NEWS & UPDATES
Victims of Homelessness Remembered at Vigils
PORTLAND, Maine-As the media compile their retrospectives of the notable events and people of 2014, homeless advocates in Portland and Lewiston are remembering those died. "It’s so sad to look at the list this year, and some of these people we’ve known for a long, long time." says Mark Swann, Executive Director of Preble Street
Homeless memorial vigil planned for Portland, Lewiston
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) Vigils to raise awareness for the homeless in Maine are being held to honor more than 30 homeless people who have died this year. Portland’s annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil takes place Monday evening. It ends in Monument Square with the lighting of candles to honor those who have died. Mark
Homeless memorial vigil in Portland
PORTLAND (WGME) — The annual Homeless Person’s Memorial Vigil was held in Portland to honor more than 30 homeless people who died this year. Hundreds of people met at Preble Street and marched to Monument Square Monday night. Their names were read and a candle lit in their honor. Judy Newell shared her story of
6,500 Mainers to lose food stamps
AUGUSTA – More than 6,000 Maine residents will lose their food stamps benefits next month under newly enforced rules that require some recipients to have a job, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said. Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration began in October to enforce a three-month limit on benefits for childless adults
Advocates for the Homeless March for Bus Passes
Advocates for the homeless in Portland, Maine, marched through the city today to plead for better access to public transportation. The annual event, organized by Homeless Voices for Justice, was created six years ago to highlight a particular challenge that impacts the city’s 3,000 homeless residents. Marching alongside a cutout of a cardboard bus, the
Advocates: Transportation Changes Hurting MaineCare Clients
PORTLAND, Maine – Advocates for Maine’s poor and homeless say changes to MaineCare are leaving many clients without reliable transportation, and that the results can be catastrophic for some. Until a few months ago, Maine Care provided clients with regular appointments with unlimited monthly bus passes; but now, the state contracts transportation to several companies
Heaping Helping
Volunteering is technically a selfish act. I jumped on the opportunity because I thought that by making others feel good, I would inherently feel good too. So, in a way, I initially decided to serve lunch at the Preble Street Resource Center soup kitchen, to selfishly address my own conscience. Either way, I definitely felt
Soup bowls highlight hunger awareness
Giving back to the community is an art form for students in Scarborough High School’s alternative education class. Since the beginning of September, Lisa Ruhman, the high school’s ceramics teacher, has been working with the students to create bowls and mugs to highlight hunger awareness. In total, between 80 and 100 bowls will be made.
Our Opinion: To do good, donors must do their homework
Nonprofit groups in Maine, like those around the country, have a high profile this time of year. Knowing what the holidays represent, members of the public dig into their pockets to give to organizations that help the less fortunate. And to ensure continued support for those who need it the most, it’s important for donors
Portland considers ‘workforce housing’ project in Bayside
… Preble Street, a nonprofit social services agency, is continuing to work with the city toward building a new shelter with 250 beds and a soup kitchen for the homeless on the site, according to Mark Swann, the nonprofit’s executive director. Swann said he came up with the proposal after the city approached Preble Street
Preble Street Resource Center hosts memorial vigil
Portland’s Homeless Persons Annual Memorial Vigil sponsored by Preble Street Resource Center, Mercy Hospital and the city of Portland will take place Christmas week. Monday, Dec. 22, is a time to remember the homeless who have died and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness, according to Preble Street. A candlelight procession will start
King supports bill to house homeless college students
BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Sen. Angus King is speaking out in favor of a bill that would make it easier for homeless college students to find housing. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit gives tax breaks to developers that build affordable housing. The current law does not allow tenants of those properties to be
