Hunger and homelessness have been on the rise in Maine post-pandemic, leaving thousands of fellow Mainers without enough food and without shelter or housing. Lack of available housing and shelter options leaves many experiencing homelessness with no choice other than to shelter outside. This leads to increased interactions with law enforcement and fewer connections to critical resources, like food and housing assistance, medical treatment, and more. Issues of housing and food insecurity, homelessness, and poverty disproportionately impact Mainers of color. A 2020 calculation of people accessing services in ten Preble Street programs showed that 22% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color) – roughly four times more than the percentage of BIPOC individuals in Maine. 

YOU and your network of family and friends can help us create real change this year. Thanks to advocates who serve in the Maine legislature, there are several proposed bills this session offering unique opportunities to address many of these issues and create a better future for everyone who lives here. Preble Street and our partners are advocating for expanded access to essential services, support for the people who need it most, and the creation of better systems that will help end hunger, homelessness, and racial inequities. Our top priorities for the legislative session are…

• Expand funding for shelters across Maine. 
  • Emergency shelter is often the first step someone takes to exit homelessness. Emergency shelters are the “emergency room” of the homelessness response system, where people can get connected with the supports and services they need to recover from homelessness and return to stable housing. However, Maine state funding for emergency shelters has remained the same since 2016. 
• Amend General Assistance rules to support emergency shelter beds. 
  • The rising costs of housing, food, and other essentials have made General Assistance funding less effective at doing its job of helping vulnerable individuals and families in Maine. Increasing state reimbursement for General Assistance to municipalities will keep emergency shelters professionally staffed and open as well as help working individuals and families identify or maintain housing and meet their basic needs.
• Increase accessibility to vital records for unaccompanied and homeless youth.
  • Vital documents, like birth certificates and state IDs, are critical to obtaining employment, health insurance, and other essential benefits; but, homeless and unaccompanied youth, often don’t have the money to pay the fees for these vital documents. Fee waivers for homeless youth, ages 15-21, will make driver’s licenses, state IDs, and birth certificates more accessible.

Read the full list of our legislative priorities here.