SENATE APPROVES BILL TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR YOUTH HOMELESS SHELTERS

Posted: March 06, 2014 | Health and Human Services, Senator Craven

Homelessness in Maine up 26% in past year

 AUGUSTA— In a party-line vote, the Maine Senate initially approved a bill sponsored by Democratic Senator Margaret Craven of Lewiston to protect funding for youth homeless shelters.

“The need for finding shelter for homeless youth does not cease to exist just because a shelter has closed,” said Senator Craven. “When a shelter closes, those available shelters in the region face a greater demand on their services, and need the funds that would have gone to the closed shelter.”

Last fall Halcyon House, a homeless youth shelter in Skowhegan, closed and the Department of Health and Human Services refused to say where the money earmarked for the closed shelter would go.

Senator Craven’s bill would require the money for a shelter that closes remain in the region served.

According to a 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, while homelessness declined by 4 percent nationwide in the last year, homelessness in Maine increased by 26 percent.

The bill, LD 1717, “An Act To Support Homeless Shelters,” faces further votes in the House and Senate.

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