PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland said Friday the Portland Expo has reached capacity, meaning all shelters in the city are full.
If families or individuals arrive when all shelters are at capacity, the city plans to issue landlord forms so that people can complete a self-directed housing search, according to a release from Kristen Dow, Portland's director of health and human services.
The city opened the Portland Expo earlier this month as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers. Most escaped to Maine from African nations, according to Dow. She said a family arrived Friday morning, bringing the total number of people staying at the Expo to 301.
Other shelters in the city, as well as contracted hotels currently operating as shelters, are also at max capacity, the release stated. The city said its shelters have the following capacities:
- Homeless Services Center: 208
- Family Shelter: 146
- Portland Expo: 300
- Saco Hotel: 328
- GA Hotels: 159
"If you are running a shelter and have capacity please let us know and we could refer people to you," Dow said in Friday's release.
For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic alerts, download the NEWS CENTER Maine mobile app.