Candidates Get An Earful At Homeless Shelter
By Trevor Maxwell
Pat Steffens overcame her nerves and stood up in front of the gubernatorial candidates.
LaMarche said the best examples of effective homeless shelters were joint efforts between public, private and religious groups. Maine will have to look to that model. |
"How can you live on $603 a month? How do you get housing, have lights and heat?" asked Steffens, a former hairdresser who is disabled and living at Portland's Oxford Street Homeless Shelter.
The short answer from four candidates during a breakfast forum on Friday morning: You can't.
Each of the candidates, meeting at the Preble Street social service agency in Portland, pledged more help for Maine's least fortunate families and individuals.
Close to 100 people attended the question-and-answer session arranged by the Preble Street Consumer Advocacy Project and Homeless Voices for Justice initiative. Most of the crowd uses services provided by Preble Street, such as the soup kitchen and job training.
Attending were Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, Green Independent Pat LaMarche, independent Barbara Merrill and independent Phillip Morris NaPier. Organizer Dee Clarke said Republican candidate Chandler Woodcock declined an invitation, prompting some boos from the crowd.
Chris Jackson, Woodcock's campaign manager, said Woodcock was meeting with voters in Winthrop on Friday morning. Jackson said Woodcock is deeply concerned about the well-being of all Mainers, including the homeless population.
Questions from the audience focused on a range of topics, from health care to affordable housing to substance abuse treatment. Overall, people wanted to know how the candidates would boost aid and services for Maine's homeless and low-income residents.
"My problem is health insurance," said Mark McForbes, who was homeless for many years and now lives in a subsidized Portland apartment. He depends on Preble Street for most of his food, but has a hard time eating because he is missing most of his teeth. McForbes cannot afford $600 for dentures.
"That happens to people who live on the street. There is a 19-year-old in here with no teeth," McForbes said. "Nutrition is important. Right now is a really hard time for a lot of people trying to eat enough food, and the right food."
All the candidates agreed the state can do more to help people who need dentures and emergency dental care....
In 2004, during her campaign for U.S. vice president, LaMarche traveled across the country, staying in 14 different homeless shelters in 14 nights. She said the best examples were joint efforts between public, private and religious groups. Maine will have to look to that model, LaMarche said.
