Faced with years of rising homelessness rates and failed solutions, city officials across the U.S. have been embracing rapid housing options emphasizing 3 factors: small, quick and cheap.
homeless
Waterville to consider earmarking $1.16 million in unused recreation money
The funding is available for other projects now that recreation fields don’t need to be moved to accommodate plans for an ice arena.
Waterville City Council gives initial OK to funding housing, nonprofit initiatives
Councilors debated for hours Tuesday night about how to distribute American Rescue Plan Act funding, and must take second votes on funding for housing initiatives and outside agencies that requested money.
Waterville council hears complaints about homeless people, gives nod to soup kitchen funding
Businesses around the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen complained to city officials that their employees are afraid of some homeless people loitering in the area and confronting and scaring them.
Proposed Augusta homeless shelter spurs debate, heads to Planning Board
Some Augusta business owners fear a proposed new 40-bed homeless shelter would worsen problems they’ve seen with people who are homeless, while advocates say it would help.
Lawmakers may require Maine cities to allow more homeless shelters
Angry that Lewiston imposed a moratorium in 2022 to block a shelter, legislators are pushing a bill to prevent it from happening again.
Reporting Aside: Waterville soup kitchen offers a hot meal, a warm place
The Lighthouse Waterville Area Soup Kitchen on Monday opened an afternoon warming center and has launched a new fundraising campaign, the $100 Club, seeking 1,800 people to donate $100 each to fund the kitchen for a year.
Waterville City Council to consider Park Street church request to raze buildings for more parking
Some city residents are concerned that the First Church of Waterville is looking to demolish buildings at 3 and 5 Park St.
U.S. cities crack down on homeless encampments. Advocates say it’s not the answer
Tent encampments have long been a fixture of West Coast cities, but are now spreading across the states.
Bringing Thanksgiving to Portland’s homeless
Volunteers band together to deliver on the promise of the holiday, showing those less fortunate that they haven’t been forgotten.