Maine’s warming centers are overwhelmed, leaving homeless people without safe shelter during extreme cold.

Maine’s warming centers are overwhelmed during extreme winter weather, leaving homeless individuals without safe shelter. Despite a $2.3 million state grant for 12 emergency centers, limited capacity and closures—like York County’s adult shelter—leave many unsheltered, especially in rural areas. Facilities like Biddeford’s Seeds of Hope and Sanford’s family-only center are stretched thin, forcing staff to turn people away. Advocates warn that without accessible, low-barrier options, vulnerable people face life-threatening risks.