NEWS & UPDATES
Portland gets grant to delay closing of homeless health clinic
The city of Portland has won federal funding to continue operating its Health Care for the Homeless clinic beyond April 1, when it had been scheduled to close. But how long it will stay open – and what services will be offered – is uncertain. The clinic is still expected to run out of funding
Sweet Home
Editor’s Note: Last May, we published "Cornered: Portraits of Portland’s Traffic Panhandlers," by local writer and photographer Doug Bruns. This winter, Bruns completed a similar assignment, this one focused on formerly homeless people who have made the transition to housing with the help of local social-service agencies. (One of the subjects of "Cornered," Judy, also
Advocate for homeless kicks off common good leadership series
"I was driving back from Boston, gripping the wheel, thinking to myself, ‘Be careful what you wish for’," Mark Swann ’84 said, describing the advent of his remarkable career to a roomful of students at the McKeen Center. While Swann dreamed of being able to make an impact on the most needy, he also knew
Breakfast Cook-Off winner is… Eve’s at the Garden
Tim Labonte’s pork belly waffles smoked the competition this morning at the fifth annual Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off, accomplishing what no other dish has been able to do in four years: Knock perennial winner Lisa Kostopoulos off her French toast throne. "I certainly didn’t expect it, to be completely honest," said first-time competitor Labonte, who is
Breakfast Cook-Off starts Maine Restaurant Week
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Sea Dog Brewing kicked off Maine Restaurant Week Friday with the Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off. Competing restaurants cooked their best breakfast dish and ticket buyers tasted and then voted for their favorites. PHOTOS: Breakfast Cook-Off Just before 9 a.m., Maine Restuarant Week announced the winners. The second runner-up, or third
Senate overrides LePage veto of bill to provide summer food for free, reduced lunch students
AUGUSTA, Maine – The Senate voted on Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Paul LePage of a bill that would require schools in poor communities to operate a summer nutrition program for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The Senate voted 25-10 to override the veto, which constitutes the required two-thirds majority
Maine House overrides veto of expanded summer food program
AUGUSTA – The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that would increase the number of Maine schoolchildren who can get food over the summer through a federal program The bill, L.D. 1353, requires schools that hold summer activities, and where more than half the students qualify
$50,000 set aside to build apartments for homeless
PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland City Council on Monday night unanimously voted to set aside $50,000 to distribute to a developer willing build a so-called "housing first" apartment project for homeless people. The measure will designate the money from the city’s Housing Trust Fund, which currently has just more than $724,000, to the cause. Jim
Teen Shelter Success
Once a homeless teen staying at the former Lighthouse (now the Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter), Portland filmmaker Dovid Muyderman is making a movie of his story of resilience and overcoming adversity. Click here to see the 207 video about the Muydermans and homeless teens at Preble Street.
Compassionate winter break
In January, nine Bowdoin students spent a week on an "Alternative Winter Break" working with Preble Street Resource Center to learn about hunger and homelessness in Portland. During our first morning van ride to Portland, the group seemed unenthusiastic. We sat quietly and wondered what we were going to do, where the trip would lead
One step closer to No Kid Hungry in Maine
Maine is now one step closer to ending childhood hunger for 70,000 children. Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative and Share Our Strength worked together this week to ensure passage of LD 1353, An Act to Further Reduce Student Hunger. This bill requires schools with over 50% participation in free and reduced lunch and who have
Maine Calling: Heroin Addiction
How big of a problem is heroin addiction in Maine and what is the latest of our understanding about how addiction affects the brain? Click here listen to the radio broadcast. Host Jennifer Rooks was joined in this discussion by: Carolee Lindsey, Director of Services at Catholic Charities; Brian Townsend, Director of Social Work at
