SOUTH PORTLAND — Authorities in South Portland have torn down a homeless encampment in a wooded area near a shopping center, saying it was a health hazard. Crews on Wednesday piled up cardboard boxes and other items that the homeless had used at the camp behind Mallside Plaza, and then the fire department set the […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Health care access preserved for Portland homeless
PORTLAND (AP) — Officials in Portland expect a smooth transition as a city-run health care clinic for the homeless scales back operations, while another nonprofit clinic picks up the slack. The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1jqc7Qk ) reported that there had been concerns about a coverage gap. But Sheila Hill-Christian, Portland’s deputy city manager, wrote in […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, The Franklin Journal
Help needed to count the region’s homeless
LEWISTON — A one-day initiative aimed at boosting federal funding to fight area homelessness — by seeking out uncounted homeless people in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties — needs more volunteers. “We never have enough volunteers,” said Jerry DeWitt, an organizer of the Jan. 29 count and a Vista worker at Tri-County Mental Health. “I’m […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Statistics on homelessness vary, but still point to urgent need in Maine
BANGOR — Agencies combating homelessness in Maine say the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s homeless counts for Maine are probably inflated, but that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t have a serious problem to tackle. On Nov. 21, HUD released its 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. Some news was good — a […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine’s homeless rate increases 26 percent
The nation as a whole is making strides toward reducing homelessness but the problem is worsening in Maine, according to statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD’s 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress estimates there were 610,042 homeless Americans in January, down from 633,782 in 2012’s estimate — a nearly […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Councilors confident about Pierce Street housing project
LEWISTON — Councilors said they hoped a public housing project proposed for downtown lots where apartment buildings burned on May 3 would make the area better. Volunteers of America Northern New England would bring meals, counseling and financial education to public spaces at their proposed Pierce Place development, Vice President of Business Development Julia Wilcock […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Housing project seeks to reclaim units lost in May fire
LEWISTON — A proposed downtown project would resurrect 30 housing units lost in a May 3 fire that burned four apartment buildings and left dozens homeless. Volunteers of America hopes to build a housing development on lots at 110 and 114 Pierce St. and 145 and 149 Bartlett St. The buildings there were part of […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Homeless shelter preparing to open in Farmington
FARMINGTON — For almost a year, a local man slept in his car before he found shelter at Living Waters Assembly of God Church. With some help re-establishing his life, he and his daughter are ready to leave for their own place. Providing a space for homeless families to stay while they rebuild their lives […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Waterville police officer disciplined
WATERVILLE (AP) — A Waterville police sergeant has been disciplined by the department following a complaint from a homeless man who said the officer mistreated him. Brian Charette said in his complaint to police that Sgt. Brian Gardiner called him a “mental retard,” used profanity, threatened to use force against him, and sprayed saliva in […]