Homelessness in Maine: In search of solutions

Cities, towns and the state are struggling to find answers. Some may already exist.

Meeting the needs of the fastest growing homeless population: seniors

People age 65 and older represent the fastest growing group of homeless. ‘We’ve had people in their late 80s, early 90s who are living in their car.’

Homeless in Maine: A new policing protocol shifts focus to assisting homeless people who need help

Local police agencies are grappling with a new protocol established by the Office of the Maine Attorney General that calls on authorities to not charge homeless people with minor crimes but instead focus on connecting them with service providers who may be able to help.

Photos: A homeless woman’s journey from overdosing to recovery

Over the past year, Sarah Juliano has gone from living at a homeless encampment in Waterville to now recovering at a sober house in Winthrop. All photos by Morning Sentinel staff photographer Michael G. Seamans.

Lewiston police, mental health workers take on homeless problem

Lewiston police have been employing various programs to keep the peace between business owners and the homeless. Their efforts have been paying off, according to most, although many business owners remain wary.

‘Quality of life’ or homeless crackdown in Lewiston?

Homeless say they are feeling the heat as the city presses its Neighborhood First initiative.

Homeless in Maine: Rising number of homeless teens face grim future

Many of them lack a stable, supportive family, and end up creating their own ‘family’ on the street with other homeless youths.

Housing crisis drives rise in youth homelessness

Educators and homeless advocates are growing increasingly alarmed by a surge in the number of homeless youth.

Homeless in Maine: Struggling to survive even with a paying job

Those who interact most closely with the homeless say it’s a misconception that they don’t want to work or try to help themselves.

Michael G. Seamans: Life on Waterville island featured hard living, and comfort to those in need

Over the course of several months, Morning Sentinel photographer Michael G. Seamans captured images of people living at a homeless encampment along the Kennebec River, and came to learn his assumptions about them were wrong.

Photos: Homeless people work jobs, return home to tents pitched by river

Morning Sentinel photographer Michael G. Seamans captured the photographic journey of homeless people living at an encampment in Waterville, some of whom also work jobs, over the past several months. All photos are by Seamans.

Homeless but working: ‘That can be any person’

Unforeseen circumstances, and suddenly a Lewiston couple find themselves without a secure place for themselves and their child.

Homeless in Maine: Record-setting estimates come as winter’s bite threatens the vulnerable

Escalating costs for housing, food and fuel have officials especially concerned as cold weather sets in and as estimates grow for people unable to find stable housing.

How homeless people are counted in Maine

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided data since 2007, based on estimates from service providers who seek to count people in homeless shelter, people in communities without shelter and more considerations.

Homeless veteran in Augusta: ‘You can’t find anything available’

Steven York, 59, is living in Bread of Life Ministries’ Veterans Shelter in Augusta and works five days a week at Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center at Togus.

Photos: Homeless people in central Maine brave the elements

The Sun Journal and Kennebec Journal captured views of homeless people as winter sets in across the region.

About the series

“There was ice forming on the inside of our tent and when it would snow, we’d have to sleep in shifts so we could go out and shovel snow off the tent, so it wouldn’t collapse on us.”

Those words come from a 30-year-old homeless woman in Lewiston, who’s been living in a tent and on the streets for four years. She’s among thousands of homeless people in Maine who need shelter as the harsh winter months get underway. Federal estimates earlier this year recorded the highest number ever of homeless people in the state — 3,455 — even as officials acknowledge the numbers are underreported and escalating costs are increasing the number of vulnerable Mainers.

Starting Sunday, Dec. 4, the Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel and Sun Journal began examining the causes, impacts and solutions to homelessness in Maine with an occasional series over the winter months. In the first installment, we look at how homelessness is visible in our central Maine communities amid the rising number of people without a stable home.  In the second installment, we take a look at the homeless in Waterville & Lewiston areas who are working, but can’t afford a place to live oftentimes.