In an unprecedented move toward ending houselessness within the city, the Presque Isle City Council, in partnership with city staff, has taken decisive and compassionate action over the last month to respond to the growing encampment crisis with the seriousness it demands. This shift represents a fundamental change in how the community approaches one of the most pressing issues facing its most vulnerable residents.
Our facilities team shouldn’t be left to clean up debris and discarded materials. And our police department should not be the primary solution. This is about coordinated care, not just enforcement.
The city recognizes that the presence of encampments on our riverbanks, on bike paths and in public parks is not just a policing or maintenance issue — it is a public health and safety emergency. These conditions leave individuals exposed to victimization, untreated substance use disorders, unmanaged mental health crises and severe weather. The circumstances are unsafe for those living them and for the broader community.
City Council and department leaders have worked diligently over the past month to identify root causes, collaborate with regional and state-level partners and develop a multi-tiered response that includes housing navigation, mental health and substance use support and immediate outreach. This is no longer a silent issue. This is the “soft white underbelly” we cannot afford to ignore. And we aren’t.
In the words of Councilor Craig Green, “Currently our community and the staff are utilizing time and budget money to react to issues as they arise. This reactive action produces no long-term results. With our new approach we will relieve the pressure and cost from the Police and Facilities Team. This is a Win for getting long term help to people who need it while streamlining the process.”
The City is actively working with agencies, including Homeless Services of Aroostook, Community Health and Counseling Services, PATH Navigators, a City outreach worker, and others to ensure that individuals in encampments are offered real support, not just displacement. At the same time, standards for public spaces are being reasserted: it is not acceptable to have people living in tents in our parks, behind businesses, or along our riverbanks.
How Citizens Can Help
Trust the process. Know that your City Council and staff are making this issue a high priority. This work is active, ongoing, and resource-intensive, but it is working. The community will begin to see an appreciable difference in our public spaces.
Report, don’t engage. We deeply appreciate the willingness of citizens to help. However, while we are working to guard the health and safety of those who are unhoused, we must also guard the health and safety of those trying to help.
If you come across an encampment mess, especially needles or sharps, please do not attempt to clean it up. Instead, contact the Presque Isle Police Department immediately so trained personnel can safely address the situation. The last thing we want is for anyone to be injured.
Channel the urge to help wisely. If you feel compelled to act, we invite you to direct that energy toward building solutions. The city and its partners are collecting food bags and hygiene kits to support individuals transitioning from unsheltered living into stable shelter. This is a meaningful, hands-on way to help bridge the gap between survival and stability.
Support local nonprofits. Organizations working directly with unhoused individuals need community support. Donations, volunteerism, and advocacy help extend their reach and services.
Stay informed. The city will continue to share updates as progress is made and as more partners come to the table.
Presque Isle is a city with a heart and a backbone. We are showing that compassion and accountability can coexist, and that a small city can make big progress when it refuses to look away.
Sonja Plummer Eyler is Presque Isle’s interim city manager and can be reached at 207-764-2531 or seyler@presqueisleme.us.
