Portland officials and Preble Street Resource Center representatives are exploring whether to build a large homeless shelter and soup kitchen to centralize services now spread around the city and to help alleviate chronic overcrowding … Read more.
After a year of field research, the creators of "Off the Cuff," an improv theater group for the homeless, will present their findings at an upcoming college conference. Tommy Waltz, a student at the University of Southern Maine’s School of Social Work, came up with the idea of bringing weekly acting classes to clients of … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
PORTLAND – People who are homeless will soon not have to also be lawyer-less. Volunteer attorneys, in partnership with Preble Street, are launching a free legal clinic for homeless individuals. The Maine Homeless Legal Project, announced at a press conference Jan. 9, is expected to be serving clients by April. Lawyers will meet with the … Read more
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 … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – Local political leaders, advocates for homeless people, attorneys and judges gathered in Portland on Thursday afternoon to launch a free legal clinic to serve the area’s homeless population. "Every day, we see people who would or could get out of the homeless shelters if they could just get clear of these lingering … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
