NEWS & UPDATES
Preble Street Shelter Gains More Funding
PORTLAND, Maine — A new donation has given a boost to the Preble Street Resource Center’s effort to make up for funding withdrawn by the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development withdrew support from "The Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice Program." The diocese said that
Homeless outreach right approach
When you see an ambulance speeding through Portland, it’s easy to believe that it is headed to the scene of a car accident or a heart attack. It often is. But all too often the destination is a so-called "layout," or a street drunk who has collapsed in public. Addiction, homelessness and mental illness are
Helping homeless seen as boon to commerce
PORTLAND – Last Friday afternoon, Michelle Souliere found a homeless man passed out drunk on the doorstep of her bookstore on Congress Street, the Green Hand. Instead of calling 911, she called the city’s Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement Team. A white van pulled up, and out jumped John Dana and Jesse Flynn, outreach workers
Attacks on Maine's Homeless Increasing, Advocates Say
It’s a warm day in Portland’s Tommy Park, and homeless people pass through in no particular hurry. But advocates say in the summer, the homeless also fan out to less safe parts of town, exposing them to greater risk of attacks, which they say appear to be increasing this year. Dee Clark, who is formerly
Summer solstice marked as the longest day of the year to be homeless
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Advocates for Maine’s homeless held a noontime rally in Portland to increase awareness and gain support. Members of Homeless Voices For Justice, many of whom have experienced homelessness first-hand, called on Mainers to work to provide more affordable housing and eliminate poverty. “Homelessness is alive and well in urban cities, rural
Dignitaries celebrate new home for women in Portland
PORTLAND – Hundreds of people gathered June 4 on Valley Street to celebrate the opening of Florence House, the city’s second "Housing First" project. Florence House is home to 25 formerly homeless women and provides a short-term place for up to 40 more women to transition into permanent housing or stay in an emergency shelter.
Housing for homeless women in Portland
Help is on the way for homeless women in Portland. Today marked the official grand opening of Florence House, a new facility for homeless women that is located in Portland’s West End neighborhood. The building has 25 apartment units as well as several emergency shelter beds. Florence House is named for Florence Young, a social worker
Officials celebrate opening of Florence House
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Dozens turned out for the grand opening celebration of long-awaited housing for homeless women in Portland. Florence House, named for a long time social worker at the Preble Street Resource Center, actually opened its doors in April. On Friday, people got a chance to tour the three story building, which
New Housing Project Aims to Open Doors for Portland's Homeless Women
National, state and local elected leaders gathered in Portland today to celebrate the opening of Florence House, a permanent housing facility for homeless women. Its construction was prompted by a sharp rise in homelessness in the city, and officials say it’s a more effective model than emergency overnight shelters. The women at Florence House range
Housing team to the rescue
PORTLAND – For eight months, Ivelisse Castro spent her nights on a cot in a shelter while she saved her paychecks and waited to qualify for rental assistance. Castro might have waited a lot longer without the help of an aggressive new team of caseworkers who are fighting homelessness in Maine’s largest city. "They’re great,"
16 win awards for service to crime victims
PORTLAND – Sixteen individuals have been honored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for outstanding service to crime victims. The annual awards were presented Friday in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, according to a media release issued today by U.S. Attorney for Maine, Paula Silsby. The award recipients were: Sheriff Donna Dennison and Detective
As many as 40 percent of LGBT youth are driven into homelessness
PORTLAND – April 16 was a "Day of Silence," when students nationwide bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in their schools. That same day, over 60 teens walked through the doors of our Teen Center for a meal, to study for a GED, to confide in a caseworker, to find a safe place; 16
