Addition of 50 beds to homeless services center is now permanent [Video]

AS OTHER HIGH-NEED DISTRICTS… TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS. THE TEMPORARY ADDITION TO PORTLAND’S HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER HAS NOW BEEN MADE PERMANENT. THE ADDITION OF 50 BEDS WAS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE DISCUSSED BY THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL THIS FALL, BEFORE ULTIMATELY PASSING AS A TEMPORARY ORDER. THE PLANNING BOARD MAKING THAT DECISION ON TUESDAY NIGHT. CATEMCCUSKER BRINGS US THE STORY. THE PORTLAND PLANNING BOARD HAS APPROVED A PERMANENT 50 BED EXPANSION OF THE CITY’S HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER. THAT VOTE PASSING ON TUESDAY NIGHT IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING SITE PLAN FOR THE HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER. THE CENTER ORIGINALLY HAD 208 BEDS – BUT WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN THE FALL – THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY ORDER FOR 50 ADDITIONAL BEDS. HOWEVER – THAT ORDER WAS CONTROVERSIAL – FAILING MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE ULTIMATELY PASSING IN NOVEMBER – AND THE ADDITION WAS EXTENDED AGAIN IN …