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Opponents to Rally Against Plan to Close Portland's Overflow Shelter

There's opposition to a plan by Portland city councilors to close the city's overflow shelter for the homeless. Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street, is a leader of the effort.
 
"We think the city has made a bad decision," Swann said, "and they've made it prematurely without all the facts and they've made it without planning."

The overflow shelter has 75 beds. Swann says those beds have been filled every night. He says without the shelter, more homeless will sleep on streets, in doorways, and at other outdoor locations.

Swann is urging people to turn out at the City Council's Public Safety, Health and Human Service Committee meeting Tuesday evening. Advocates want the panel to recommend that the full council reject the budget decision to close the overflow shelter.

Monday, the organization "Homeless Voice for Justice" announced that it plans to hold a demonstration prior to the committee meeting on the steps of Portland City Hall, where it intends to make up 75 beds to symbolize those who would be displaced.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.