Homelessness in Portland grew to new dimensions in 2023. Even as a new city shelter opened in Riverton, homeless encampments emerged throughout the city - in parks, on trails and even on a state-owned parking lot. Local agencies struggled with how to respond, and the issue was central in Portland's mayoral election. Throughout the year, Press Herald photographers documented people living outside, learning their names and their stories and offering readers an unblinking look at one of society's most complex challenges.
City workers began clearing the encampment of 67 tents around 8 a.m. Wednesday, marking the second clearing of a large homeless encampment in the city within the last week.
Across Portland and numerous other Maine communities, homelessness has grown far more visible since the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked people living on the streets this summer to share their stories.