to get out?" she said. Lacey Merrifield and her husband, Chris Libby, see leaving the shelter next week as a devastating step back on their journey to overcome substance use issues, find good jobs and regain custody of their 5-year-old daughter. Before connecting with an outreach worker and moving into the shelter in February, they had been living in a tent in Sanford for eight months. They recently started working for the shelter as part of a program that trains people to work in kitchens. They were told Thursday that those jobs have ended. Libby, 46, said everyone at the shelter has become like family. He doesn't know what they'll do next Friday when they have to leave, but will figure it out. "This was really the light at the tend of the tunnel for us," Merrifield, 41, said. "We were so hopeless when we were homeless. Now we're starting again from scratch." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less

Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
York County's only homeless shelter on brink of closure for lack of funds
May 2—The sole homeless shelter in York County is shutting down because it can no longer cover the cost of running its programs. York County Shelter Programs, a nonprofit in Alfred, laid off 20 of its 70 employees on Thursday and is working with other agencies to try to find new housing for the 65 people still staying at the shelter. The decision to suspend operations comes as shelter providers across the state push for additional state funding to cover the cost of operating homeless shelters. Kelli Deveaux, spokesperson for the agency's board of directors, said the decision to close is "gut-wrenching," especially as the need for shelter services grows. "Despite our collective efforts, and the gracious support of many donors, volunteers and partners in York County, the challenges faced by the organization have become insurmountable," she said. The news was devastating to residents staying in the shelter, who said they were notified Thursday and told they have to be out by noon on May 9. "I was just heartbroken. I was shocked because I didn't think a homeless shelter would close. I assumed I had a safe place to be," said Joanne Goodreau, 62, who has been staying at the shelter since she lost her housing in the Sanford area last November. The leaders of the program, along with directors of other shelters, have been trying to raise the alarm about the lack of funding for homeless shelters and other services. Emergency shelters in Maine receive $7 per night per bed in state funding, although a recent study by MaineHousing found the actual cost per bed is $102 per night. That widening gap must be covered by fundraising donations, an increasingly difficult task, Deveaux said. The York County shelter has an annual budget of $5 million. "We are in a financial situation in which it is impossible to cover even basic expenditures," Deveaux said. The board has not yet decided if the organization's food pantry will continue operating. The pantry feeds about 6,000 people each month and provides special food distributions for Thanksgiving and Christmas. FUNDING CHALLENGES The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that proposes a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The increase would bring state funding to $19 per bed per night. The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund at $2.5 million since 2016. Shelter providers say the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and the state's persistent housing crisis. Diane Small, executive director of the Sanford Housing Authority, testified in support of the bill, telling legislators that "a stable shelter network is essential for our work." "Without adequate emergency shelter options in York County, many individuals and families will have nowhere to go. This would lead to increased homelessness on our streets, greater strain on hospitals and first responders, and additional pressure on an already overburdened housing system," she said. "Our ability to help people transition into stable housing depends on having a functioning shelter system that ensures individuals are safe while we work to secure them permanent housing solutions." Deveaux said the board knows the closure will leave a gap in services in the county and hopes it can reopen at some point with additional funding and partnerships. "The primary concern for all involved was how do we best support our clients with what can be an incredibly difficult notification that can be absolutely anxiety causing, especially when they're already in very precarious circumstances and in need of our support," she said. There are currently 37 residents in the adult shelter, 16 in the family shelter and 12 at Layman Way, a recovery program run in partnership with the county. The shelter program is working with York County Community Action, Caring Unlimited, Sanford Housing Authority and United Way of Southern Maine to find alternative housing for residents. Deveaux was not able to say exactly when the programs will shut down because the board and staff are still working to determine next steps. York County Shelter Programs was established in 1980 and serves approximately 650 people facing homelessness each year. In addition to emergency shelter, the program combines support services for mental health, substance use treatment and employment training to help people move into affordable housing in the community. Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman said losing the shelter is "a huge blow" that will impact communities across the county. Since Biddeford closed a major encampment last summer, the city has been working to address homelessness by bringing together outreach workers and service providers to assist people in need. It also partnered with Seeds of Hope to open an overnight warming shelter, but it does not offer beds for people to sleep in. At least three Biddeford residents are currently staying at the Alfred shelter, Grohman said. Grohman said the York County shelter has done a nice job of providing case management and support to residents to help them find stability and permanent housing. "Many people stay there 12 to 18 months, get really recalibrated and have a chance to bounce back," he said. "That's a key part of the ecosystem that we'll be missing. There's nobody else that does that." 'WHAT DO WE DO?' Goodreau, who arrived at the shelter last year, said this is the second time she has stayed at the Alfred shelter. Unlike some others who are staying there, she said she is lucky to have a car she can sleep in if she can't find somewhere else to stay. She has been working with a housing navigator, but has not been able to find an apartment she can afford and there are no housing vouchers available. "It's scary. I'm afraid for myself, but more so for the sick and the elderly who are here," she said. "They can't tent it. I don't want to go to an encampment and tent it." Goodreau said everyone at the shelter "is in chaos." They've been calling campgrounds and other shelters, but most are hesitant to go to the shelter in Portland, she said. "What do we do next Friday when they lock the doors and we have to get out?" she said. Lacey Merrifield and her husband, Chris Libby, see leaving the shelter next week as a devastating step back on their journey to overcome substance use issues, find good jobs and regain custody of their 5-year-old daughter. Before connecting with an outreach worker and moving into the shelter in February, they had been living in a tent in Sanford for eight months. They recently started working for the shelter as part of a program that trains people to work in kitchens. They were told Thursday that those jobs have ended. Libby, 46, said everyone at the shelter has become like family. He doesn't know what they'll do next Friday when they have to leave, but will figure it out. "This was really the light at the tend of the tunnel for us," Merrifield, 41, said. "We were so hopeless when we were homeless. Now we're starting again from scratch." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less

Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
York County's only homeless shelter will close for lack of funds
May 2—The sole homeless shelter in York County is shutting down because it can no longer cover the cost of running its programs. The York County Shelter Programs in Alfred laid off 20 of its 70 employees on Thursday and is working with other agencies to try to find new housing for the 65 people still staying at the shelter. The decision to suspend operations comes as shelter providers across the state push for additional state funding to cover the cost of operating homeless shelters. Kelli Deveaux, spokesperson for the board of directors of the nonprofit agency, said the decision to close is "gut wrenching," especially as the need for shelter services grows. "Despite our collective efforts, and the gracious support of many donors, volunteers and partners in York County, the challenges faced by the organization have become insurmountable," she said. The leaders of the program, along with directors of other shelters, have been trying to raise the alarm about the lack of funding for homeless shelters and other services. Emergency shelters in Maine receive $7 per night per bed in state funding, although a recent study by MaineHousing found the actual cost per bed is $102 per night. That widening gap must be covered by fundraising donations, an increasingly difficult task, Deveaux said. The York County shelter has an annual budget for $5 million. "We are in a financial situation in which it is impossible to cover even basic expenditures," Deveaux said. The board has not yet decided if the organization's food pantry will continue operating. The pantry feeds about 6,000 people each month and provides special food distributions for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that proposes a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The increase would bring state funding to $19 per bed nightly cost. The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund at $2.5 million since 2016. Shelter providers say the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and the state's persistent housing crisis. Diane Small, executive director of the Sanford Housing Authority, testified in support of the bill, telling legislators that "a stable shelter network is essential for our work." "Without adequate emergency shelter options in York County, many individuals and families will have nowhere to go. This would lead to increased homelessness on our streets, greater strain on hospitals and first responders, and additional pressure on an already overburdened housing system," she said. "Our ability to help people transition into stable housing depends on having a functioning shelter system that ensures individuals are safe while we work to secure them permanent housing solutions." Deveaux said the board knows the closure will leave a gap in services in the county and hopes it can reopen at some point with additional funding and partnerships. "The primary concern for all involved was how do we best support our clients with what can be an incredibly difficult notification that can be absolutely anxiety causing, especially when they're already in very precarious circumstances and in need of our support," she said. There are currently 37 residents in the adult shelter, 16 in the family shelter and 12 at Layman Way, a recovery program run in partnership with the county. The shelter program is working with York County Community Action, Caring Unlimited, Sanford Housing Authority and United Way of Southern Maine to find alternative housing for residents. Deveaux was not able to say exactly when the programs will shut down because the board and staff are still working to determine next steps. York County Shelter Programs was established in 1980 and serves approximately 650 people facing homelessness each year. In addition to emergency shelter, the program combines support services for mental health, substance use treatment and employment training to help people move into affordable housing in the community. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less

Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine homeless advocates, emergency shelters call for more state funding
Mar. 18—AUGUSTA — Advocates for the homeless and emergency shelter providers asked lawmakers for an increase in state funding Tuesday, saying shelters are struggling to meet demand and that without additional resources homelessness will worsen. A bill before the Legislature is proposing a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, which is used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund budget at $2.5 million since 2016, according to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland. "This bill is a practical, fiscally responsible step to prevent shelter closures and ensure that Maine's emergency response system remains functional," Talbot Ross told the Housing and Economic Development Committee during a public hearing. The program is just one piece of how shelters pay for their operating costs, contributing about $7 of the average per-night cost of operating a shelter bed in Maine, which is $102 per night, according to a recent study from MaineHousing. The remainder of shelter funding typically comes from fundraising, grants and municipal aid, according to Talbot Ross. Shelter providers as well as MaineHousing, an independent, quasi-governmental agency that works to address housing needs, testified in support of the bill, LD 698, on Tuesday, saying the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and a persistent housing crisis. The $5 million increase would bring state funding to $19 of the $102 per bed nightly cost. But Gov. Janet Mills' administration has also warned that this is expected to be a tight budget year, and while no one testified against the bill Tuesday, the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future said in written testimony that the administration has been unable to identify sufficient revenues to fund the bill's proposal. While funding for the program has not increased in the state's baseline budget since 2016, the office wrote that the administration and Legislature have in recent years provided $15 million in one-time funding, authorized emergency funds for warming shelters and last year made $10 million available to ensure the continued viability of five low-barrier shelters. "We understand, however, that the 35 non-low-barrier shelters in the ESHAP network which did not benefit from last year's investment continue to struggle — as do their peers in states across the country — with highly limited budgets, rising costs and increasing needs," the office wrote. "We are committed to working with the Legislature, shelter providers, MaineHousing, and local and federal government agencies to identify a more sustainable financial path for the Maine's emergency shelters," it added. In addition to funding in the baseline budget, the program also gets federal support from Maine's HOME Fund, which is funded with a dedicated portion of the real estate transfer tax. Shelter providers and several formerly homeless Mainers testified that the increase in state funding is critical. Katie Spencer White, president and CEO of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville, said emergency shelters are facing an "existential crisis" without new funding. She said her board recently approved a loan for $200,000 to help the shelter meet operating costs. "If we don't take out that loan, we will close," Spencer White said. "If we close, people will die. We've reversed 30 overdoses since Jan. 1... What we do matters and not just to the people of Waterville." Shelter operators said Tuesday that in addition to the funding from the state program, they also seek funding from municipalities, local businesses and churches and other philanthropic donors, and grant funding, but it can be difficult to cobble together enough. Some shelters utilize the state's General Assistance program to help pay for shelter nights, but Spencer White said her shelter and many shelters in smaller communities around Maine do not, in part because the program also requires a municipal reimbursement that can be burdensome for the communities the shelters are based in. Many people staying at shelters also don't qualify for General Assistance for reasons including, for example, if they have income from a disability or Social Security, Spencer White said. Karen Gonya, a board member at Homeless Services of Aroostook, which operates the only homeless shelter north of Bangor, said the organization served 216 adults and 18 children last year in its shelter programs, and helped 90 people with its warming shelter. "We are struggling right now to meet payroll," Gonya said. "We are limiting expenses, from basics like turning down heat to the more drastic step of cutting staff hours. But without more reliable funding, we are worried about the future of our shelter. It would be such a tremendous disservice to our region... to not have a homeless shelter." Lisa Franklin, a Portland resident who was formerly homeless for a year after leaving an abusive relationship, told the committee that it was her stay at the former Oxford Street Shelter that allowed her to access critical medical and social services and rebuild her life. "People of all ages, races and genders experience homelessness for a variety of reasons," Franklin said. "As the rate of homelessness continues to rise across our state, it is imperative that our homeless shelters remain open and funded." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less

Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine homeless advocates, emergency shelters call for more state funding
Mar. 18—AUGUSTA — Advocates for the homeless and emergency shelter providers asked lawmakers for an increase in state funding Tuesday, saying shelters are struggling to meet demand and that without additional resources homelessness will worsen. A bill before the Legislature is proposing a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, which is used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund budget at $2.5 million since 2016, according to the bill's sponsor, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland. "This bill is a practical, fiscally responsible step to prevent shelter closures and ensure that Maine's emergency response system remains functional," Talbot Ross told the Housing and Economic Development Committee during a public hearing. The program is just one piece of how shelters pay for their operating costs, contributing about $7 of the average per-night cost of operating a shelter bed in Maine, which is $102 per night, according to a recent study from MaineHousing. The remainder of shelter funding typically comes from fundraising, grants and municipal aid, according to Talbot Ross. Shelter providers as well as MaineHousing, an independent, quasi-governmental agency that works to address housing needs, testified in support of the bill, LD 698, on Tuesday, saying the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and a persistent housing crisis. The $5 million increase would bring state funding to $19 of the $102 per bed nightly cost. But Gov. Janet Mills' administration has also warned that this is expected to be a tight budget year, and while no one testified against the bill Tuesday, the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future said in written testimony that the administration has been unable to identify sufficient revenues to fund the bill's proposal. While funding for the program has not increased in the state's baseline budget since 2016, the office wrote that the administration and Legislature have in recent years provided $15 million in one-time funding, authorized emergency funds for warming shelters and last year made $10 million available to ensure the continued viability of five low-barrier shelters. "We understand, however, that the 35 non-low-barrier shelters in the ESHAP network which did not benefit from last year's investment continue to struggle — as do their peers in states across the country — with highly limited budgets, rising costs and increasing needs," the office wrote. "We are committed to working with the Legislature, shelter providers, MaineHousing, and local and federal government agencies to identify a more sustainable financial path for the Maine's emergency shelters," it added. In addition to funding in the baseline budget, the program also gets federal support from Maine's HOME Fund, which is funded with a dedicated portion of the real estate transfer tax. Shelter providers and several formerly homeless Mainers testified that the increase in state funding is critical. Katie Spencer White, president and CEO of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville, said emergency shelters are facing an "existential crisis" without new funding. She said her board recently approved a loan for $200,000 to help the shelter meet operating costs. "If we don't take out that loan, we will close," Spencer White said. "If we close, people will die. We've reversed 30 overdoses since Jan. 1... What we do matters and not just to the people of Waterville." Shelter operators said Tuesday that in addition to the funding from the state program, they also seek funding from municipalities, local businesses and churches and other philanthropic donors, and grant funding, but it can be difficult to cobble together enough. Some shelters utilize the state's General Assistance program to help pay for shelter nights, but Spencer White said her shelter and many shelters in smaller communities around Maine do not, in part because the program also requires a municipal reimbursement that can be burdensome for the communities the shelters are based in. Many people staying at shelters also don't qualify for General Assistance for reasons including, for example, if they have income from a disability or Social Security, Spencer White said. Karen Gonya, a board member at Homeless Services of Aroostook, which operates the only homeless shelter north of Bangor, said the organization served 216 adults and 18 children last year in its shelter programs, and helped 90 people with its warming shelter. "We are struggling right now to meet payroll," Gonya said. "We are limiting expenses, from basics like turning down heat to the more drastic step of cutting staff hours. But without more reliable funding, we are worried about the future of our shelter. It would be such a tremendous disservice to our region... to not have a homeless shelter." Lisa Franklin, a Portland resident who was formerly homeless for a year after leaving an abusive relationship, told the committee that it was her stay at the former Oxford Street Shelter that allowed her to access critical medical and social services and rebuild her life. "People of all ages, races and genders experience homelessness for a variety of reasons," Franklin said. "As the rate of homelessness continues to rise across our state, it is imperative that our homeless shelters remain open and funded." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less