NEWS & UPDATES
Advocates for the Homeless Raise Awareness for the Growing Problem in Portland
Homeless people and advocates will are sitting out all day today to raise awareness of homelessness — and make the point that even in the warmer months, it’s tough. Judy Newell is an advocate with Homeless Voices for Justice; she says homelessness is a growing problem in Portland — mostly thanks to the property boom
Advocates push for law to vacate convictions of human-trafficking victims
Survivors of human trafficking rallied Thursday in Augusta to increase public awareness about forced laborers or sex workers in Maine and to advocate for a bill allowing trafficking victims to have criminal convictions vacated. They were joined by representatives from Maine nonprofit organizations including Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services. Read more…
Mills set to reject LePage’s last-minute attempt to cut Medicaid
In the wake of her formal inauguration, during which Governor Janet Mills said she will implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion, advocacy groups are hopeful that Maine’s newly elected Democratic governor will quickly sideline the potential for work requirements to be placed on the state’s Medicaid recipients, an option granted by the federal government on Dec. 21
At vigil, Portland remembers and honors homeless members of the community who have died
For the 24th year in a row people gathered in Portland Friday on the longest night of the year to remember those from greater Portland’s homeless community who have died during the past 12 months. Thirty-six people were remembered, 26 men and 10 women, with an average age of 47. Read more…
Portland honors lost members of homeless community
Friday night, people in Portland remembered members of the city’s homeless community who have since passed away. The event included live music, a candle light vigil, speeches from community leaders and Preble Street organizers. See more…
Farm Bill maintains SNAP, contains provisions for maple, honey, and organics
Preble Street and other poverty relief organizations in Maine are relieved that the 2018 US Farm Bill has passed with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, intact. The $867-billion dollar omnibus bill passed with strong bipartisan support in both chambers, but not before a tense year of negotiations, including a House version of the bill that would have cut SNAP and imposed work requirements,
Home is a place to say hello and goodbye
“Watching my father’s struggles was a painfully long goodbye. Fortunately, Logan Place gave a father and his children the chance to once again say hello.” Amanda A. Meader shares a beautiful story of how the Preble Street Housing First program touched her family. Read more…
A strong safety net is one way we can honor our veterans’ sacrifices
“Yes, thoughts and prayers are appreciated, but to truly honor our veterans, we need to move beyond platitudes. Our nation must commit to providing reliable safety net programs for the many veterans who struggle with poverty and hunger when they return home.” – Tim Keefe, advocate and veteran Read more…
Maine politicians take questions from homeless in series of forums
Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice is hosting candidates in a series of forums. On Friday, Independent Sen. Angus King, Republican state Sen. Eric Brakey, and Democrat Zak Ringelstein met with dozens of people who are currently or recently homeless. See more…
Affordable housing saves lives and saves the community money
Increased homelessness and its root causes are not unique to Portland. Despite what we hear about a strengthening economy, homelessness and hunger have exploded and many thousands of hungry, cold and ill Americans are living on streets in cities and towns across the country. And, across the country, municipalities and service providers struggle daily with
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…
