Homeless shelters are mandated by the Maine State Housing Authority to provide s

Homeless shelters are mandated by the Maine State Housing Authority to provide shelter for no longer than 45 days, and the average stay is about 10 days. Shelters need $37 a day for each resident, and present state subsidies provide only 8 percent of operating costs. Often maintenance of buildings and even proper bedding needs go unmet. Gov. Angus King agreed to support only a $500,00 increase in funding instead of a hoped-for $2.65 million, but an additonal $100,000 was found, increasing the state funding by $6 per person per night. Details on author Hugh Curran\u27s efforts to gain more funds for the homeless from the state