NEWS & UPDATES
Group of veterans leave letters asking that Congressman Poliquin not support the Farm Bill
A group of veterans gathered outside of Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s office Wednesday morning urging him not to support the Farm Bill. They say this bill that includes legislation from the Congressman’s Food Stamp Integrity Act, proposes significant cuts and harsher time limits to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP. See more…
Commentary: A broken mental health system
Behind the struggles with drugs, crime and extreme poverty in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood – described in a lengthy article in the May 6 Maine Sunday Telegram – is a fundamentally broken mental health system and inadequate treatment for those suffering with substance use disorder. It’s really that simple. Read more…
Maine faith leaders host drug overdose death vigil at State House
Faith leaders gathered in Augusta on Wednesday to host a vigil for the hundreds of people in Maine lost last year to drug overdoses. They’re calling on lawmakers to fully fund a number of bills aimed at addressing the opioid crisis in the state. “418 people died last year from overdoses – that’s more than
Maine groups team up to combat child hunger
With Maine listed as having the third-highest rate of food insecurity in the country, Maine Medical Center’s pediatrics unit is teaming up with the Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative to help reduce that number. The Hunger Vital Sign program connects patients with food options that they may not have otherwise, the hospital said. “It’s really
Fighting Human Trafficking
It is happening here in Maine and many people are not aware of it. We are talking about human trafficking, and it comes in many forms. Fiona Mason and Donna Yellen from Preble Street’s Anti-trafficking Coalition join us to talk about this problem in our state. Feel free to ask questions and we will try
Maine Homeless Veterans Committee Delivers Annual Update on Vet Homelessness
The Maine Homeless Veterans Action Committee delivered its annual update on the state of veteran homelessness Wednesday. An estimated 278 veterans became homeless last year in Maine. 192 of them were housed by local organizations. Data was collected from emergency shelters and community volunteers to create a better understanding of who the homeless are as
Our View: Addiction, homelessness must be fought together
Whether a person is homeless as a result of a spiraling drug problem, or abusing drugs to cope with life on the street, homelessness and addiction are inexorably linked. Feeding off each other, and on what is perhaps the most vulnerable population, they cause a tremendous amount of suffering, and fuel a public health crisis
New bill aims to fight opioid addiction by tackling homelessness
There’s a new initiative to fight Maine’s opioid crisis that focuses on tackling homelessness. See more…
Marchers remember the 40 homeless people who died in Portland area in 2017
Forty homeless people died in Greater Portland this year and Nancy McKeil has a solemn message for those fortunate enough to have a home and warm bed to sleep in this winter. “It should never happen,” said McKeil, who lives in Section 8 housing in Portland. “No one should ever have to be homeless.” McKeil
We’re reversing opioid overdoses, but we’d rather help people change
I’ve worked at Preble Street in Portland, Maine, for 26 years and never thought I’d see the day when our social workers are reversing opioid overdoses on a regular basis. In my first 22 years here, we had no overdoses. Zero. Now every eight days we find someone on a bathroom floor, lips blue, not breathing. Preble Street
Bill Nemitz: Tell legislators to save bill that could prevent more opioid deaths
Imagine you’re volunteering at the Preble Street soup kitchen in Portland because it’s the holidays and you’re a good person and this is what good people do this time of year. Across the table from you sits a homeless woman. She’s addicted to opioids, and it being the holidays and all, she has what those
Mark Swann talks about Preble Street food programs
Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann is a guest on Maine Points. There are many ways to describe Preble Street: drop-in centers, soup kitchens, food pantry, shelters, social work services, supported housing. These descriptions only tell part of the Preble Street story. Marks talks about the many ways Preble Street works to turn hunger and
