Who We Are

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The mission of Fair Tide is to reduce homelessness by providing housing and supportive services to individuals and families in the Seacoast.

History

In 1998, as housing costs in the Seacoast rose a small, committed group of local citizens were concerned for their neighbors, family, and friends who were homeless or were at risk of becoming homeless. They established Fair Tide as a way to help. They fundraised, advocated, and acted and in 2003 they opened the doors to a newly renovated five-unit home in the Kittery Foreside and the Fair Tide two-year Transitional Housing Program was born. In concert with the home, the Fair Tide Thrift Store came to fruition as a fundraising mechanism for the program, as well as a resource to the residents and the greater Seacoast community.

Article from Portsmouth Herald, 2002 marking the start of construction on the Fair Tide house.

Fair Tide served more than 100 individuals through the Transitional Housing Program providing not only a safe, warm place to call home but also working together with the residents to offer case management, guidance, and support. We moved more than 80% of the residents into long-term housing.

In 2018 in light of economical and political changes, as well as shifts in trends and evidence-based practices in the field of housing, Fair Tide re-evaluated the transitional housing model. We realized that in order to best provide the long-term stability necessary for success we needed to provide permanent housing coupled with ongoing, targeted case management support. That year, we adopted the national best-practice of Housing First and have operated our Housing Programs using that approach since. In 2019 we launched our Landlord Engagement Initiative and began conversations with several social service agencies in the community how best to meet the needs of our neighbors – the result was the vision of Mainspring.

Now, as a co-founder of Mainspring, we are bringing together multiple best-practices to provide a long-term and sustainable solution to addressing poverty. In partnership with Footprints Food pantry, we began construction at 22 Shapleigh Road in late 2023 and will open our doors in 2024. Fair Tide’s administrative services, housing programs, case management services, and our thrift store will move to the new building once open.

Staff

Emily Flinkstrom

Executive Director

Emily joined Fair Tide in August of 2016 as Executive Director. A native of South Berwick, Maine she returned to her roots after ten years of working for non-profits in Utah, Colorado and Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and a Master of Social Work degree from Colorado State University.

Emily has spent her career working with and for vulnerable populations and strongly believes that we have a responsibility to help our neighbors in need. I am honored to work for a true grassroots organization that benefits from the support of the local community. The joy of my job is witnessing the life changing effects that stable housing and wraparound supports have on our residents.

Phone: (207) 439-6376 ext. 1
Email: executivedirector@fairtide.org

Kerry Brent

Case Manager

Kerry Brent, Fair Tide’s case manager, works with residents to identify obstacles to permanent housing and to create a plan to overcome them. She brings almost 20 years of experience working in the social service sector supporting individuals struggling with mental health issues. I strive to promote and achieve a better quality of life for our residents. My hope is that I am seen as as source of support on their journey for years to come.

Phone: (207) 439-6376 ext. 2
Email: socialworker@fairtide.org

Barbara McGaughey

Director of Social Entrepreneurship

Barbara McGaughey joined Fair Tide in July of 2010 as Director of Social Entrepreneurship. In addition to managing the day to day operations of the Fair Tide Thrift Store, Barb is responsible for developing and implementing online sales and social media marketing strategies to increase Fair Tide’s donor and volunteer base.

Having worked retail for more than 17 years, most of them spent at Kittery Trading Post, Barb expressed excitement at the opportunity to work for Fair Tide. It is heartwarming to work in the nonprofit world where less is actually more, she said. As for her vision for Fair Tide, she said she wants everyone to become a thrift store shopper. I want Fair Tide to be the model for all thrift stores with a strong community based mission.

Phone: (207) 439-2427
Email: thriftstore@fairtide.org

Hershey Hirschkop

Director of Housing

Hershey served on Fair Tide’s Board of Directors for about five years before joining the team in September, 2023, as our new Director of Housing. Hershey’s background is focused on affordable housing development, with an emphasis on supportive housing. She spent many years in San Francisco developing supportive housing before working with The Housing Partnership in Portsmouth, NH, and was most recently Executive Director of Seacoast Outright. There is a deep need for permanent, supportive housing here, and we’re going to see that need increase as the housing crisis continues. Fair Tide is exactly the right organization with the expertise to get this housing built and ensure our tenants are successful!

Phone: (207) 439-6376
Email: hershey@fairtide.org

Taylor Johnson

Development Coordinator

Taylor Johnson grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and joined Fair Tide in November 2022 as our Development Coordinator after moving to Maine. Before joining the team, Taylor worked at a Utah-based nonprofit for five years and has volunteered at numerous organizations in Utah, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from the University of Utah, Master of Arts in Community Leadership degree from Westminster College, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). I believe everyone is worthy and deserving of a home and it is my passion to see that become a reality.

Phone: (207) 439-6376
Email: development@fairtide.org

Pam Smith

Bookkeeper

Pam started as Fair Tide’s Bookkeeper in 2017 and has lived in the area her whole life. She is graduate of Portsmouth High School and has her Associates Degree in Accounting frm McIntosh College. Pam and her husband Ray have three children and three grandchildren and enjoy traveling, camping, and snowmobiling.

Phone: (207) 439-6376
Email: bookkeeper@fairtide.org

Board of Directors

Ali Goodwin, Chair
Lead Real Estate Agent, Haven Homes & Lifestyle at Keller Williams Coastal and Lakes & Mountains Realty

Ryan Pope, Vice Chair
Housing Navigator, City of Dover

Steven Epstein, Treasurer
Finance, Banking and Non-Profit Professional, Retired

George Dow, Secretary
Vice President, TD Bank

Aaron Awbrey
Senior Commercial Lending Officer, Kennebunk Savings Bank

Bill Dignan
Real Estate Professional, Williams Realty Partners

Tom Emerson
Principal, StudioB-E Architecture

Dale Keller
Lived Experience of Homelessness

Join Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is a vital part of our organization – helping guide us, our work, and our fiscal responsibility to deliver the most impact we can. We are always interested in having others join our dynamic board. Please fill out our application to be considered for a position on our board!

Annual Reports

Form 990

Fair Tide’s Work Beyond the Seacoast

Mar 4, 2021

Everything we do here at Fair Tide centers around our mission of improving the lives of individuals and families in the Seacoast region. Whether it be securing housing for a family experiencing homelessness, providing financial relief for those impacted by the...