Activists sat outside Portland City Hall Friday to draw attention to the needs of homeless residents.
Credit Julie Pike / Maine Public
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Maine Public
Cheryl Harkins, an advocate for Homeless Voices for Justice, says she is disappointed with the city's decision to move the Oxford Street homeless shelter out of downtown.
"I see it as a warehouse area to hide the homeless, the poor, the disabled and the elderly," she says.
Harkins says moving the shelter will further gentrify Portland.
Other advocates spoke about their experiences with homelessness and the need for adequate support services. They organized the sit-out on the longest day of the year, to highlight the rise in homelessness during the summer months.
Eliana Miller and Julie Pike are 2019 Maine Public interns.