NEWS & UPDATES
Years in a Homeless Shelter, Despite Thousands in the Bank: One Man's Story
PORTLAND, Maine – A recent audit of Portland’s homeless shelters has highlighted what some state officials say is mismanagement of General Assistance funds. At issue is a city policy that allows some long-term shelter residents with substantial savings in the bank to access services. Homeless advocates and city representatives say the state is oversimplifying a
207: Jennifer Richard Jacobson's "Paper Things"
Jennifer Richard Jacobson wears many hats. She’s a teacher, an educational consultant and a speaker. She’s also a writer and her latest book is called Paper Things. It deals with something that is hiding in plain sight – homelessness among children. She’s got a book signing coming up Thursday and proceeds from the event will
Holy Cross students provide supplies
Multiple snowstorms forced a delay, but not a stop, to Holy Cross Catholic School’s collection of items for the Preble Street Shelter in Portland and the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook. Representatives from both organizations attended a prayer service Feb. 6 at Holy Cross Church in South Portland for a presentation by students who led
Dining cause: Maine Restaurant Week Leverages Non-Profit Causes with Private Money
Diners visiting dozens of eateries for "Maine Restaurant Week" over the next two weeks may not realize the meal deals served up by Portland-local restaurants are taking initiative from of the nation’s hottest marketing trends – "cause marketing." Broadly defined, "cause marketing" refers to a cooperative effort between for-profit and non-profit organizations for mutual benefit.
Homelessness in Maine has three root causes that must be addressed
No one chooses to be homeless. It’s a hard life, especially during a winter like this one. You wait in line for food, wait in line to use the bathroom, wait in line for a place to sleep. Homeless people get sick more often than the rest of the population, according to the U.S. Centers
Full Plates, Full Potential
"There are 87,000 children in Maine who may not know where their next meal is coming from," says John Woods. Woods, 49, is working to solve that problem-and he’s asking his friends to help. It is a rare person who leaves a conversation with Woods without an assigned task. This was the case when, on
Breakfast cook-off in South Portland
SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) — Over 200 people came out to do some taste testing in South Portland Friday morning for the annual breakfast cook-off. The breakfast competition featured restaurants from around Maine competing against each other for a good cause. All proceeds went to Preble Street. Entrees included chocolate and bacon stuffed waffles, creme brule
Portland leaders defend DHHS audit of homeless shelters
PORTLAND (WGME) — Portland democrats and city leaders are defending the use of homeless shelters for people who may have money in the bank. This comes after a report shows some people staying in the city’s overnight shelters have thousands of dollars in assets. But city leaders say the people in that report are mentally
Breakfast cookoff kicks off Maine Restaurant Week
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -The annual Maine Restaurant Week kicked off Friday morning with the Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off. Area restaurants battled to see who has the best breakfast dish. All the proceeds from Friday’s event go to Preble Street’s food pantry and soup kitchen. “We don’t have the resources within Preble Street to have our own
Portland officials defend aid for homeless, vow to address concerns
… Mark Swann, executive director of the nonprofit Preble Street, which provides many services to Portland’s homeless community, said a recent survey of the shelter system’s 30 longest-term residents found that all 30 "had serious and persistent mental illness." Swann said shelters in Maine have become de facto mental health institutions and are "overflowing with
Homeless advocates, Portland city officials fight back
PORTLAND, Maine -Portland city leaders and advocates for the homeless are fighting back saying, "There’s another side of the story." On Friday, city leaders and homeless advocates told their side of the story after the LePage administration called the mayor and others irresponsible when it comes to doling out general assistance funds. This after a
Portland leaders respond to claims of mismanaging General Assistance funds
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – City and state leaders from Portland pushed back Friday against claims by the LePage Administration that the city is in violation of the General Assistance program. A state audit of the program found that some long time users of the city’s shelter had large sums of money in the bank
