PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - The number of homeless people in Portland is approaching record levels, again.
City officials say that the 539 people using city-run shelters is the most since the summer of 2019, when hundreds of migrants unexpectedly sought shelter.
This time, the spike is being driven by single adults, who are being placed in hotels, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The city’s director of health and human services, Kristen Dow, says it is unclear what is driving the increase, because staffers do not ask why people need emergency housing. The growing number comes amid the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.
According to numbers provided by the city, 35 families - 110 people - were staying at the city’s family shelter, and an additional 32 families - 103 people - were staying in hotels. There were 326 single adults at city shelters.
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