The South Portland City Council is set to discuss a proposal to allow a nonprofit to operate a transitional housing shelter for homeless families at a former middle school building in the city.
[RELATED: South Portland Weighs Options for the Future of the Former Mahoney Middle School…]
The proposal, sponsored by City Councilor Elyse Tipton, would allow the Portland-based organization Greater Portland Family Promise (GPFP) to “create appropriate space within the former Mahoney school building to provide transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness.”
According to Tipton’s proposal, state funding would go to GPFP to operate transitional housing at the building, and could “help offset current building maintenance costs of approximately $200,000 annually.”
“However, our city staff have reasonable concerns, including about safety, relating to potential GPFP operations at Mahoney,” Tipton noted in her proposal. “It is also my understanding that Council would need to approve a zoning change.”
Tipton also stated that GPFP expects the opportunity for state funding for transitional housing is expected to expire in August, and that the City Council “needs to make decisions as soon as possible on whether and how to proceed.”
The proposal will be discussed at the City Council workshop on Thursday, June 13.
Note: The Thursday meeting will involve the City Council considering Councilor Tipton’s request for a future workshop on the proposal. Two other City Councilors must agree at the Thursday meeting in order for a future workshop on the proposal to be held.
The former Mahoney Middle School building came into the city’s possession in 2023 when the new South Portland Middle School was opened.
The South Portland City Council has held several workshops to discuss possible future uses of the property, including selling the property to create affordable housing or using the building for city offices.
As we increasingly mirror the former Soviet Union with shortages, waiting lines, malaise, and a propagandist news media we have two choices for high density, grim sustenance lodging: khrushchyovka or the upscale brezhnevka apartment complexes.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our taxes and crime and traffic accidents, etc are already costing us in money and safety.
These people are nuts.
I bet that City Councilor lives nowhere near Mahoney.
Why is the South Portland City Council so intent on attracting and bringing in failure and driving working people and companies and success out of town????????????
Are they stupid or just dumb?
As if Maine TAXPAYERS aren’t stretched thin enough. It is a travesty to have so many uninvited here.
I may have missed this, but I’m not against this if it’s not being used, there is a housing shortage for sure especially lower income housing. However the occupants should have some pride and ownership so that it is not destroyed because it’s not their problem. I’ve seen that happen in other cities. Also in my opinion it should be for American citizens who are down on their luck. Charity begins at home. Low income citizens could still be working and contribute a subsidized amount for rent. That creates pride and helps them move up. If someone came in the country illegally and simply stays there for free you’re hurting people who could really use it that are from this country.
One of the City Councilors got back to me. Only Elyse Tipton is for this. The rest of the City Council does not support this.
Maybe we should start taking care of our own and develop more mental facilities for people in need instead of housing illegals and giving them everything for free,food,housing, medical,etc………