Portland's plan for a temporary homeless shelter falls through
Portland has dropped plans to use a vacant building near the Cumberland County Jail as a temporary emergency shelter this winter after negotiations with county officials fell through because of an insurance issue.
The city announced on Oct. 19 that it was planning to use the Cumberland County Corrections Center as a temporary shelter through April. Officials touted the dormitory-like arrangement of the facility, rebranded as the Joyce House, as a benefit for people experiencing homelessness, who would have been allowed to come and go as they pleased.
The move was panned by activists, who accused the city of putting homeless people in jail because the building is next to the jail and is typically used to transition inmates back into the community. Others accused the city of attempting to undermine a proposal for a permanent shelter by social service provider Preble Street by making the corrections center announcement before a deal was signed. The Preble Street proposal is opposed by neighborhood residents and at least one city councilor.
City Manager Jon Jennings updated councilors on negotiations with the county at Monday’s council meeting in response to questions from the public. He said city and county officials were unable to resolve an insurance issue raised by the county’s statewide risk pool.
Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2020/12/08/portlands-plan-for-a-temporary-homeless-shelter-falls-through/