AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew fired back Wednesday after Portland city councilors lashed out against the LePage administration in a committee meeting Tuesday night.
Councilors were discussing proposed changes to the city's homeless shelters after a state audit found violations with Portland's general assistance program. They say the city is being held financially hostage by the state, being forced to change their homeless shelter program or lose millions in reimbursements.
"You would think that the state would want to sit down and work with us on, as they've done in the past, how we can best manage those issues," Portland Mayor Michael Brennan said. "But instead we've been given kind of ultimatums."
"I am equally concerned and offended by the statements about the department or the LePage administration politicizing homelessness," Mayhew told NEWS CENTER. "This department, this administration, cares deeply and importantly, we care about addressing homelessness."
Despite their public debate, there is a meeting scheduled between Mayor Brennan, Commissioner Mayhew and Gov. Paul LePage at the end of the month.
