NEWS & UPDATES
Portland officials outline progress made in housing homeless
On the same day that a ban on panhandling in medians went into effect in Portland, city leaders and organizations that work with the homeless held a press conference applauding the progress they’ve made in providing housing for those living on the streets. As Patty Wight reports, city officials say there’s been a 30 percent
Hunger doesn't end with the school year
Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative VISTA Heather Zimmerman discusses the importance of summer meals for school children who rely on free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch during the school year.
More than 15,000 to lose Medicaid coverage in January
AUGUSTA – Many states are gearing up to enroll more residents into Medicaid coverage starting in January. But thousands of Mainers are preparing to lose coverage this winter because of changes to the state’s program and the decision not to expand coverage under the federal health care overhaul. More than 15,000 low-income parents are expected
Rep. Michael Michaud, Mark Swann: Putting an end to children's hunger in Maine
There are 150 fewer children in Oxford County who are hungry this summer. Those children now eat a nutritious lunch with fruit, sandwich and milk, thanks to five new federal Summer Food Service meal sites opened by the Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative, with community support from RSU 16 food services, local businesses and volunteers.
Summer meals bite into food gap
OXFORD HILLS -Wendy Bornsgeest and her son Braydon made it to lunch at the Oxford Regency in the nick of time. Last Friday, just as volunteers for the Oxford Hills summer meals program were starting to pack up and other children were slowly drifting home, Wendy and Braydon drove up, after speeding back from a
Portland's panhandling restriction may beg bigger question
PORTLAND – Shane Boilard spends a few hours a day, a few days each week, panhandling on the streets of Maine’s largest city, usually on traffic medians at major intersections leading into the downtown area [click to continue reading on the Portland Press Herald website].
Portland outlaws panhandling in medians
PORTLAND – In 30 days, it will be illegal for anyone to loiter in the city’s street medians for any reason, including panhandling. Supporters of the ordinance said it is needed to protect public safety — both for panhandlers and the traveling public. Panhandlers sometimes walk into the street and almost get hit by cars,
Shifting perceptions of prostitution
Victims of sex trafficking in Maine might call themselves prostitutes. Their pimps and those buying their sex might call them prostitutes. But if they are not prostituting themselves by choice, they are victims. Their pimps, who control their behavior, often with violence, threats and drugs, are the criminals. On Thursday, Gov. Paul LePage held a
Preble Street gets big grant to help veterans
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – Preble Street, the agency that helps the homeless in Portland, has received its largest grant ever. The $1.7 million will go towards expanding its programs that help homeless veterans. It is estimated that there are 1,000 homeless people in Maine who have served in the military. “What we’re going to
Our View: LePage should back bill to close student food gap
A federal program aimed at filling this gap is gaining ground in Maine. For the first time since it was launched in the 1970s, the Summer Food Service Program is providing free meals in every county in the state. The Maine Department of Education, which oversees the program here, enabled this expansion by stepping up
Preble Street to expand veterans services
Preble Street Resource Center, which has been helping low-income residents at its Portland location since the 1970s, landed a $1.7 million U.S. Veterans Affairs grant Thursday to expand its program for homeless veterans from Portland to the entire state. Mark Swann, Preble Street’s executive director, said the federal grant will help the group serve about
Feeding Maine's hungry kids: summer meal programs expand
For the first time ever, every county in Maine has free summer meal sites for kids. It’s a feat that’s taken decades to achieve, since the federal Summer Food Service Program began in the late 60s. But even in 2013, advocates say, lack of awareness is the biggest barrier between hungry kids and free summer
