NEWS & UPDATES
Data on Maine sex trafficking elusive as officials try to gauge its extent
“Sex trafficking? We’re in Maine,” Cumberland County Deputy District Attorney Megan Elam said, describing the sentiment among local law enforcement just a few years ago. “There’s a little shame going around among prosecutors and police officers about how naive we were.” Sex trafficking has been a little-understood crime in Maine, for a variety of reasons.
Portland resource center lands $1.7 million in federal aid to help homeless veterans
PORTLAND, Maine – The Preble Street Resource Center will receive almost $1.7 million in federal funding to work with homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree announced Thursday. The federal funding award is the largest ever received by the organization, which has been providing services to homeless people and
It’s possible to end homelessness for veterans. Here’s where Maine stands so far
This year’s Maine Marathon wasn’t just another race for Rob McKann. Rob raced on Oct. 6 to honor the memory and service of his friend Kyle Coutu, who was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2010. Kyle’s family traveled to Maine to watch and support Rob. On top of completing the 26-mile-long dedication to the
Food stamp reductions cause ripple effect in Maine
PORTLAND (WGME) — Federal stimulus money that beefed up the food stamp program years ago expired Friday. It’s called the Hunger Cliff and hunger advocates say we have fallen over the edge. Paul Trusiani has spent almost every day of the past four decades greeting customers inside his small supermarket on Congress Street in Portland.
Maine partners dedicated to ending chronic homelessness by 2015
Autumn is a beautiful time to enjoy the natural beauty of the Maine coast, so it was exciting to receive an invitation from the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and the Maine State Housing Authority to participate in their annual conference. We were thrilled to see that the conference planners included a workshop track on the
Top U.S. housing official visits Maine
U.S. housing official Barbara Poppe pays a visit today to the Joe Kriesler Teen Shelter at Preble Street in Portland. One of the federal government’s top housing officials has been visiting a couple of homeless shelters in Maine’s biggest city. Barbara Poppe, the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, toured the Florence
Obama official: Portland's homeless need more permanent solutions
The Obama administration’s top official dedicated to ending homelessness is in Portland this week to meet with administrators of shelters and speak at a conference on homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. As executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Barbara Poppe is responsible for administering Opening Doors, the nation’s first comprehensive
Portland homeless shelters at full capacity
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — On an average night last September, 500 people were staying at Portland homeless shelter — a record-breaking month for the city. Portland shelters are at full capacity, looking for overflow spaces and housing solutions for the growing homeless population. At Preble Street, they’re seeing an increase in elderly clients, many
Number of U.S. homeless students at record level: report
The country’s recent economic woes are still being felt in the classroom: The number of homeless American elementary and high school students has hit an all-time high, according to a new federal study released Thursday. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in the 2011-2012 school year some 1,168,354 children ranging from preschool to 12th
Fashion in the ‘Forecast’
CAPE ELIZABETH – A group of Cape Elizabeth residents are presenting Fashion Forecast, a fashion show to benefit Florence House, a Preble Street program. Unlike designer shows, Fashion Forecast isn’t focusing so much on vanity and vanguard fashion, but on community and generosity to remember their friend Mary Staszko. Staszko, an active Cape Elizabeth community
Portland Street Academy puts homeless youth on career path
Even though they are living on the streets, homeless students around town can still pursue their education goals through a remarkable program that gives them support, guidance and direction. The Portland Street Academy, part of Portland Adult Education, has been helping homeless kids graduate high school and look for jobs for 20 years. Joline Friedman
New grant to help Maine victims of sex trafficking
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland’s Preble Street Resources Center is getting a $400,000 grant to help young women escape from sex trafficking. The social services agency will begin receiving the first $200,000 installment of the two-year grant from the Department of Justice this fall. Part of it will be used to develop a statewide network
