HAMPDEN – The director of a mission house for homeless men that has stirred controversy in town for years has vowed no longer to accept sex offenders.

For the past few years neighbors of the Bangor Rescue Mission farm, located at 396 Meadow Road, repeatedly have expressed concern about the number of sex offenders living there. In December 2006, several angry residents showed up at a Town Council meeting to discuss proper sex offender notifications when they learned three were living at the mission.

Peter D. Webb, executive director of the mission since August 2007, said Thursday that the last sex offender moved out of the house just before Christmas. None of the offenders living at the mission was kicked out, but once they moved out on their own accord, others were not allowed in, he said. While the decision was made several months ago, it is just now being made public.

Since October, the mission has turned away about 10 sex offenders who sought shelter there, Webb said.

“I believe it is just too controversial an issue,” Webb said. “I felt very strongly I could be more effective in not having them here.”

The Bangor Rescue Mission was founded in 1965 to provide temporary shelter and religious direction to homeless men, according to a July 2006 Bangor Daily News article. The mission has a thrift store located on Third Street in Bangor in addition to the farm in Hampden.

The mission now houses seven men, but can hold up to 13, Webb said. Most of the men residing at the mission are substance abusers, he said. The men are required to participate in Bible training and work either on the 172-acre farm or at the thrift store, he said.

Chief Joe Rogers of Hampden Public Safety said Webb informed him the mission would be turning away sex offenders, but emphasized the decision was made entirely by the organization.

“Does the town prefer [not having sex offenders there]?” Town Manager Susan Lessard asked. “Absolutely. But if they change their mind, can we do anything about it? No.”

Numerous phone calls placed to neighbors, who have spoken out against the mission’s sex offender population, were not immediately returned Thursday.

By housing sex offenders, Webb said he was limiting the number of men he could help. Several men refused to live at the house once they learned sex offenders would be residing there as well.

“I feel like I have more of an obligation to the 95 percent than the 5 percent of the sex offenders,” Webb said.

trobbins@bangordailynews.net

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