… "We know that you are not the bad guys here," Mark Swann, the executive director of Preble Street, told the councilors. "But this plan to close the overflow shelter is a really bad idea. As it stands now, as of July 1, there will be no safe place for 100 people, including children, to … Read more
Homeless advocates plan to lay out 75 thin foam mats in City Hall Plaza on Tuesday to call attention to the loss of overflow shelter space. Homeless Voices for Justice, an advocacy group composed of people who have experienced homelessness, is protesting a plan to close one of the city’s emergency shelters on July 1 … Read more
There’s opposition to a plan by Portland city councilors to close the city’s overflow shelter for the homeless. Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street, is a leader of the effort. "We think the city has made a bad decision," Swann said, "and they’ve made it prematurely without all the facts and they’ve made it … Read more
In response to the City of Portland’s decision to trim shelter services for the homeless, the advocacy group, Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), is inviting members of the community to join them in protest on the steps of Portland City Hall. The demonstration will begin at 4:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon, prior to the 5:30 … Read more
In an April 24 article ("Portland city councilors want to protect funding for dental clinic"), Portland City Councilor Jon Hinck was quoted: "If we have to choose between programs that go to homeless adults and child dental care, we’ve got to save the child dental care." We find this comment to be not only alarming, … Read more
… A recent Portland Press Herald article about a hearing in Augusta on proposed public assistance reforms included the thoughts of Antonie Bikamba, who fled political persecution and torture in Rwanda. After a period on General Assistance, while awaiting a work permit, he earned a master’s degree and currently is a caseworker at Preble Street. … Read more
… Because of high demand for emergency shelter beds, much of it driven by out-of-town users, the city has been paying for an overflow shelter at the Preble Street Resource Center. When the overflow is full, people are sent to a warming center at the city’s General Assistance office, where they can sit in chairs … Read more
PORTLAND – A plan to help people left most vulnerable by expected changes to city general assistance, homeless and public health programs will rely largely on $4.28 million in city funds and federal Community Development Block Grants. Funding from the Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan will be the subject of an April … Read more
Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced its annual pro bono and volunteer service results. In addition to three attorneys who were individually honored, the firm also is recognizing its staff group, the Sunshine Committee. Sumner T. Bernstein Pro Bono AwardAttorney David Soley, member of the firm’s Real Estate and Litigation … Read more
The first group of students to participate in Southern Maine Community College’s new Hospitality and Customer Service Rising Stars Academy has graduated with skills that are in high demand by the hospitality trade in Maine. The academy, based on the South Portland campus, provided 96 hours of entry-level hospitality training to the unemployed and underemployed … Read more
