Re: “Maine Voices: As need for shelters in Portland grows, so does resistance to them,” by Mark R. Swann (May 15):

As a mental health counselor for nearly 35 years, I have worked for organizations such as Shalom House, Counseling Services Inc. and the ACCESS Team. Many of my clients experienced or were at risk of homelessness for multitudinous reasons, such as mental illness, addiction and poverty, and many had been victims of childhood and/or domestic abuse.

Because of shortsighted funding decisions, most notably significant cuts made under the LePage administration, funds for social services – including mental health and addiction treatment, and shelter and supportive housing programs – were significantly reduced. As reported by Mr. Swann, eight small shelters, scattered throughout different neighborhoods, were closed.

Over the past years, many residents, organizations and advocates have called for smaller shelters distributed around the city and state, to provide safe and dignified shelter and services to those in need while fostering a safe and positive environment in the vicinity of shelters.

As one of the signatories of the citizen initiative, I want to be clear that the coalition working on this initiative (Portland residents who have experienced homelessness, social service providers and concerned homeowners and renters) only wants to do what the city has been unwilling to do: prevent warehousing, segregation and redlining by limiting the size of new shelters (except for family and domestic violence shelters) to 50 beds. We are advocates for increased affordable-housing opportunities and for a smaller, scattered shelter system that offers access to appropriate services for promoting wellness.

Sally Bowden-Schaible, LCPC, CCMHC
Portland

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