Maine Voices: Florence House gives the homeless hope along with shelter

PORTLAND – Will I ever find a home? Is there any way to end homelessness? This month marked the first anniversary of an event that answered those questions with a resounding "Yes!" It was the anniversary of the day Preble Street welcomed homeless women home for good to Florence House, the comprehensive woman’s center on … Read more

Dignitaries celebrate new home for women in Portland

PORTLAND – Hundreds of people gathered June 4 on Valley Street to celebrate the opening of Florence House, the city’s second "Housing First" project. Florence House is home to 25 formerly homeless women and provides a short-term place for up to 40 more women to transition into permanent housing or stay in an emergency shelter. … Read more

Housing for homeless women in Portland

Help is on the way for homeless women in Portland. Today marked the official grand opening of Florence House, a new facility for homeless women that is located in Portland’s West End neighborhood. The building has 25 apartment units as well as several emergency shelter beds. Florence House is named for Florence Young, a social worker … Read more

Officials celebrate opening of Florence House

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Dozens turned out for the grand opening celebration of long-awaited housing for homeless women in Portland. Florence House, named for a long time social worker at the Preble Street Resource Center, actually opened its doors in April. On Friday, people got a chance to tour the three story building, which … Read more

New Housing Project Aims to Open Doors for Portland's Homeless Women

National, state and local elected leaders gathered in Portland today to celebrate the opening of Florence House, a permanent housing facility for homeless women. Its construction was prompted by a sharp rise in homelessness in the city, and officials say it’s a more effective model than emergency overnight shelters. The women at Florence House range … Read more

Florence House offers what homeless women need most

There are a lot of factors that work together to make someone chronically homeless. Someone may have a mental illness, a physical disability or addiction to alcohol or drugs. But the undeniable common factor is that they don’t have a home. For a group of women who have been long-term homeless residents of the city, … Read more

Florence House ready to serve homeless women

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Advocates for the homeless are excited about the opening of a new permanent home set to open to serve the needs of homeless women in Portland. Florence House, a collaboration between Avesta Housing and the Preble Street Resource Center, took five year to plan and build and cost nearly $8 … Read more

Florence House to open doors for homeless women

PORTLAND – For the past three years, the closest thing to home for Shellie Duncan has been a folding cot in a corner of the community room at Preble Street, a social service agency in downtown Portland. And that was a step up from her previous “home,” a floor mat at the city’s Oxford Street … Read more

A Clean, well-lighted place

There’s a revolution afoot to solve homelessness in America. Portland, Maine, is helping to lead the charge. How’s this for an idea: Find the thirty bleakest street cases in the city – the least loved of God’s creatures, the ones cops know by name. The ones purpled with scars, napping under loading docks, towing barges … Read more

Hundreds line up for new L.L. Bean store

FREEPORT(NEWS CENTER) — Hundreds of people showed up Saturday for the grand opening of the new LL Bean Home Store in Freeport. Melissa Zuk said she got to the store at 9 p.m. and was first in line for the opening. The incentive? The store was giving away gift cards to the first 500 customers. … Read more