NEWS & UPDATES
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
Maine lawmakers override gov's veto of school lunch expansion
When it comes to hunger, Maine has the unfortunate distinction of leading almost every other state: third in the nation for food insecurity. And when it comes to kids, the picture is also stark: More than 84,000 Maine children qualify for free and reduced-price school meals. But nearly 70,000 of them do not have access
Portland will close homeless clinic without federal money
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The city of Portland has announced that it will close its healthcare clinic at the end of March if it does not receive help from the federal government. Last year, the city treated 2,300 people in its clinic for the homeless. Portland applied for a federal grant to fund the
House overturns LePage’s veto of ‘hungry kids’ bill, which will now become a law
AUGUSTA, Maine – A bill designed to encourage school districts to host summer nutrition programs for needy students will go into law after the House of Representatives voted Thursday to override a veto by Gov. Paul LePage, who called it an " irresponsible unfunded mandate" even though the program is supported with federal funds. The
Legislature should override LePage’s veto of bill that fills in summer hunger gap for children
It’s no secret that far too many children go hungry in Maine. Less widely known is that there are effective and affordable ways to reach our most at-risk students both during the school year, and when classes let out for vacation. Extending free or reduced-priced lunches during the summer months is one measure helping to
Making Winter Break Matter
Students who participated in this year’s Alternative Winter Break came together recently for a dinner to reflect on their experiences. Each January, student leaders organize AWB trips to take their peers into Maine communities to volunteer during the last week of winter break. Ryan Davis ’15 and Tenzin Tsagong ’16 led a week-long trip that
Maine starts to take on sex trafficking
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Sex trafficking is a growing problem in Maine, as out-of-state pimps target 12- to 24-year-old women, promising them love, money or drugs, and delivering shame, abuse and humiliation. Experts say the crime is difficult to prosecute because victims often are embarrassed or frightened to come forward. They may also have
