Resolve, Directing All Relevant Agencies of State Government To Work in Concert with a Plan To End and Prevent Homelessness To Ensure That Resources Are Available To End Homelessness in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0598
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BRIGGS, CRAVEN, BEAUDOIN, CHIPMAN, DION, ROTUNDO, RUSSELL, STUCKEY, CAIN, PATRICK

Legislative Document 
No. 598 
H.P. 417 
House of Representatives, February 21, 2013 
Resolve, Directing All Relevant Agencies of State Government To 
Work in Concert with a Plan To End and Prevent Homelessness To 
Ensure That Resources Are Available To End Homelessness in the 
State 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BRIGGS of Mexico. 
Cosponsored by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: BEAUDOIN of Biddeford, CHIPMAN of Portland, DION of Portland, 
ROTUNDO of Lewiston, RUSSELL of Portland, STUCKEY of Portland, Senators: CAIN of 
Penobscot, PATRICK of Oxford. 
Preamble. Whereas, there are thousands of homeless people throughout the State 
including families, adults, youths, veterans of the United States Armed Forces and 
victims of domestic violence; and 
Whereas, numerous homeless shelters have exceeded capacity and are overflowing, 
and some homeless shelters have had to turn away individuals and families; and 
Whereas, homelessness is destructive for the homeless, who may deteriorate or 
develop health issues or mental health issues and cease to be stable and productive 
members of society; and 
Whereas, homelessness is detrimental to the State's economy, businesses and 
tourism industry as well as the education, health, well-being and stability of our society; 
and 
Whereas, studies have demonstrated that it often costs less to house people than for 
the people to remain homeless and use expensive emergency services; and 
Whereas, many advocates of the homeless, councils, churches and other 
organizations involved with the homeless population in the State have endorsed a plan to 
prevent and effectively end homelessness within 4 years entitled "Maine's Plan to End & 
Prevent Homelessness"; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  All relevant agencies of State Government to align their budgets 
and efforts in concert with "Maine's Plan to End & Prevent Homelessness."  
Resolved:  That all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Department of Corrections, the 
Department of Education and the Maine State Housing Authority, shall align their 
budgets and efforts in concert with "Maine's Plan to End & Prevent Homelessness," as 
created by the Statewide Homeless Council as set out under the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 30-A, section 5046, and affiliated organizations, and referred to in this resolve as 
"the plan."  In carrying out the purposes of this resolve, each relevant state agency shall 
actively participate with the Statewide Homeless Council and the various regional 
homeless councils in the State to help fully implement the plan.  Each relevant state 
agency shall focus its resources in accordance with the plan immediately and 
commensurate with need until homelessness is effectively ended in the State. The 
relevant state agencies shall work collectively with other advocates of and providers of 
services to the homeless and direct resources to reduce the number of people who 
experience homelessness by 25% per year with the goal of ending homelessness in the 
State within 4 years of the effective date of this resolve. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires all relevant state agencies, including the Department of Health 
and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Department of Corrections, the 
Department of Education and the Maine State Housing Authority, to work with advocates 
and organizations serving the homeless population in the State to direct resources to 
eradicate homelessness in the State within 4 years.