First lady Michelle Obama announced a new commitment to end veteran homelessness. Part of the Joining Forces Initiative, the commitment includes 77 mayors, four governors, and four county officials to end veteran homelessness by 2015. The first lady was introduced by Chris Fuentes, a war veteran who lived in her car briefly after returning from Iraq. Housing … Read more
U.S. housing official Barbara Poppe pays a visit today to the Joe Kriesler Teen Shelter at Preble Street in Portland. One of the federal government’s top housing officials has been visiting a couple of homeless shelters in Maine’s biggest city. Barbara Poppe, the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, toured the Florence … Read more
On the same day that a ban on panhandling in medians went into effect in Portland, city leaders and organizations that work with the homeless held a press conference applauding the progress they’ve made in providing housing for those living on the streets. As Patty Wight reports, city officials say there’s been a 30 percent … Read more
AUGUSTA — It is coming down to that time of year when the legislature must make some hard choices in order to balance the budget. That’s why advocates for low income housing and the homeless took their message to the statehouse Tuesday. They held a rally to protest proposed cuts to the state’s “home fund.” … Read more
PORTLAND – The city has lost more than 100 affordable rental units over the past five years and needs to clarify an ordinance meant to protect its housing stock, advocates for the homeless said at a rally today in Congress Square. Crafted during a housing crunch nearly 10 years ago, Portland’s housing replacement ordinance requires … Read more
Thank you, Governor Baldacci — for that introduction and for the leadership that you provide, particularly to Maine’s most vulnerable families. This is a special day for this community — and I want to thank everyone in this room who made it possible. We all recognize the remarkable strides our country has made in tackling … Read more
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
PORTLAND – For eight months, Ivelisse Castro spent her nights on a cot in a shelter while she saved her paychecks and waited to qualify for rental assistance. Castro might have waited a lot longer without the help of an aggressive new team of caseworkers who are fighting homelessness in Maine’s largest city. "They’re great," … Read more
Preble Street Homeless Voices For Justice is working to give hundreds of Mainers a Christmas gift they say could help change lives. The group is making a big push to get more housing vouchers for the homeless in time for Christmas. They say shelters across the state are crowded and many people have no place … Read more
Preble Street Veterans Housing Services (VHS), in partnership with other Veterans services agencies* across the state have come together to dramatically reduce Veteran homelessness in Maine. Earlier this month, VHS and partners launched a housing surge to get as many homeless Veterans as possible into housing in the 100 days leading up to Veterans’ Day. … Read more