The Portland Expo is set to transition into an emergency shelter for asylum seekers starting Monday and is expected to reach capacity upon opening, housing up to 300 people.
According to CBS 13, the city says it’s seen over 1,000 asylum seekers arrive seeking shelter since the start of the year, overwhelming the city’s shelters. Portland is currently providing shelter for around 1,200 people every night and using the Expo’s space is meant to alleviate the stress on other shelters and address the increase in demand.
The Expo has been used as an emergency shelter before in 2019 for over 450 asylum seekers and will be decommissioned mid-august due to costs and demand for other uses of the space.
The city is seeking donations to help support and provide for the new Mainers. Donations can be made online at Support Asylum Seekers | Portland, ME – Official Website (portlandmaine.gov) or by texting EXPO to 91999. They can also be mailed in or dropped off at Portland’s City Hall.
