Senator Justin Alfond Receives Community Partner of the Year Award
June 14, 2009 -
AUGUSTA –Senator Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland County) was among those awarded the Community Partner of the Year award by Preble Street in Portland at a ceremony on June 15, 2009.
“I was deeply honored to receive the Community Partner of the Year award,” Senator Alfond said. “Homelessness among Maine’s youth has been a concern for sometime. Sponsoring legislation to help these individuals was a way for me to aid in the ongoing fight toward ending homelessness in Maine.
The Community Partner's award also went to Bob Rowe, executive director of New Beginnings in Lewiston and Carol Whitney, for the development and support of LD 1127 “An Act to Define Services for Maine Runaway and Homeless Youth,” the bill that Senator Alfond sponsored this past session.
LD 1127 establishes a comprehensive program for homeless youth and runaways. The statewide system that it creates will increase planning, streamline funding decisions, and generate administrative efficiencies. The bill also defines three program models: Emergency Shelters for Youth, Street Outreach Programs, and Transitional Living Programs; and creates statewide definitions of who will be served by these programs
Preble Street is a small, community-based nonprofit organization that has been serving the needs of Portland’s homeless population and low income families since the 1970’s. The committed staff and volunteers provide immediate services, such as food, clothing and safe shelter opportunities, while also helping the homeless and low income community to find permanent housing and employment, and receive mental health services, substance abuse treatment and healthcare. For more information, visit their website: www.preblestreet.org.
