UPDATED MARCH 1: As we wait for the Labor and Housing Committee to hold a work session on LD 211, please continue to email them your support of this bill. More information at Step 3 on the list below.

TODAY, February 17, is the public hearing for LD 211: An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Access for Persons Experiencing Homelessness. This critical legislation would allocate $3 million in additional funding to homeless shelters in Maine, allowing them to provide life-saving services to the most vulnerable people in our state. We need people like you to support this bill! Here’s how:

1. 1. Submit written or oral testimony before 10am on Wednesday, February 17 (It’s easy! This video walks you through it, or you can follow the steps below)
      • Go to this link and select Labor and Housing committee from the drop down menu
      • Choose February 17, 10am and LD 211
      • To sign up to give live, oral testimony, click the box next to “I would like to present my testimony live”
      • Otherwise, upload or enter your written testimony in the space provided
      • See our LD211 talking points for some information on what you can include in your testimony
   2. Participate in the Social Media Day of Action for LD 211 on Wednesday, February 17
      • Follow Preble Street on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and share our posts about LD 211
      • Post on your social media channels about what shelter means to you or any of these talking points – remember to use the hashtags #ShelterIsAHumanRight and #PassLD211
   3. Email members of the Labor and Housing Committee and ask them to pass LD 211 (contact info and draft info below)

Labor and Housing Committee:

• Senator Joseph Rafferty (Chair) –Joseph.Rafferty@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Senator Stacey Guerin – Stacey.Guerin@legislature.maine.gov  
• Senator Dave Miramant – David.Miramant@legislature.maine.gov 
• Rep. Mike Sylvester (Chair) – Michael.Sylvester@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Dave Bradstreet – Richard.Bradstreet@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Scott Cuddy – Scott.Cuddy@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Gary Drinkwater – Gary.Drinkwater@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Traci Gere – Traci.Gere@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Joshua Morris – Joshua.Morris@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Sarah Pebworth – Sarah.Pebworth@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Dwayne Prescott – Dwayne.Prescott@legislature.maine.gov 
• Rep. Amy Roeder – Amy.Roeder@Legislature.Maine.gov 
• Rep. Sofia Warren – Sophia.Warren@Legislature.Maine.gov  

Draft email (please personalize yours as this will have a bigger impact):

Subject: Pass LD 211: An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Access for Persons Experiencing Homelessness 

Dear distinguished member of the Committee on Labor and Housing, 

My name is _____, and I am resident of _____. I am urgently asking you to vote in support LD 211: An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Access for Persons Experiencing Homelessness. This critical legislation would allocate $3 million in additional funding to homeless shelters in Maine, helping them provide their life-saving services to our most vulnerable neighbors.

(Insert your personal story, comments, thoughts)

The shortage of affordable housing, a lack of mental health and substance use disorder services, and the COVID-19 pandemic have created a crisis in Maine, forcing more people experiencing homelessness to go unsheltered, in sometimes life-threatening temperatures, without a safe place to stay. 

When individuals cannot access emergency shelter, it prolongs the amount of time they are homeless. This leads to worse overall outcomes for those individuals, added strain on our public health system, and more financial costs to our communities due to increased use of emergency services. 

For these reasons, I am asking you to vote in support of this much needed bill so that everyone can access safe and dignified shelter.  

Thank you for your time, 

_____ (your name)

Thank you for supporting your fellow Mainers!