SENATE ENACTS BILL TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR HOMELESS YOUTH SHELTERS

Homelessness in Maine up 26% in the past year

AUGUSTA— Today the Maine Senate enacted a measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Margaret Craven of Lewiston to keep funding for youth homeless shelters in the region served in the event of a shelter closure.

“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 measure 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.

According the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nearly 30 percent of Maine people who are homeless are under age 18.

The measure, LD 1717, “Resolve, to Support Homeless Youth Shelters,” will now be sent to the Governor for his signature.

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