As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses, Brian Arborio found himself without work, unable to keep up with mounting rent costs, and eventually evicted from his home. What started as a brief stint couch surfing and camping outdoors turned into nearly three years of homelessness.
After enduring months on the streets of Portland, and facing escalating encounters with law enforcement, including a damaging altercation in which his tent and sleeping bag were vandalized, Arborio eventually found stable housing through the federal Section 8 program. But even now, as winter approaches and he passes others still living outdoors, the scars of his experience remain.
“You’re not considered a citizen when you’re homeless. You’re subhuman. That’s how you’re treated,” said Arborio, now an advocate for policy changes aimed at supporting those experiencing homelessness. He points to the constant displacement and lack of safe public spaces as one of the cruelest aspects of life on the streets. “Being chased away constantly is the most inhumane aspect. You have no place to sit down and rest outside. These are meant to be public places.”
Camping Bans Spark Controversy Nationwide
Across the United States, including in Maine, camping bans are increasingly enforced by local governments, supported by a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld criminal penalties for public camping. While these bans are intended to address homelessness, advocates argue they exacerbate the problem by diverting limited resources into policing and enforcement rather than into sustainable housing solutions.
“As long as we’re using our resources—whether human, financial, or public—we’re taking away from the investments that could actually help solve homelessness,” said Heather Zimmerman, a legal fellow at the ACLU of Maine. She advocates for a shift in focus from punishment to practical support for the unhoused.
The enforcement of camping bans varies widely across Maine, with at least 10 municipalities having enacted loitering bans, six prohibiting panhandling, and at least 12 enforcing “constructive” camping bans, using other city ordinances, like those on loitering or park usage, to target public camping.
In Portland, the city enforces a ban on public camping when shelter space is available, while other areas, such as Bangor, often remove tents despite not having explicit camping bans. For municipalities like Waterville, which has recently been enforcing its camping ban more rigorously, the issue of unsheltered homelessness is becoming an increasing concern.
Rising Numbers of Unsheltered Homelessness
Maine’s biennial point-in-time count, which tracks homelessness, recorded 2,695 people experiencing homelessness in 2024. While this figure represents a slight decline compared to previous years, the number of those without shelter—those who are not staying in temporary accommodations like shelters or motels—has been steadily rising. In 2024, there were 273 unsheltered individuals, up from just 95 five years ago.
Katie Spencer White, CEO of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, attributes part of the increase in unsheltered homelessness to the scarcity of shelter space. “We didn’t have a lot of unsheltered homelessness, where people couldn’t find a bed. But now, municipalities are seeing an increase in this issue,” she explained.
In response, some municipalities are revisiting or introducing camping bans. Sanford and Presque Isle, for instance, have considered such measures since the Supreme Court ruling. The ACLU reports that such ordinances are becoming more common as local governments attempt to control visible homelessness.
Shelters: A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem
Both local leaders and advocates agree that shelters provide a temporary respite from the harsh realities of outdoor living, especially during Maine’s brutal winters. Since 2020, MaineHousing has allocated over $60 million in emergency housing assistance, but advocates say the funding falls short of meeting the growing need for shelter and supportive housing.
“Shelters are a stopgap,” said Spencer White. “We want to be part of the solution, but it’s hard to do that when we’re underfunded and trying to operate at capacity.”
For instance, Waterville’s warming center, which can house up to 25 people, saw 33 individuals in need of shelter one night in December. Without the necessary resources for staffing and operational costs, shelters struggle to expand capacity to meet the rising demand.
Municipalities often face resistance when proposing new shelters. In Lewiston, for example, the city council imposed a six-month moratorium on new shelters despite the growing demand. However, following a political shift, the city is now moving forward with plans for a low-barrier shelter.
Scott Harriman, a Lewiston city councilor, explained the prior opposition, saying, “There was concern that opening more shelters would attract more people.” Now, with new leadership, nonprofit Kaydenz Kitchen has received funding from MaineHousing to establish the city’s first low-barrier shelter.
However, in other cities like Waterville, local business owners are pushing back against new shelter expansions. Some have argued that new shelters would bring more homeless individuals into their neighborhoods, a sentiment shared by city leaders in Portland.
Portland’s city spokesperson, Jessica Grondin, explained that while the city provides shelter for 600 people each night, they must balance the concerns of residents and business owners who are often unhappy with the sight of tents or encampments near their properties. “We have to manage both sides of the issue,” she said, citing the city’s ongoing efforts to provide shelter space while maintaining public order.
Lack of State-Level Coordination
Despite significant state funding for affordable housing, Maine’s response to homelessness remains fragmented, with little guidance on policy implementation or camping bans from the state government.
“MaineHousing does not tell local officials what the best solution for homelessness in their community should be,” said Scott Thistle, a spokesperson for the agency. “We support them in finding and funding those solutions.”
However, Spencer White argues that a coordinated, statewide approach is necessary to address the problem effectively. “There’s a lack of leadership and coordination between municipalities. We need a dedicated office and staff to help local leaders manage homelessness,” she said.
Portland Mayor Mark Dion echoed these concerns, calling for a state-level facilitator to help coordinate resources and solutions. “What I’m looking for is someone at the state level who can bring the cities together and help us manage shelter space and secure housing,” he said.
Grants Pass Case: A National Impact
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of Grants Pass, Oregon, has allowed local governments to enforce more stringent camping bans. Since the ruling, the city has designated just two areas where approximately 600 homeless individuals can camp. This has been met with backlash, particularly after city officials stated that they were not legally required to provide amenities such as water.
Brian Arborio, who traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year with the ACLU to speak against the ruling, said that these kinds of policies fail to address the core issue: the lack of safe, permanent housing.
“People in warm city halls don’t understand the impact of these policies,” Arborio said. “They don’t see the trauma and despair that unhoused people face daily, constantly moving, constantly fearing interaction with law enforcement. At the very least, they need the opportunity to rest and recover.”
In Maine, advocates like Arborio continue to push for more humane and sustainable solutions to homelessness, urging policymakers to prioritize housing over punitive measures. As Maine and other states wrestle with the complexities of homelessness, the question remains: can a balance be struck between enforcing camping bans and investing in long-term housing solutions?
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