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Everything you ever wanted to know about helping our neighbors

The holidays can be especially tough for somefolks. If you need help with housing, food or even just somepone to talk to (during the holidays, or anytime), this is the show for you. Join Amy Gallant from Preble Street, Kurt Holmgren from The Root Cellar in Portland and Greg Payne from the Maine Affordable Housing

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Welcome Home

When Ed Page found himself on the streets one cold night in Portland, Maine, the city had few services for the homeless. He found his way to an air vent, and spent the night there trying to keep warm. That was 20 years ago. As the homeless population rose in Portland, service organizations created soup

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Maine Calling: Homelessness

Who are the homeless in Maine and how are they being helped? How many people in our state does homelessness affect, and what practical steps can be taken to help? Maine Calling host Jennifer Rooks was joined by Tom McLaughlin, research professor at University of New England, Mark R. Swann, MSPA, Executive Director of Preble

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NAACP Portland Branch's MLK Jr. holiday observance events

In 2014, the NAACP celebrates 50 years in the state of Maine. The NAACP Portland Branch is joining the Center for African Heritage, City of Portland, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, Homeless Voices for Justice/Preble Street, The Opportunity Alliance, Portland Housing Authority, Portland Public Schools, and University of New England in celebrating the Martin

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Support being sought for new legal clinic

A group of New Orleans judges went to a soup kitchen in February 2002 to help serve a meal, and among them was Judge Jay Zainey, of the U.S. District Court. Zainey served the patrons a meal but still left feeling empty. He thought he could do more for the city’s homeless individuals."We as lawyers

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Portland to start legal aid service for homeless

U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey, who launched the first Homeless Experience Legal Protection program in New Orleans, told a roomful of idealistic lawyers in Portland on Thursday that they cannot change the world. But they can use their skills to change a homeless person’s world, and the satisfaction that comes from that is priceless. Legal

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Maine Homeless Legal Clinic starts in Portland

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — When you think about how to end homelessness, finding a few good lawyers probably isn’t the first idea that comes to mind. But the lawyers, judges and advocates for the homeless behind the Maine Homeless Legal Clinic believe legal assistance may be all some clients need to get back on

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‘No one should pass away unrecognized'

Rebecca Dennison’s voice broke as she said her friend’s name, "Mary Lou." "Mary Lou passed away recently. I’m missing her so much," Dennison told the roughly 200 people gathered Friday night in Monument Square for Portland’s annual vigil to remember the homeless people who died during the year. "She was frail and sassy at the

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More snow and bitter cold, and it’s not over

Tuesday’s cold, and the forecast for more snow, sent social service outreach workers into the woods and alleys of Portland, looking to convince vulnerable people to seek shelter from the elements. Peggy Lynch, outreach coordinator for Preble Street, and Bill Burns, the coordinator of the social service agency’s adult day shelter, trudged through deep snow

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Protesters Rally in Portland to Oppose DHHS Move

For the second time this month, protestors gathered at state offices in downtown Portland to voice their opposition to the LePage administration’s plans to move DHHS offices to a site in South Portland. A couple of dozen advocates braved near-zero temperatures to make their point. Thomas Ptacek is with Homeless Voices for Justice, which organized

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