The city of Portland has announced that it will not be using a space at the Cumberland County Corrections Facility as part of its plan to address homelessness this winter.
City spokesperson Jessica Grondin says that deal fell through because of negotiations over insurance liabilities.
“Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to come to terms. But we have been working with MaineHousing on other ways in which we can still provide additional beds,” she says.
The city says it has now reached agreements to operate a local hotel to provide bed space, and has partnered with MaineHousing for access to a second hotel — in addition to the city-run Oxford Street Shelter.
“So we’ll be able to have 293 [shelter beds] this winter, which is up from 229 in past years,” Grondin says.
