Trained volunteers joined social workers, homeless shelter staff and military veterans in the annual one-night survey of the state’s homeless population last night. The nationwide census is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address the needs of the homeless. It’s a need that’s growing statewide, and especially in Maine’s largest … Read more
PORTLAND – Friends and supporters of the city’s homeless population gathered on the longest night of the year last Friday to read, one by one, the first names and last initials of the 30 Portland-area homeless people who died this year. This was one of the hardest years on record for these people, according to … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — With record numbers of people seeking assistance from the food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Maine, advocates for the homeless set out to dispel myths and misconceptions people have about homelessness. “One of the big ones, you know really is that people are choosing to be homeless,” explained Tom … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – Members of a Portland homeless advocacy group turned to a familiar holiday prop Monday in an effort to dispel what they said are common misconceptions about people living in shelters or on the streets. Representatives of Homeless Voices for Justice unveiled an eight-foot-tall house-shaped Advent calendar, in which 10 doors and windows … Read more
PORTLAND – Affordable housing, emergency shelters, supported living and police profiling were among the issues tackled by six City Council candidates during a forum Thursday at the Preble Street social service agency. They weren’t abstract concepts to those who attended. All were homeless, had struggled with homelessness or worked in the shelter. The "You Don’t … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — People who work with the homeless in the Greater Portland area are mourning a man they say fought tirelessly for people struggling with homelessness, poverty and addiction. 53-year old Steve Huston died unexpectedly at his home in Portland in last Thursday. Like many of the people he advocated for, Huston … Read more
PORTLAND – Independent Angus King and Democrat Cynthia Dill told members of Portland’s homeless community Thursday that they want to improve access to affordable housing and protect the social safety net. The event was sponsored by Homeless Voices for Justice and the Preble Street social services agency. King and Dill toured the agency’s facility downtown … Read more
Talk about timing. The Republican-inspired Commission to Study the Conduct of Elections in Maine last week held the first of eight public hearings aimed at ferreting out fraud in Maine’s election system. At the same time, Maine’s GOP continued waging war with itself over charges of fraud in the election of the state’s delegates to … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – The mayor of the city of Portland said the city’s homeless shelters are over capacity on a nightly basis. Mayor Michael Brennan said the problem is so bad people are sleeping in chairs or are being turned away from shelters. "We even have an overflow shelter for our overflow shelter, and we’re … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – Officials in Portland say they are seeing some troubling numbers when it comes to homelessness in the city. At Oxford Street shelter the beds are empty during the day. But several hours before it opens for the night, people will begin lining up in hopes of getting one of the … Read more