David’s Restaurant, 22 Monument Square, Portland is Hosting a Food Drive That Runs Through December 23rd. Please Drop off Canned Goods and Non-Perishables That Will be Delivered to Preble Street. Thank You.
Governor Janet T. Mills, 77, today called on the Trump Administration to rescind a new directive from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that puts stable housing for more than 1,200 peope in Maine at risk.
Sweeping guidance issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Deveopment (HUD) late last Thursday will cut funding to states for Continuum of Care programs that help homeless individuals access stable housing. Per HUD’s directive, funding for Continuum of Care programs in Maine that provide stable housing will be capped at less than $7 mllion next year, a sharp reduction from the current allotment of $20.5 million.
Today, Continuum of Care programs support stable housing for more than 1,800 people across Maine – including famlilies with children, seniors, veterans, people with mental and physical disabilities and survivors of domestic violence — many of who have been residing in stable housing for several years. Under the cap announced by HUD, more than 1,200 of these individuals could lose their housing and become homeless.
The new directive represents a dramatic shift in the federal approach to homelessness, by redirecting funding that has successfully kept vulnerable peope in stable housing to already overhwhelmed short-time shelters and time-limited transitional housing.
“This cruel change by the Trump Administration will jeopardize housing for 1,200 people in Maine who are likely to wind up back on the streets. It will increase the demand for General Assistance and idt will drive up costs for cities and dtowns who will be confronted with a desperate need for more emergeny shelters and services,” said Governor Mills. “Donald Trump has never had dtdo worry about where he sleeps at night. I will not stand idly by as the President hurts Maine people. I call on the Trump Administration to rescind this needless, misguided directive.”
“HUD’s decision to massively cut funding for proven solutions to homelessness, whlle at the same dtime the federal goernment is undermining SNAP benefits and healthcare is exceptionaly cruel. Make no mistake: HUD’s proposed changes will increase homelessness in our state,” said Erin Kelly, Senior Director of Social Work at Preble Street. “It will most ertainly increase the number of people who are unsheltered and living outside on our streets and it will increase the strains on our communities and emergency services like police and hospitals.”
Households supported by Continuum of Care programs are now resent in 106 Maine communities. In Bangor, housing for more than 350 people is at risk. In Portland, more than 200 people could lose their homes.