At a public hearing NEXT WEEK on Tuesday, January 5 the City of Portland Planning Board will vote on the Preble Street conditional use application to open a permanent, specialized 24/7 Wellness Shelter at 5 Portland Street.

Thank you to everyone who made their voices heard at the Planning Board workshops in October and early December. This is one of the final chances to speak up for your most vulnerable neighbors.

If you don’t want more people to endure sleeping outside, submit a written comment to planningboard@portlandmaine.gov or attend and speak at the remote meeting to ask them to approve the Preble Street application. The deadline to submit written comments is THIS FRIDAY, January 1 at noon!

The building at 5 Portland Street is owned by Preble Street, zoned to allow for emergency shelter, and sheltered 75 people regularly for many years when Preble Street donated this facility to the City of Portland as its overflow space for the Oxford Street Shelter.

As a new year quickly approaches and temperatures drop, it is critical to continue advocating for our unhoused neighbors. Thank you for lending your voice, and please continue sharing with your networks!