Maine: Shortage of shelters for homeless seen as winter closes in

boston.com ^ | 20 Nov 2005

[SheLion]

WATERVILLE, Maine --While state officials worry about the impact of heating oil prices this winter, another problem is developing as the cold weather sets in: a shortage of space in shelters for the homeless.

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter Executive Director Susan Goss said the problem stems in part from a housing market that's extremely short of apartments with three or more bedrooms, which makes it harder for shelters to place people in permanent quarters.

[SheLion]

Maine homeless and shelters suffering in face of fuel shortage and funding, while MASS pulls in 12 million gallons of discounted home-heating oil to local charities and 45,000 low-income families in Massachusetts next month!

Thousands in Mass. to get cheaper oil - Delahunt, Chávez broker deal

WHAT is wrong with this picture?!

[SheLion]

Maine Ping!

[SIDENET]

I just have to ask; What the heck are homeless people doing living in Maine? Don't they know it gets COLD there?

:-)

[SheLion]

I just have to ask; What the heck are homeless people doing living in Maine? Don't they know it gets COLD there?

Maine has a LOT of homeless people. And even up north, they live under the Caribou bridge in the winter. I can't for the life of me, imagine any of it.

But for the grace of God go I!

~whew~

[cynicom]

Those cheap Mainers, wanting to keep their money all to themselves, shame. They should be willing to buy homes for all the less fortunate.

[SheLion]

Those cheap Mainers, wanting to keep their money all to themselves, shame. They should be willing to buy homes for all the less fortunate.

We are shelling out enough now, for all those Somali's in Lewiston that are on our welfare system!

Those cheap Mainers, wanting to keep their money all to themselves, shame. They should be willing to buy homes for all the less fortunate.

We are shelling out enough now, for all those Somali's in Lewiston that are on our welfare system!

[cynicom]

Mainers are difficult to understand. Always known as hardy self reliant people, now they are socialist beggars. I know they have had an influx of socialists but where are the the natives?

[Wonder Warthog]

"Shortage of shelters for homeless seen as winter closes in"

Any closed/about to be closed military bases in Maine???

[NickatNite2003]

Simple soulution: Non-refundable one way bus
tickets to Sam Franksuckso, and a grocery
bag each, full of PB&J sandwiches and bottles of
water...scratch the jelly....

[mewzilla]

...said the problem stems in part from a housing market that's extremely short of apartments with three or more bedrooms...

Gee, ya think?

[SheLion]

Any closed/about to be closed military bases in Maine???

We had the best and closest Air Force Base in the northern tier.............. Loring Air Force Base.

The government shut it down in Sept of 1994.  It has other businesses there now, but it's been a long and uphill struggle.  I really miss that base!

[MrLee]

If I had the answer, I'd run for office. Second thought, no I wouldn't.

[corlorde]

We have a huge homeless Veterans problem in Maine. For some reason, a lot of homeless veterans come to Maine. I was part of the winter jacket program last year (I'm a lifetime member of the PVA), and it was almost impossible to get these guys to come in and get winter coats, they were very proud and didn't want free handouts etc. The sad thing is, most if not all the vets I met were eligible for VA benefits. Most didn't even know that they were entitled to benefits. We are seeing more and more younger homeless veterans. There are a lot by choice, some have severe mental issues, some have just fallen on hard times and do want to get back to work.

~Corey

[An.American.Expatriate]

Bush's Fault!!!

Seriously - we only hear about the plight of the homelesss when the Evil Republicans are in control of the White House. I guess it didn't get cold in Maine during the Clinton era / there were a lot more houses & apartments available (you know, during that great economy he created for us from whole cloth).

[Chickensoup]

Maine is a destination for the homeless, good benefits and poverty is an industry there. Most of the major cities have nothing going on except poverty pimp non profits.

[tonycavanagh]

We also have a problem of homeless veterans in Britain. I was lucky that during my process of becoming a civilian I had family and girl friend support.

Tony

[SheLion]

Seriously - we only hear about the plight of the homelesss when the Evil Republicans are in control of the White House. I guess it didn't get cold in Maine during the Clinton era / there were a lot more houses & apartments available (you know, during that great economy he created for us from whole cloth).

My question is:  with Maine and Tennessee being the two poorest states in the nation, and Maine lawmakers still worried about rising fuel cost and the poor people in Maine not receiving heat this winter, yet Mass is reaping in 12 billion gallons of fuel oil.

Where is the justice in this?  Maine needs it a lot more then Mass.  Know what I mean?

[Grut]

Most of the major cities have nothing going on except poverty pimp non profits.

That's a little strong, the major cities are in fairly good shape. Bangor, for instance, has manufacturing, management and a strong retail sector. It's in the smaller towns away from the centers that the Mayor shows up for the opening of the new hairstyle-and-nails salon downtown and the only other people there are the folks from the senior citizens' center next door.

[metmom]

Exactly. It's not like Maine is know for its balmy climate.

[USS Alaska]

I have a home but go south in the winter, why would anyone, with or without a home go north when the temperature falls? Living on the streets can't be fun, but it seems that sleeping on a park bench is better when it's 70 than when it's 20.