PORTLAND, Maine — There is no denying homelessness is a significant problem in Maine.
The number of homeless Mainers doubled in the past year, according to data from MaineHousing, an independent organization created by the Maine legislature.
On Wednesday night, communities around the state came together for vigils to remember the lives lost and to raise awareness during what is regarded as the longest night of the year.
The city of Portland used the day as a chance to remember those who have died in the community while they were experiencing homelessness.
A candlelight procession started from Maine Medical Center/Preble Street Learning Collaborative at 4:30 p.m. From there, folks walked to monument square for a ceremony not only dedicated to those who have died in the community, but also to recommit to the task of ending homelessness here.
"We want everyone here to realize that we as a community need to pull together," Shay Dufour, who use to live on the streets of Portland, said. "They're our brothers and sisters. They're unhoused, and we as a community need to remember to be kind, especially now. It's Christmas. We can't just abandon them."
Dufour said the city and state need to do more to take care of those living without a home.
“It’s scarier now than it's ever been,” Mark Swann, the executive director of Preble Street told NEWS CENTER Maine. “We’ve had changes in policy that make it harder for people to get in shelters, we’ve got an opioid crisis, we’ve got affordability that’s, you know, ridiculous.”
Swann said leaders at all levels of government need to step up to help homeless shelters.
“They need to have the funding from the state and the feds that they just don’t have,” Swann said.
More than 50 people who have been unhoused have died in Portland this year so far, according to Preble Street.