Florence House to open doors for homeless women
Females staying at Preble Street prepare for a life-changing move
By John Richardson jrichardson@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND — For the past three years, the closest thing to home for Shellie Duncan has been a folding cot in a corner of the community room at Preble Street, a social service agency in downtown Portland.
Florence House on Valley Street in Portland, a $7.9 million haven for homeless women that has been five years in the making, will open to its first residents Tuesday. Forty women will move into the home this week.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Debora Keller, left, director of development for Avesta Housing, and Amanda Wells, coordinator for Florence House, give a tour of the new home for homeless women on Valley Street last week. This is one of the independent living rooms at the facility.
Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer
Additional Photos Below
And that was a step up from her previous "home," a floor mat at the city's Oxford Street shelter.
Now, she's about to get a new home – a real one.
"It's beautiful," Duncan, 29, said after a visit to the fully furnished apartment she will move into this week. "I didn't want to leave."
Florence House, a $7.9 million haven for homeless women that has been five years in the making, will open to its first residents Tuesday.
the end of this week, 40 women will move into the home's apartments or its semi-private bedrooms, called safe-haven spaces. Others will come to stay in the home's emergency shelter, a separate room with real beds and real mattresses.
It will be a life-changing move across town, to Valley Street, and even the short visit last week was emotional for many women.
"When I found out I would have my own place, I cried. It's crazy," said Brenda Biggs, who will stay in a safe-haven space while she's on a waiting list for public housing. "I've been pushing around a cart. I feel like a bag lady. I feel like I hit rock bottom."
Now, Biggs said, "you can feel good about yourself."
Florence House was created by Preble Street, the nonprofit agency that now hosts the women's shelter, and Avesta Housing, a Portland-based nonprofit housing developer.
Named after a longtime Preble Street volunteer, Florence House was built with a combination of state and federal financing and private donations. It will be run by Preble Street and a 24-hour staff.
And it could hardly be more different from the current shelter. There, women line up each evening until the doors open and they can claim their cots. They have to move out each morning so the cots can be put away again.
There were more than 300 women who stayed in the Preble Street shelter during the past year, with an average occupancy of 49 each night.
Preble Street is an appreciated refuge, and the women say it's much better than what they had when they shared the Oxford Street shelter with men. But it's not comfortable or peaceful, Duncan said. "I can't get any sleep here," she said.
Florence House will give the most vulnerable members of the city's homeless community a sense of security that they can't afford to have on the street, said Amanda Wells, director of the Preble Street shelter and the new coordinator of Florence House.
"I don't think the women ever could feel truly safe" at Preble Street, Wells said. "There's this hyper-vigilance that women have over there."
The new space is bright, spacious and homey, with colorful walls, comfortable furniture and an outdoor patio. The basement even has a hair salon for visiting hairdressers to make house calls.
The first floor has a kitchen and a dining room where women will be able to eat three meals day. It also holds the emergency shelter and the safe-haven spaces, which can be permanent housing for women who aren't ready for apartments.
"One woman stood right here and said, 'This is too good for me,'" said Debora Keller, Avesta's director of development, as she stood in one of the rooms. "Suddenly, they have homes where they can be 24 hours a day."
The top two floors have 25 efficiency apartments, each furnished with everything from pots and pans to donated L.L. Bean furniture.
All of the women who will move into apartments have been homeless for long periods for a variety of reasons, including disabilities and illness, isolation from their families or incomes that simply can't support homes of their own.
Duncan and other apartment tenants signed leases and will pay as much as 30 percent of whatever income they have. The rest of the rent will be covered by government housing vouchers.
Women who stay in the shelter or safe-haven beds will be given free room and board, as they are now at Preble Street.
Florence House is an example of the "home-first" approach to chronic homelessness. Once people have a home, advocates say, they're far more likely to get medical treatment, counseling or employment, and overcome whatever problems put them on the street.
Officials at Preble Street and Avesta based the new home on Logan Place, an apartment complex on Frederic Street that houses mostly men who were chronically homeless.
"When that opened (in 2005), we saw the effect it had," said Dana Totman, president of Avesta. "The people were improving their lives."
According to Totman and Mark Swann, director of Preble Street, the long-term vision behind Florence House is to reverse a steady rise in the number of homeless women in Portland. The number of women needing emergency shelter in Portland has nearly doubled in the past five years, according to city records.
While there will always be a need for emergency shelter, Totman said, "maybe we could eventually have homelessness almost go away."
Sitting on a folding cot in the Preble Street shelter last week, Shellie Duncan and several friends looked forward to this week's big move.
They like the special features at Florence House, including solar panels to heat the water and geothermal wells to heat the building. But the women were mostly excited about more important details, like having a place to leave their belongings and a bed they don't have to get out of at 6:45 every morning.
For Kaylah Stowell, who will move into an apartment, it's a bathroom without a waiting line and people continuously knocking on the door.
"I'm looking forward to no wake-up call" said Brenda Biggs.
"I'm looking forward to a half-hour shower," said Dawn Wade. "I can't wait to cook."
Wade already has a job, in a store across St. John Street from her new apartment at Florence House. She's sure that having a real home will change a lot of lives.
"It's an opportunity for all of us to grow," Wade said.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:
jrichardson@pressherald.com
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Additional Photos
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Women who have been staying at the Preble Street shelter are looking forward to this week’s move to Florence House. They say they are most excited about having a bed and a place to leave their belongings. From left are Shellie Duncan, Brenda Biggs and Kaylah Stowell. John Ewing/Staff Photographer |
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Frances Mercado, left, and Tracy Kane unpack supplies for Florence House on Valley Street, the new home for homeless women. John Ewing/Staff Photographer |
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Terry Valente, a supervisor at Florence House, talks with Patrolman Chris Sibley during a tour by the Portland Police Department last week. They are in the emergency shelter part of the facility. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer |
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The basement at Florence House has a hair salon for visiting hairdressers to make house calls. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer |
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Dawn Wade has a new apartment at Florence House and a job in a store nearby. She says having a real home will change a lot of lives. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to grow,” she said. John Ewing/Staff Photographer |
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76 COMMENTS
heyjoe said...
No wake up call? Half hour showers? L.L. Bean furniture? Living large in Portland for next to nothing! Where do I sign up!!!
April 5, 2010 at 4:27 AM Report abuse
Rocky4 said...
What a great place for the dirtbags to troll for a date & a drug deal. Cuts down on the travel time when you have your consumer base all in one location. Half of them will be knocked up by this time next year. In 5 years or less the place will look like a dump.
April 5, 2010 at 4:58 AM Report abuse
Mad_As_Hell said...
This is such a great story! I'm sure these poor wretches will all be able to turn their lives around now! Why didn't we think of building them $8 million dollar luxury condos before this? What is wrong with us that we didn't realize that all these people needed was a home that's better than what the working taxpayers live in to solve their problems? Now if we could just find the money to build some housing like this for illegal immigrants...
April 5, 2010 at 6:22 AM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
The emergency shelter has friggin queen size beds!!! Unreal!!!
April 5, 2010 at 6:38 AM Report abuse
Felix said...
DO YOU GET IT, WHY UNEMPLOYABLE FOLKS GET BETTER ALL EXPENSE PAID DIGS THAN THE POOR MOKES WHO WORK FOR A LIVING AND PAY TAXES? THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF PORTLAND WILL END UP PAYING FOR ALL THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR, FROM OPERATION TO POLICE COVERAGE, AND IT JUST PULLS IN MORE PROBLEMS TO THIS WACKO CITY!!!!! IN OTHER WORDS......IT PAYS NOT TO WORK IN PORTLAND!
April 5, 2010 at 6:42 AM Report abuse
Blazen said...
Maybe there should be a time limit for them to get on their feet, so the state and federal government doesn't have to support them. They could very easily be to comfortable and never want to leave.
April 5, 2010 at 6:52 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
FLEIX YOU SOUND JUST LIKE DENNIS BAILY !!!
April 5, 2010 at 6:55 AM Report abuse
homeboy said...
What we really need are more boarding houses! These provide a roof over their heads, yet an incentive to improve their situtation so that they move on to something better. All of these folks who are homeless is very sad indeed.
April 5, 2010 at 7:02 AM Report abuse
homeboy said...
Compared with what the Oceangate facility cost us, plus what the lawsuits are costing us from "Buffet Jeffs" Monroe screwups at the former Scotia Prince terminal, this homeless shelter is a bargain!
April 5, 2010 at 7:30 AM Report abuse
XPortlander said...
29 Years Old and waited 3 years for free housing? It is truly incredible what goes on in this city , state and country. Another perfect example of the public not paying attention to what is going on, instead we are just paying. What is the incentive for anyone to achieve anything, when it is handed to you. Looks like we will be needing another police sub station and the new idiot chief will need a helicopter to protrol the area. Insanity,insanity,insanity
April 5, 2010 at 7:44 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
Reading the comments here is often a prescription for increasing one's blood pressure. Dumb, uninformed, comments. I read the article 3 different times to make sure I didn't miss anything that would possibly make anyone think these women were simply leeches panhandling off of society. I saw nothing to remotely make me think that. Sure, there are people that make poor choices in life. There are also people with mental health issues, disabilities, and rotten luck. Far better to take the chance that at least some of these people can be rehabbed and perhaps turn their lives around. A woman on the streets is a prescription for disaster. They are vulnerable to crime and are sometimes going to resort to crime to survive. Stupidity isn't a crime unfortunately. Nor is ignorance. But if it were I'd love to see some who comment here sentenced to living under the conditions some of these folks have had to. They'd change their tune fast.
April 5, 2010 at 8:06 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
And some of these women are likely victims of domestic abuse, another key reason for homelessness among women. To me there is one and only one way to take care of a wife beater. But I don't want to be censored for explaining it.
April 5, 2010 at 8:14 AM Report abuse
LizieD said...
Glad to see Biddy posting here. I agree--the shelter is serving a necessary purpose. People can't turn their lives around when they're at rock bottom. If I had to sleep on a mat on the floor, or on a cot in a room so noisy I couldn't sleep, night after night, I'd be emotionally and physically exhausted after two nights--and so would the negative commenters here. If you add a chronic illness of any sort, the effects of years of desperation, and the near-impossibility of finding a job in this economy--well, it's almost too devastating to imagine.
April 5, 2010 at 8:34 AM Report abuse
Marcella76 said...
While such a facility is needed (gee, the men have had one since 2005), it would be reasonable to stipulate job training/education or work in kind in return for the free R&B. And, as another commenter noted, there should be time limits -- this should be a handup not a(nother) handout. As to half-hour showers, better install some timed shutoffs PDQ. In my house, 3-5 minute showers are all I allow!
April 5, 2010 at 8:55 AM Report abuse
Oak said...
Being homeless puts one in a situation where they must decide real quick if they're going to rely upon themselves or rely upon others. If they choose to be dependent upon others then they will stay that way. It's OK though since there are plenty of people who are more than willing to take care of them, especially since they're doing it with someone else's money.
April 5, 2010 at 9:09 AM Report abuse
SL said...
Absolutely disgusting. I didn't realise that running away from home and responsibilities should ever be rewarded with palacial studio apartments. My kid pays $1,000 / month rent and attends college fulltime... Where is the fairness and balance in life? Works his butt off 25-40/week. I will certainly frward this article to him so he knows what his degree will get him, a lifetime of responsibility for those who CHOOSE to live drug and alcohol fueled lives and CHOOSE to pop out kids. Every one of these ladies should be required to work fulltime. This really disgusts me and I am a fairly reasonable and kind person.
April 5, 2010 at 9:13 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
I agree there should be reasonable rules and regs. that should be followed by the tenants. The issue really is if many of these women are really employable or not. As a business owner and employer in the past I would question if any employer is going to hire someone who's mental health condition makes them unreliable? And let's face it this economy limits opportunities for people on the fringe. Employers have far more choices and these women likely aren't going to be one of them. Perhaps the public sector could work out an arrangement where some of these women could fill jobs that are being eliminated. They could work in exchange for benefits and get job experience in the process. In my experience in the political world those opportunities are usually limited by lack of supervision and Union complaints.
April 5, 2010 at 9:29 AM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
LizieD.... What you have just described has been done by millions of people since our country was founded.... It's called the military!!!
April 5, 2010 at 9:33 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
heyjoe. No that's where you and I differ. I think we should have a thing called a DRAFT and EVERYONE should have to serve in the military unless they are disabled. Perhaps then when the well to do have to serve next to the poor there would be more restraint about starting unecessary wars.
April 5, 2010 at 9:42 AM Report abuse
Citygirl said...
I have a few questions. To live in this houseing do they need to agree to drug testing? Are overnight visitors allowed? Is there a time limit on the amount of time a woman can "get back on her feet" or a process to measure if the "stay" is really temporary? Are the units inspected? (and I don't mean even randomly - I mean regular scheduled inspections.) There IS shelter for homeless women in Portland but there are rules in those housing units and there are NO beauty salons, no overnight guests, no drugs, required education and job training, regular inspections, and rules. If there is no transition plan at this facility is not "temporary". It is perpetuating and condoning a lifestyle.
April 5, 2010 at 9:45 AM Report abuse
SnVzdFN0b3BJdA%3D%3D said...
I think some people are either confused or didn't read the article (or maybe both). Those rooms are not for everyone - those are apartments that require people to pay rent and whatever isn't covered by the rent is subsidized by state or federal money. The picture you see with multiple cots in the room would appear to be where people would get to stay for free.
April 5, 2010 at 9:53 AM Report abuse
c3ZldFp1a2Fz said...
I believe the article states that the new housing is for people on a waiting list for public housing. This does not sound like a permanent situation. Just because they are new doesn't make them "luxury" condos. But I'm sure they will seem luxurious to the folks who are used to sleeping on cots or on pavement.
April 5, 2010 at 9:53 AM Report abuse
my-way said...
looks nice. actaully, it looks very nice. in fact nicer than my house, the one I pay for, you know, the one that is getting a sizable tax increase.
April 5, 2010 at 9:55 AM Report abuse
SnVzdFN0b3BJdA%3D%3D said...
my-way said..."looks nice. actaully, it looks very nice. in fact nicer than my house, the one I pay for, you know, the one that is getting a sizable tax increase." Then why don't you give me your dumpy house for free and move in to the Florence House?
April 5, 2010 at 10:00 AM Report abuse
henryelm said...
SL nice way of discouraging YOUR child from contributing and encouarging dependence on THEIR/YOUR part. How IS you child affording a $1000 rent while going to school??? Just wondering. Are YOU paying for it?? student loans? I don't think working 20 hours a week is gonna raise him/her the needed rent money. MY point is almost EVERYONE gets help from someone, sometimes. Maybe even you??
April 5, 2010 at 11:24 AM Report abuse
UG9ydGxhbmRSZXM%3D said...
If sharing a bedroom/bathroom and common kitchen space sounds better than your current house, and if donated furniture looks “palatial”, perhaps you should better your own situations, or apply to live in one of the apartments, and pay 30% of your income to Florence House, like the article states. I agree with others who have said there should be some hard enforced rules, time-limits and definitely mandated educational/workforce training, GED classes, – whatever is appropriate to the individual.
April 5, 2010 at 11:44 AM Report abuse
Cadred said...
These are hardly palatial but pretty sparse, and as we say in my biz, neat, clean, tidy. Men have had a similar opportunity for five years. There are many reasons for homelessness in women including mental health issues, domestic abuse and chemical dependency among others. We mainstreamed the mentally ill and domestic abuse is still with us. I suspect none of you is addicted to tobacco or alcohol, much less other drugs. Having been temporarily homeless with four children myself (fled an abusive alcoholic husband) I can empathize with these women. Joe, SL, Felix, Rocky et al, would you prefer these "disgusting people" sleep under a bridge, go hungry and dirty or just die so your tax money won't be wasted?
April 5, 2010 at 11:54 AM Report abuse
badjuju said...
Those are not cots, they are QUEEN SIZE BEDS! Put all homeless to work sweeping streets or something...anything.
April 5, 2010 at 11:56 AM Report abuse
Cadred said...
Actually they look like double beds in the apartments. God forbid we should waste all that space - maybe they should sleep three to a bed?
April 5, 2010 at 12:46 PM Report abuse
MaddieM said...
The lack of compassion for those less fortunate is so sad. These women are HOMELESS, people. Very few of us sitting in front of our computers in the luxury of our own homes or at a decent paying job can understand the desperation and challenges these women live with on a daily basis. Maybe time spent volunteering with the homeless would open some eyes - and hearts - to their plight.
April 5, 2010 at 12:48 PM Report abuse
Scommentname said...
I walked by Florence House on the way to Obama's tea party. Figures, the only economic development in the area is another entitlement community. Maine imports and farms the poor for Federal largess. There is no rehabilitative component included because residents once "set for life" will never leave. And if compelled to leave would just merely threaten to resume their alcoholic craigslist ho ways and the liberals would wilt with compassion.
April 5, 2010 at 12:56 PM Report abuse
notspot said...
"And if compelled to leave would just merely threaten to resume their alcoholic craigslist ho ways..." You mean like your mom?
April 5, 2010 at 1:01 PM Report abuse
Cadred said...
Good one, notspot ;-)
April 5, 2010 at 1:04 PM Report abuse
Notamainah said...
"Absolutely disgusting. I didn't realise that running away from home and responsibilities should ever be rewarded with palacial studio apartments. My kid pays $1,000 / month rent and attends college fulltime... " And your kid benefits from generous federal and state subsidies that help colleges and universities. Imagine if your child had a mental illness, and was homeless. You know, try thinking about someone besides yourself for just a few seconds.
April 5, 2010 at 1:11 PM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
HAIR SALON?????? Send them to Yerxa's!!!!
April 5, 2010 at 1:14 PM Report abuse
Cadred said...
Scommentname, Are we to assume you were the protester across the street with the "traiter" sign?
April 5, 2010 at 1:15 PM Report abuse
Oak said...
What do spot and Cadred have in common with school at five in the morning? No class.
April 5, 2010 at 1:22 PM Report abuse
Cadred said...
Scintillating wit there, Oak.
April 5, 2010 at 1:26 PM Report abuse
Oak said...
I wasn't meant as a joke.
April 5, 2010 at 1:36 PM Report abuse
Scommentname said...
Yes that's right Cadred. I take it you read all the signs since your "free" ticket didn't get you into the Expo? Isn't that a metaphor for what your free healthcare will do for you? lol
April 5, 2010 at 1:45 PM Report abuse
notspot said...
"I wasn't meant as a joke." Oh, but you are.
April 5, 2010 at 1:52 PM Report abuse
Cadred said...
I did not go, nor stand in line for a ticket. My daughter and son-in-law were there, as well as some co-workers. I did watch the speech twice, once on Channel 6 live and again on C-Span later that evening and saw the motley crew of protesters given a great deal of coverage.
April 5, 2010 at 1:59 PM Report abuse
Biddy said...
Oak likes to throw mud at anyone who appears to have compassion for those less fortunate than themselves. And of course his attempts to generalize mean all those in that category are Liberals. When one attempts to pin the tail on his donkey of an argument he screams discrimination and hypocrisy. Can anyone say "second grade"? I know you could Oak.
April 5, 2010 at 2:06 PM Report abuse
Biddy said...
One didn't need to see this group of protestors to read their signs. One need only watch the FOX news network for an evening and memorize the verbage. The Teapartiers regurgitate it at all of their 'protests".
April 5, 2010 at 2:10 PM Report abuse
Oak said...
Oak likes to throw mud at anyone who appears to have compassion for those less fortunate than themselves. I have no issue with those who show compassion through voluntarily contributing their own time and their own money to the cause of their own choosing. My issue is with those who claim to have compassion, but only when they can make someone else pay for it.
April 5, 2010 at 2:23 PM Report abuse
Oak said...
Biddy likes to throw mud at anyone who does not want to be forced to pay for something that they neither want nor need. And of course his attempts to generalize mean all those in that category are Conservatives. When one attempts to pin the tail on his donkey of an argument he screams fear and hatred. Can anyone say "second grade"? I know you could Biddy.
April 5, 2010 at 2:29 PM Report abuse
Oak said...
One didn't need to see this group of supporters to read their signs. One need only watch the MSNBC news network for an evening and memorize the verbage. The Obamaphiles regurgitate it at all of their 'events".
April 5, 2010 at 2:31 PM Report abuse
Mahogany said...
Not sure why people continue to engage with Oak. He's a washed up one trick pony with a broken leg.
April 5, 2010 at 2:36 PM Report abuse
pphreader said...
Happy Easter. Remember...Whatever you do for the least of my brothers,that you do unto me.Liberal or conservative.some of the posts are mean spirited.Be glad that ir isn't you or yours.instead of being hateful,try volunteering to help those in need( for a change)
April 5, 2010 at 2:43 PM Report abuse
Biddy said...
Whatever. The fact is that government funded social services have played a role in alleviating some of the abject poverty some of us remember seeing in "The good old days". Are they perfect? Of course not. But things would be worse for a lot of people if they didn't exist. And there would be far more crime and problems without them. And we went through the voluntary "charity" thing in our past history. It doesn't work. I'd like to see government housing programs become more successful with better oversight and reasonable enforcement of rules. But Oak one of the biggest problems in public housing is drug abuse. And you've advocated here before for legalization of drugs. Strict Libertarianism doesn't work and isn't well founded any more than the strict interpretation of any ideology is.
April 5, 2010 at 3:12 PM Report abuse
JazzBox said...
I think it's funny when people talk about being forced to pay for things they don't need or want. The vast majority of those with this ideology don't even really understand why they need these things, and why they should want them. Why should I have to pay for somebody else's kids to be educated? Why do I have to support people who are down on their luck, desperate for the basics of survival? Why do I have to be concerned about the general well being of the population? Keep on asking those questions in the PPH forum, and you'll never get to the real answers. Don't seek knowledge from politicians and pundits, take a look at studies of Sociology and Archeology. Read about the history of the human culture. True, you might have to think, but you just might find that you like it.
April 5, 2010 at 4:06 PM Report abuse
JazzBox said...
I think it's funny when people talk about being forced to pay for things they don't need or want. The vast majority of those with this ideology don't even really understand why they need these things, and why they should want them. Why should I have to pay for somebody else's kids to be educated? Why do I have to support people who are down on their luck, desperate for the basics of survival? Why do I have to be concerned about the general well being of the population? Keep on asking those questions in the PPH forum, and you'll never get to the real answers. Don't seek knowledge from politicians and pundits, take a look at studies of Sociology and Archeology. Read about the history of the human culture. True, you might have to think, but you just might find that you like it.
April 5, 2010 at 4:08 PM Report abuse
SL said...
HENRYELM...I pay a portion of his rent, some months I pay all of it. We felt is was more important to teach him responsibility by living on his own than living under our roof. Remember he has utilities, grocery, gas and other odds and ends to pay for besides his rent. It is no different than living in a dorm. Yea as a male, with married parents that are employed he gets no finacial aid except loans! His classmates all get Pell and other handouts, he pays full freight regardless where he attends, as will my other son. Getting help from your parents is different from getting freebies from taxpayers.
April 5, 2010 at 4:15 PM Report abuse
SL said...
Biddy...the good ole days when people on welfare were working to get off welfare because they were ashamed of getting a handout. It is a lifestyle today, made acceptable by the 'bonus' programs that have been created by organizations chasing local, state and federal tax dollars.
April 5, 2010 at 4:19 PM Report abuse
Adam180 said...
The only thing that would make it better for the residents would be if Stone Coast Brewing would throw in some donated beer taps for post breakfast happy hour at 9am.
April 5, 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse
SL said...
Notamainah..please. He attends a college with 6,000 students. He pays 100% of the tuition and expenses as he gets no finacial aid, we make to much money. I bet what he will consume in benefits from attending college is equal to a months worth of what these folks will get in a month. AND he will have college loans to pay off and then he gets to start paying taxes so he can support this crowd!
April 5, 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse
yoda said...
SL, I will consider myself very lucky if my two little girls grow up with the same values you have put into your son. Hmmm...parents supporting their child into adulthood... YES, PLEASE!!
April 5, 2010 at 4:46 PM Report abuse
null said...
For those who care to stop throwing insults at each other, try reading a detailed article (Down East, Nov. 2009) about the similar Logan Place, and how statistics show that it has actually saved the community time and money. "After one year’s tenancy, nights in jail plummeted, from 176 to 21; police contacts, 97 to 19; ambulance calls, 78 to 26; emergency-room visits, 188 to 39. The community saved $972 per tenant, a modest amount compared to some places, but a savings nonetheless." http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2009/november/clean-well-lighted-place
April 5, 2010 at 4:53 PM Report abuse
henryelm said...
SL is your son paying for tuition etc or are you or someone else paying for it??? My point is few people get thru life "on their own" as claimed, without some help from someone. He's fortunate you are in a position to help him. Programs to help PUT people(on welfare) get back to work or the training to learn to work were the first to go. Yes it was penny wise and pound foolish. BUT some people just didn't want anyone getting a head on "their " dime. THAT is the attitude that fosters and perpetuates depnendece. " teach a person to fish vs giving them a fish " and all. How much do you think you gave to bail out BOA or the CEO's bonus?? A lot more then for florence house believe me. Doesn't that upset you??
April 5, 2010 at 5:52 PM Report abuse
SL said...
Henryelm and Yoda... He is paying 100% of his tuition and board plus his own personal expenses. While in college we are paying his rent...just like a dorm.. YODA, just for that comment, you don't seem smart enough to raise the same quality kids I have...they will probably be hoodrats.
April 5, 2010 at 6:15 PM Report abuse
yoda said...
SL, what are you talking about? I pretty much gave you a compliment in regards to you having a great family structure and that I hope to do the same with my own... Did I miss something??
April 5, 2010 at 6:43 PM Report abuse
yoda said...
I'll assume that, since you got so much negative garbage from others, you were already in a bad frame of mind when you read my post.
April 5, 2010 at 6:49 PM Report abuse
dennis60 said...
get a job find an apartment and i won't have to buy your allens any more
April 5, 2010 at 8:27 PM Report abuse
dennis60 said...
get a job find an apartment and i won't have to buy your allens any more
April 5, 2010 at 8:53 PM Report abuse
trisailer said...
I have to remind myself that the majority of Portlanders must be compassionate for this facility to have been built. The irony is that most of these people are the product of this discompassionate culture that does not tolerate stragglers. Guess what, next year there will be more and the year after that... I know some of these people and although they may have lost all their material possessions, their humanity and compassion is intact. Some of you should be so lucky.
April 5, 2010 at 10:34 PM Report abuse
SL said...
Yoda..100% my misread! With your kids, give them everything they need to succeed, show them what hard work can get them. Show them where quitting gets them. Support them, even if people disagree! Work to keep them away from people that don't have your values. Allow them to see the bad or pitfalls of life but always keep them close, as there are people that will try to come between you and them, always! Agin, my misread 100%.
April 5, 2010 at 11:22 PM Report abuse
Pamela057 said...
I think this is great..I remember one time I could have used some help but I was lucky I had family some people don't. You get in a hole and its hard to dig yourself out..especially if your not feeling to good about yourself. They always had 1 room apartments w/shared bathrooms for men in town but never did they have this kind of thing for women...this should help our women indeed...they are not all like most people think they are...they are women just like your sister and mothers who had a bad break in life...shame on you people for putting these people down
April 6, 2010 at 5:03 AM Report abuse
yoda said...
No worries. Being a total stranger on a comment board, I could have done a better job articulating my thoughts. Have a great day!
April 6, 2010 at 5:42 AM Report abuse
middleone said...
If anyone wondered if the Christian spirit upon which many of the founding fathers built this country is gone - just read the comments. Jesus said to house the homeless and feed the hungry. I guess most of the people here haven't read the Bible. May peace be with you all.
April 6, 2010 at 7:19 AM Report abuse
SL said...
Middleone...you're mixing politics and tax dollars with religion and charity. I think plenty of people have read the bible they just might be tired from working and paying for many who CHOOSE not to! Maine is one of the worst states to be employed as we carry so many whom don't or won't.
April 6, 2010 at 7:39 AM Report abuse
Cadred said...
SL, It would be pleasant if you weren't so judgmental.
April 6, 2010 at 10:22 AM Report abuse
BSmart said...
Meanwhile, all over town, more and more and more and more of these "projects" are being built. The residents of these projects are not, as the bleeding hearts like to call them, the "workers". They contribute little or nothing in the way of taxes yet they drain all the resources of the city and state. The simple fact is that we CANNOT afford to house the entire planet here in Portland. If you build more free housing, more people will line up for it. It never ends, it just costs more and more and more and more taxable property is removed from the tax rolls so we ALL pay even more. ENOUGH. STOP BUILDING THESE PLACES.
April 7, 2010 at 9:01 AM Report abuse
MainenCrisis said...
Are they going to paint it or is it ment to look like a 100 year old tenament housing? The brick entry looks like some sort of after thought....
April 9, 2010 at 11:29 AM Report abuse
Mainer198 said...
Commenters: Please know, these women work hard. Make no mistake. My mother is one of the women living in this facility, and growing up worked 80-90 hours a week. I am now a college student at an Ivy League school (I go to Columbia University), I always have 3 jobs while taking 21 credits so I can graduate early, send money home for my mom while she works just as hard, but it still isn't enough to make ends meet. I think instead of working people getting angry at each other, we should realize we have shared interests. If you're angry that you're working so hard, 1) don't assume these women aren't, in fact they are and are incredibly resilient people with great wrk ethics and 2) don't get mad at people with even less power than you, look instead to change the poor government that keep you from being able to make ends meet, like all the bank collapses and failures and the fact that they still haven't paid back taxpayers (which, my mom IS, btw) like they said they would.
April 15, 2010 at 12:54 AM Report abuse
Mainer198 said...
One more thing, my mom who thank God gets to live in this place (I really do thank God and the people who raised the private funding to build thisplace) is only a few credits away from having a bachelor's degree, so for all the people saying they need to have GED programs required for everyone, you need to educate yourself a little more about what these women have actually accomplished, went through, and survived, and nonetheless ended up on the streets. God bless these beautiful women! I am happy for all of you and my mom and want you to know that you deserve it.
April 15, 2010 at 1:03 AM Report abuse
Mainer198 said...
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4379090 Here is a video from ABC on how people without homes are so vulnerable to violence and how drastically they are dehumanized, and how much psychological and physical damage it causes.
April 15, 2010 at 2:07 AM Report abuse