PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — While many of us will be enjoying the extra hours of daylight on Saturday, thousands of homeless people around the state will be struggling just to get through the day. That’s the message members of Homeless Voices for Justice are sharing. They gathered in Tommy’s Park in Portland from sunrise … Read more
On Friday, June 20, from sunrise (4:59 a.m.) to sunset (8:26 p.m.), Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice will sit out in Post Office Park to mark the seventh annual Longest Day of Homelessness Summer Solstice Vigil, the organization reported. Homeless Voices for Justice advocates will be joined by other organizations and community members, "sitting … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Advocates for the poor continue to protest the decision to move the state’s Department of Health and Human Services office out of downtown Portland. Senator Justin Alfond joined members of Homeless Voices For Justice outside of the DHHS offices in Portland Wednesday morning. The move would take the DHHS office … Read more
The governor’s recent report cards of Maine schools tell an important story, but not the one he is trying to tell. Rather than highlight what certain schools are doing well while offering constructive criticism to others, the grades show how closely educational outcomes are tied to economic circumstances. According to Maine Department of Education data, a staggeringly high … Read more
AUGUSTA, Maine – The federal government is asking Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to provide details on its efforts to pilot a new electronic benefits transfer card system that would include a recipient’s photo. The state uses EBT cards to dispense a variety of public assistance, including the largely federally funded food stamp or Supplemental Nutrition … Read more
PORTLAND — They call themselves “homeless voices for justice,” and they were out in force Wednesday in front of the DHHS offices in Portland. The group was protesting a plan to move the offices, and the services DHHS provides to South Portland. Homeless advocates say that will create a hardship for people already going through … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
AUGUSTA, Maine – The Senate voted on Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Paul LePage of a bill that would require schools in poor communities to operate a summer nutrition program for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The Senate voted 25-10 to override the veto, which constitutes the required two-thirds majority … Read more
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 … Read more