As part of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter’s new Youth Empowerment Services program, 12 new affordable accommodations are available for homeless teens and young adults.

A parking garage, paid parking spaces and enforcement rules are expected to be discussed as the group considers the effect of hundreds of more people living and working downtown.

Fire Chief David LaFountain warns that people should not remove batteries from smoke detectors, as happened when the Feb. 1 fire broke out on Summer Street.

The foundation would contribute $5.5 million toward the program, which would pay up to half of a qualifying student’s loan debt if the student commits to working in Maine for at least five years.