The city is reporting record numbers of homeless people. During a typical night last month, more than 400 people each night tried to get overnight shelter in Portland. That's the highest number since the city began keeping records in 1987.
Now, the mayor, along with folks from the Prebble Street Resource Center gathered in Portland to talk about the need for more help providing meals for the less fortunate in this community. People are relying on food pantries and shelters in record numbers.
Mayor Michael Brennan says the city shelters and even the overflow shelter at Prebble Street are over capacity, so the city opened up an office to let people stay for the night, but there are no beds there, so it's less than ideal.
In June of 2008, on average, 292 people needed overnight shelter in Portland. In June of this year, an average of 411 people needed a place to stay.
The mayor says he is very concerned about this trend. He's appointed a task force to try to figure out solutions. Possibly finding a church, or some other type of non-profit that could provide a place to stay, at least for the short term.
That task force is expected to come back with recommendations later this year.
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