Homeless and having a hard time in Portland | Letter
Portland Resident Files Complaint After Being Expelled by City Homeless Services Center
Portland, Maine – Seamus MaGuire, a longtime homeless resident of the city, has lodged a formal complaint with the Portland Department of Community Development following an incident in which he was removed from the city’s Homeless Services Center (HSC) after attempting to explain Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to staff.
MaGuire, who has written a letter to the editor of the Press Herald, said he was expelled from the HSC after a brief interaction with staff who were concerned about possible violations of an old federal law. “Being homeless is already a struggle,” he wrote, “It is more so when staff at the city’s HSC expel a resident for trying to explain ADA laws to staff at risk of violating decades-old law.”
The letter also highlighted MaGuire’s experience of discrimination at a local Subway sandwich shop, though he did not provide specific details of that incident. He described the city’s “no discrimination” stance as “more rampant than ever,” and concluded the note with a plea to the city: “The pain of discrimination is very real and hurts more than you can imagine.”
MaGuire’s formal complaint is pending review by the department. The city has not yet issued a response, but city officials have said they are committed to ensuring that all residents, including the homeless, receive fair treatment in accordance with federal and state law.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the city’s efforts to manage homelessness and the protections afforded to both residents and staff under the ADA. Local advocacy groups have called for clearer guidance on ADA compliance within city-run facilities, as well as increased training for staff on the rights of people with disabilities.
