New survey suggests Portland unsheltered population far larger than previous counts

By: Eesha Pendharkar

Outlets: Maine Morning Star

Published: July 2, 2026

Words: 600

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

Body Text Preview

Robert Demmons has been unsheltered for six years, and his wife, Dawn Bruns, for three. On Thursday, so far the hottest day of the year, they sat inside the Portland Public Library, designated by the city as a cooling center as temperatures climbed into the 90s.

The hardest part of living on the street is the weather, Demmons said.

He relies on an electric wheelchair because of worsening arthritis, seeking shelter under awnings and in …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us