Maine Voices: Coalition led by Mercy Hospital will tackle opiate addiction crisis head-on

… This innovative model will provide access to treatment of a variety of addiction disorders in an outpatient setting, safe and sober housing, recovery support and access to primary care and mental health services … … partners are Amistad, Maine Medical Center, the city of Portland, the Portland Police Department, the Opportunity Alliance, Preble Street … Read more

The Heroin Epidemic Is Turning My Soup Kitchen Into an Emergency Room

In August, she drove two miles, past a large hospital, to get her boyfriend to our soup kitchen, but not for the food. She knew someone here would have Narcan, a life-saving overdose-reversing drug that, until recently, was unavailable here in Maine to people at risk of overdosing. Her boyfriend was bluish and slumped over … Read more

Two people found in Portland homeless count

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Even with the milder winter we’ve had so far, the weather this time of year is dangerous for homeless people. In Portland, volunteers hit the streets for the annual Point-in-Time homeless survey. They found two people. Only people who can be identified count toward the official total. For example, volunteers … Read more

Annual survey shows Portland’s problem of homelessness by the numbers

… William Burney, director of the HUD field office in Maine, and Jon Bradley, associate director of Preble Street, an agency that serves homeless people, participated in Wednesday night’s survey. Despite an overall decline in homelessness, Portland officials have noted an increase in homeless people sleeping outside, even as encampments and overgrown areas around the … Read more

Number of homeless people sleeping on streets in Portland doubles

PORTLAND (WGME) — After noticing an alarming amount of people sleeping on the streets, officials with Preble Street say they jumped into action. Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann says in October they noticed more people spending the night outside, so they decided to sit down and do a count. He says a handful of … Read more

Concern for Homeless Population as Temperatures Drop

As the temperature falls, the concern is growing for the homeless population in Portland, Maine. Mark Swann, Director of the Preble Street shelter, worries the number of people sleeping outside in the cold is growing. In October, Preble Street staff counted 88 people sleeping in camps or on the streets in Portland. Swann said that … Read more

Hundreds gather in Portland for homeless vigil

PORTLAND (WGME) — Homeless advocates are saying more homeless people have died this year in Portland than any other year in recent history. Hundreds of people gathered in Monument Square Dec. 21 to mark those lives lost. This vigil is held every year on this night because it’s the longest night of the year. This … Read more

Portland holds vigil for homeless who've died

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — People in Portland gathered Monday night to remember members of the city’s homeless community who died in 2015. Forty three people passed away. That number includes people who were homeless when they died, and others who were recently homeless in the Greater Portland area. A large group of homeless people, … Read more