PORTLAND (WGME) — A rally will be held in Portland ahead of Monday night’s city council meeting as leaders search for solutions regarding the homeless crisis.
Three Maine bills aim to change the way the state handles homeless encampments.
Two of the proposals, which were put forward by Representative Ambureen Rana, a Democrat from Bangor, are pushing to ban the practice of clearing camps.
Another bill from Representative Grayson Lookner, a Democrat from Portland, wants to establish areas of emergency for encampments.
The moves come ahead of the city of Portland’s plan to clear the encampment at the park-and-ride on Marginal Way, which is set for November 1.
On Monday, people will gather at Portland City Hall at 4 p.m. to urge city officials to stop all sweeps until April 30.
The people protesting say they want better solutions, but others think this won’t solve the health and safety concerns.
Portland leaders will discuss the city’s biggest issues at Monday’s city council meeting, including homelessness.
On October 2, Portland city councilors voted against an emergency measure that would have added bunk beds to Portland’s largest homeless shelter as a way to get more people into the shelter.
The proposal would have temporarily added 50 beds to the Homeless Services Center and was brought forward to create some immediate relief for those living in over 250 tents across the city, as cold winter nights get closer.
“You will be faced with then is an emergency situation and so do you want to have a plan in place at that time, a plan in place where people can go. Or do you want to be scrambling at the last minute,” said Eamon Dundon, the advocacy director for the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The council voted down the measure 5-4 and some of the councilors who voted “no” instead pushed the city to fight the ‘root’ of the shelter problem.
But with the emergency measure defeated, it’s not clear what city leadership will do next.
This situation is expected to be revisited during Monday’s meeting.
The Portland City Council starts at 5 p.m.
