The city of Portland will open the James A. Banks Portland Exposition Building as an emergency shelter on Monday, April 10.
In a statement, city officials said the decision was based on “the significant increase in demand for shelter by both asylum-seeking individuals and families.”
The city has seen 1,000 seekers since Jan. 1. The shelter will be open through the summer, and offer space for about 300 people, city officials said.
“This is a very dire situation and the opening of the Expo is the last overnight overflow space that we as City staff have available to open and operate,” said Interim City Manager Danielle West. “We are truly beyond our capacity to be able to continue to provide compassionate care for those seeking shelter.”
The city is now sheltering about 1,200 people, West said, both in its new homeless services center on Riverside Street and in the Family Shelter on Chestnut Street.
West said city officials hope that by working with “state and regional community partners” a new facility in the area will open this summer.
This is the first time the city has opened the Expo as an emergency shelter since 2019, when the city made a similar move to accommodate asylum seekers at that time.
City officials are asking the community for help. To donate to the effort, visit www.portlandmaine.gov/donate or text the word EXPO to 91999. Monetary donations can also be dropped off or mailed to city hall.
“Physical donations are limited only to items specifically listed on an Amazon wish list as these items can be shipped directly to the Expo,” the city wrote. “No other physical donations will be accepted.”