PORTLAND, Maine — A City Council committee will hear about alternative types of homeless shelters on Tuesday, after a proposal for what area residents decried as a “mega-shelter” in one neighborhood prompted public outcry.
Back in June, the city manager recommended building a 200-bed shelter near the Barron Center, along Brighton Avenue, but it didn’t go over well with some neighbors. A council committee asked staff to go back and look at other options, including the concept of smaller shelters scattered throughout the city.
A memo sent to the committee on Friday outlines the pros and cons.
Staff say one large shelter would cost about $5.2 million. It could provide one main hub and also makes the most sense in terms of staffing and transportation logistics, but is challenging because of population density and site location.
The scattered site model would be more expensive, estimated around $9.4 million. That would consist of a group of smaller shelters in different sites around the city, and could include some specialty facilities aimed at specific populations, such as men, women, veterans, or people with disabilities.
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The memo says the scattered model would be more challenging logistically and difficult to make sure the number of clients is spread out evenly.
Staff have identified a number of potential sites, including the old Mercy Hospital building and even a cruise ship. Any location must meet certain criteria, such as access to the METRO bus.
It’s all up for discussion when the Health and Human Services and Public Safety committee meets Tuesday at 5:30.
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