Portland Shelter Skipped Required Night Patrols, Citing Danger Outside

An annual City of Portland inspection of Elena's Way, the 40-bed low-barrier shelter Preble Street runs at 5 Portland St., found the nonprofit was not carrying out hourly nighttime walks around the outside of the building that its approved safety plan requires, according to the Portland Press Herald, which obtained the report.

The inspection, conducted by Portland's Planning Department on Aug. 28, found Preble Street told inspectors the patrols were being skipped because staff considered them unsafe. City officials responded that the walks exist to keep the shelter and the surrounding blocks safe. Inspectors also flagged heavy loitering by people who did not appear to be shelter guests, and litter in the zone the nonprofit is required to keep clean, and urged the organization to coordinate with Portland police.

Preble Street disputes the city's account of its performance and has signaled it may contest the findings, the Press Herald reported.

The findings land as the same building is slated to host a winter warming shelter this fall, expected to be run by Seeds of Hope, adding 50 to 60 overnight beds. The Maine Wire said it has filed records requests with the city and police as part of a continuing investigation of the Bayside area.

This story was first reported by The Maine Wire.