A local developer and the city of Portland have found a location for a temporary shelter to house up to 180 asylum seekers by late fall and help reduce stress on Portland’s overburdened social services system.
Developer Kevin Bunker and city officials have secured space on Riverside Industrial Parkway near the municipal golf course, according to a memo included in the City Council’s meeting agenda for Monday. The project is supported by a $4.5 million grant from MaineHousing and eventually will be staffed by the nonprofit Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Council members still need to approve the plans, but the goal is to open the facility by Nov. 30.
Just two weeks ago, Bunker said he started looking for an alternative site after scrapping plansto build a shelter at 90 Blueberry Road. In an email Saturday, Bunker said he was pleased the new site came together so quickly after it became clear the …