Nutritious, fun lunches for children and teens

A red cooler sitting next to a new picnic table holds the lunches for anyone who drops by the old REAL School on High Street in Windham from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. This past Monday, six kids dropped in for a free, nutritious lunch and conversation about the neighborhood. Liza Dalfonso … Read more

Maine task force aims to feed hungry students

AUGUSTA – Maine lawmakers, officials and advocates began to wrestle Monday with how to provide more students with access to free or affordably-priced meals, which they say is vital to helping low-income children succeed in school. More than 83,000 Maine students qualify for free-or-reduced-price meals, but the federally-funded programs are underutilized by both schools and … Read more

Maine Voices: Homeless veterans have an ally

On any given night in America, more than 63,000 veterans have nowhere to call home and sleep in shelters, on the streets, in abandoned buildings or in the woods. One of them – a man discharged from the Army in the 1980s – spent much of his adult life homeless, sleeping in his truck, in … Read more

Officials clear cluster of cardboard shelters in South Portland

SOUTH PORTLAND – For the transient people who lived behind Mallside Plaza, the hidden encampment offered the necessities: access to food, modest shelter, a stream for water, and the company of like-minded people. For city officials and the property owner, the camp was unhealthy, unsafe and an environmental threat to the Long Creek watershed. Read … Read more

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Federal funding for homeless shifts to housing programs

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — More than one million dollars in federal money is coming to Maine to help the homeless, specifically to place more chronically homeless people in permanent housing. The money is going to several agencies around the state that support housing first and rapid re-housing programs, which provide permanent housing for the … Read more

Homelessness advocates sit in for summer solstice

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — While many of us will be enjoying the extra hours of daylight on Saturday, thousands of homeless people around the state will be struggling just to get through the day. That’s the message members of Homeless Voices for Justice are sharing. They gathered in Tommy’s Park in Portland from sunrise … Read more

77 chronically homeless placed in permanent housing

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Homelessness is an issue that continues to plague the streets of Portland, but a national campaign is helping put an end to it. In November, Portland joined 56 other communities from across the country, housing an average of 2.5% of the chronically homeless each month. But in Portland, just over … Read more

Clinic for homeless closes doors

PORTLAND, Maine —Portland’s Health Care for the Homeless had its last day for medical care on Thursday. The local clinic lost a federal grant that provided a third of its budget and will close before the end of the year. "It’s a somber event. The staff there have been dedicated and providing a high quality … Read more

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Longest Day of Homelessness Summer Solstice Vigil announced

On Friday, June 20, from sunrise (4:59 a.m.) to sunset (8:26 p.m.), Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice will sit out in Post Office Park to mark the seventh annual Longest Day of Homelessness Summer Solstice Vigil, the organization reported. Homeless Voices for Justice advocates will be joined by other organizations and community members, "sitting … Read more

Protesters plead with governor not to close down a DHHS facility

PORTLAND (WGME) — Protestors want to send a strong message to the governor. They’re fighting against a decision to close down a Portland DHHS facility and open a new one in South Portland. At least one democratic leader says the governor’s move is only adding to the quote: “war on the poor.” It’s a message … Read more

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