The 2024 Voting Guide from Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) is now available!
Every year, HVJ polls candidates running at the local, state, and federal level on important questions and issues related to housing, homelessness, and poverty. The candidates’ responses to these pressing questions and critical issues are compiled in the below PDFs to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box. Not every candidate responded to HVJ’s questions, BUT we have biographical and campaign information available on every candidate running for Portland’s City Council, state office in Maine, and at the federal level.
Portland City Council Voting Guides
Maine State Office Voting Guides
Maine House of Representatives
- Maine House of Representatives – District 112
- Maine House of Representatives – District 113
- Maine House of Representatives – District 114
- Maine House of Representatives – District 115
- Maine House of Representatives – District 116
- Maine House of Representatives – District 117
- Maine House of Representatives – District 118
- Maine House of Representatives – District 119
Maine State Senate
Federal Elections Voting Guides
Founded in 1995, HVJ is a grassroots organization advocating for social change with, and on behalf of, people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Click here to learn more about them or email them directly at HVJ@preblestreet.org.
Visit vote.gov to register to vote and see what’s on your ballot.
The importance of vouchers to secure housing
For countless Mainers, housing vouchers have been a crucial steppingstone to stability. In the last decade, especially the past few years, as rents went up and the number of available apartments or houses to rent has dwindled, waiting lists for vouchers have grown and it’s become more difficult for voucher-holders to secure housing. This
You Don’t Need a Home to Vote
Low-income and housing-insecure individuals face more barriers to voting, and every election season Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) conducts the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign to educate individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty about their voting rights. Many individuals might not know that US citizens in Maine have a right to vote regardless of any
Celebrating advocacy wins
Low-barrier shelters receive funding for the next three years… On April 22, 2024, Governor Janet Mills signed the supplemental budget into law, which includes three years of $2.5M in annual funding — a total of $7.5M — to directly support emergency low-barrier shelters. This funding will be incredibly impactful for Maine’s five privately operated, low-barrier
