NEWS & UPDATES
Plan to move Maine DHHS office draws protests, possible lawsuit
Homeless advocates gathered Tuesday morning at the current DHHS building on Marginal Way in Portland to protest the state’s decision to move the agency’s Cumberland County offices to a proposed 82,600-square-foot building in South Portland near the Portland International Jetport. "A lot of people who access these services get here by foot," said Jim Devine,
Sleeping out in bone-chilling cold: Maine's homeless struggle to cope
As Mainers get ready for another night of snow and freezing temperatures, there are some who are sleeping without a roof over their heads – people like 35-year old Matt Coffey. Coffey camps out in a wooded area somewhere in greater Portland – he doesn’t want to disclose the exact location for fear of being
Homeless group protests DHHS office move
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Advocates for the poor and homeless continued their protest Tuesday against the plan to move the state’s DHHS office out of downtown Portland. Since the plan was announced last month, the city, Democratic legislators and low income groups have complained steadily that the move will hurt people who need DHHS
Portland Ovations to Partner with Community for Maine's Food Insecurity Issues
The performing arts are the one of the most compelling ways to communicate stories of the human condition, whether through dance, music, acting, even puppetry. This April, Portland Ovations – the non-profit performing arts presenter – brings Who’s Hungry, a powerful and provocative play utilizing tabletop puppet-theater to SPACE Gallery. Who’s Hungry tells the story
Maine homeless suffering, surviving
With temperatures plunging below zero early Tuesday morning, many of Portland’s homeless faced life-threatening cold. Preble Street, a private nonprofit social service agency, sends teams of outreach workers to campsites in the city each morning to offer extra blankets, flashlights and hand warmers, and to offer people help to find permanent housing. "When it’s cold,
Homeless urged to shelters as Maine braces for snowstorm
With temperatures frigid and this season’s first major snowfall approaching, outreach teams in Portland urged the homeless Friday to come into emergency shelters. Weather that cold is particularly hard on the homeless, said John Bradley, associate director of the Preble Street social service agency in Portland. "We’ve been worrying about the weather for the last
Cold weather leads to crowded shelters
PORTLAND (WGME) — The Oxford Street Shelter is expecting more than 500 people as the temperature drops Wednesday night. The overflow space at the Preble Street Resource Center typically holds 75 and repairs were made in time to accommodate all of those people, but shelter directors say many will still be left out in the
Relocation of DHHS office draws opposition
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Democrats and advocates for social service agencies in Portland are protesting the proposed new location for the Department of Health and Human Services in Cumberland County. The Governor’s office says moving and consolidating the offices of DHHS and the Department of Labor in 2015 will save $14 million dollars, but
Critics of DHHS move out of Portland: Bus route to new site has 72 stops
It would take an 80-minute bus ride with 72 stops to make a round trip from downtown Portland to new Department of Health and Human Services offices proposed in South Portland, say lawmakers and Portland officials who will join advocates for the poor Tuesday to protest the state’s selection of the site. City leaders and
Five for Fighting musician sings for teen shelter
The Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter will get a big boost from Five for Fighting, who is singing in Scarborough at a sold-out concert to raise money for the Preble Street facility. Five for Fighting appears at The Landing in Pine Point on Wednesday, Dec. 11, along with local favorite Amy Allen. Five for Fighting is
Proud Mainers dedicating their professions to changing lives
Executive director of Preble Street, Mark Swann grew up in Massachusetts. Swann graduated Cum Laude from Bowdoin College with a bachelor’s degree in History. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts. Swann discussed his move back to Maine at the age of 28 to pursue
Data on Maine sex trafficking elusive as officials try to gauge its extent
“Sex trafficking? We’re in Maine,” Cumberland County Deputy District Attorney Megan Elam said, describing the sentiment among local law enforcement just a few years ago. “There’s a little shame going around among prosecutors and police officers about how naive we were.” Sex trafficking has been a little-understood crime in Maine, for a variety of reasons.
