NEWS & UPDATES
Holy Thursday brings foot washing to Portland's Monument Square
Chris Kidder took off his shoes and socks inside Portland’s Preble Street social services center, slipped his tired feet into a plastic tub of warm, soapy water and smiled. Sitting opposite Kidder a few feet away, the Rev. Michael Seavey smiled right back. "Oh my God," said Kidder, 31. "I’m in heaven." He wasn’t the
Eight nonprofits get awards from Electricity Maine
AUBURN – The owners of Electricity Maine announced that their eight Power to Help Core Partners will each receive $20,000. Seven of the eight nonprofits were on hand for a check presentation and luncheon held in their honor at the Martindale County Club in Auburn. In attendance were representatives of Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn,
Puppet and dance show to serve up hunger awareness in Portland
Typically, a touring performance troupe comes to town, does a show and leaves for the next city. But the puppeteers and dancers who will bring "Who’s Hungry" to Space Gallery beginning Thursday hope their show will have a longer-term effect on the people of Portland. Their performance will explore hunger in Maine and offer audiences
Thomas Ptacek: Why I am no longer homeless
Roughly six months ago, Luisa Deprez wrote about me in a BDN column and how the loss of MaineCare might affect me. As she mentioned, I had at one point been homeless and had spent the previous three years leading advocacy efforts with a group called Homeless Voices for Justice, which is supported by Preble
Maine housing officials pushing for restored Section 8 vouchers to stem spike in homelessness
BANGOR, Maine – Maine groups that deal with housing and homelessness are joining counterparts across the country, pushing Congress to restore funding for Section 8 vouchers so individuals and families who are homeless or close to it can find a stable place of their own. In last year’s across-the-board $1 trillion federal spending cuts, known
Human trafficking response involves legislators, shelters
PORTLAND, Maine -Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine program manager Katie Kondrat helps victims of human trafficking at Preble Street in Portland and says it has a broader definition than most people realize. Many who have worked as prostitutes are homeless and are addicted to drugs. She said others know their abusers, who use
Three Gorham residents charged with sex trafficking
Daniella Cameron, manager of the Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Coalition, said in a prepared statement that the group is “seeing increasing numbers of people being trafficked” and is working with law enforcement agencies to protect the victims, most of them young women. “Sex trafficking can happen anywhere there are vulnerable victims and people willing to exploit
Three arrested on sex trafficking charges
GORHAM, Maine -The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office says three people from Gorham have been arrested on sex trafficking charges. Klein Fernandes, 27, Tamika Dias, 34, and Jeremy Seeley, 32, are accused of exploiting a 19-year-old woman and requiring her to engage in commercial sex acts. The District Attorney’s Office said the victim was posted
Officials bust Maine sex trafficking operation
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Officials have arrested three Gorham residents on sex trafficking charges, said Cumberland County Deputy District Attorney Tuesday. With the help of Preble Street Teen Center, police became aware late last week of a 19-year-old girl that Klein Fernandes, Tamika Dias and Jeremy Seeley exploited and required to engage in commercial
Portland Ovations to bring awareness to food insecurity with WHO'S HUNGRY?
Portland Ovations presents, in collaboration with SPACE Gallery, the poignant and provocative Who’s Hungry for 4 performances at SPACE Gallery on April 10th at 8 pm, April 11th at 8 pm and Saturday April 12th at 2 pm and 8 pm. Who’s Hungry is an evening of experimental tabletop puppet theater that gives a voice
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
