Just two weeks ago, when beds finally became available at the City’s Homeless Services Center, Preble Street shifted the efforts of the Street Outreach Collaborative team to focus exclusively on moving people from the encampments into those beds. Several other outreach workers in the community are also doing this work.

Success is happening even though there have only been 15 days since beds became reliably available.

• People have moved into shelter. Our efforts have helped about 20 people out of the cold and into shelter over the past two weeks.
• Now, we are working closely with more than 30 people to address their concerns or any barriers to get them into shelter or housing. This is a population that needs lots of support to keep moving towards positive outcomes.
• We are tracking the barriers to people accessing beds at the City’s Homeless Services Center. We have learned more of the reasons why people are stuck in unsheltered homelessness – some because their partners/relatives can’t access shelter, some because of anxiety around crowds, some because of substance use issues. 

We all want people to move into shelter and housing, but social workers need more time now that there are finally available beds for our most vulnerable Mainers.

Take action NOW! Please ask the Mayor, the City Manager, and the Portland City Council to postpone the sweep of Harbor View Park until at least the week of January 8 – after the holidays and after the new year.