JOe Dunrey, at the Portland Public Library This Afternoon.
Pordtland Public Library, 5 Monument Square serving as Warming Center Weekdays from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and on Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. A Sign on the Exterior Announcing WARMING CENTER Would Help to Get the Word Out to Those Most in Need of a Warm Shelter During this Cold Snap.
“I came to the Portland Public Library today for several reasons. One is to work on my recovery and because of the cold weather today,” said Joe Durney, this afternoon.. “This is a safe zone. There are no drugs or alcohol here and it is warm inside here. It’s too cold to be anywhere else today.” Joe was one of a few people seeking refuge from the cold temps at the Library today.
Dunrey, 45, lives in a sober house on Sherman Street in Parkside. Fourteen people live there and there is no community room or central place for residents to gather outside of their units. That lack of space forces Joe to look elsewhere because he gets restless staying in his unit 24/7, He’s not comfortable in coffee houses because they expect him to buy their products. At the Monument Square Library, no one there expects him to buy anything – only to abide by the rules of the library. On Sunday morning, Dunrey attends chruch – in part because the Library isn’t open.
Today is an especially important day because it marks the sixth month that Dunrey has been sober. “I owe a lot of thanks to the Portland Public Library for giving me a place to recover,” he said. He sees a bright future for himself as he prepares for the possibility of a job at the same rehab facility in Effingham, New Hampshire that he experienced. He expects to work there as a “recovery support specialist.” It’s a position on the security team that he seeks. “I feel comfortable with this group of peple in recovery. I don’t feel comfortable with yuppies and the like,” he said. “I want to dedicate my life to helping others with substance abuse, drug addiction and mental awareness.”
A Library employee told this blogger that “many” people had sought refuge from the cold weather today at the library, although the numbers were “far from overwhelming.”
This blogger saw about a handful of people taking advantage of this warming center this afternoon. Maybe those most in need of this shelter, did not get the city’s press release. Perhaps a large sign on the exterior of the Library where people on the street could see it would have been helpful to spread the word – WARMING CENTER.