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Indiscriminate federal cuts mean fewer homeless individuals can make it off the streets

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree met with several homeless individuals today whose access to housing vouchers has been jeopardized or already lost due to indiscriminate federal cuts known as the sequester. The meeting took place at Preble Street Resource Center, which has been working with the Portland Housing Authority to distribute housing assistance to the chronically homeless. Forty people were originally in the program—it has been cut to 20 because of the lack of funding sequester has created.

"The stories I heard today show how important housing programs are to helping people get back on their feet, hold down a job, and keep their families together," Pingree said. "It's absolutely heartbreaking that Congress is closing the path out of homelessness for Mainers like Everett and Sam because it won't do its job."

"In the budget debates that have been going on, Republicans are more concerned with their obsession over repealing health care than reaching a responsible budget that meets the needs of the country and its people," Pingree said. "And housing is just one piece. Everything from shipbuilding contracts for BIW to our children's enrollment in Head Start has been threatened by these across-the-board cuts."

Here are some of the individuals whom Chellie met, along with their stories.

Tabitha: having access to housing vouchers has meant that she can be reunited with her two children. She currently works two jobs.

Everett: a disabled man who has been homeless off and on since he was 15. He has been placed on a waiting list for a voucher.

Sam: has been able to get a housing voucher but could lose it if he can't find an apartment in the next 30 days. He has been struggling to find a place he can afford. (Sam is a pseudonym.)

Other ways the sequester has affected Maine:

· 86 Head Start teachers will be cut across the state;

· Central Maine Meals on Wheelsprovider had to create a waiting list for first time in its 40-year history—over 150 people are on the list; and

· Possible lack of future shipbuilding funding creates uncertainty for thousands of workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Bath Iron Works.