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lighthouse shelter

You were 15 years old, alone. You had to run away from home after your stepfather punched you so hard you blacked out.  You slept on a rug in the basement of a building where a friend told you nobody would notice. You had nowhere else to go.. . . until you heard that there was a shelter for teens.

Fully integrated with Preble Street Teen Services, the Lighthouse Shelter plays a crucial role in ensuring that seamless services are available to homeless and runaway teens—afternoons, evenings and overnight 365 days a year. 

“If I was on the streets, I wouldn’t be going to school,” says Shawna, who re-enrolled in school after dropping out when her mother kicked her out of the house. 

“Sometimes I don’t like it here.  It’s not a home.  It’s just a place to sleep; but without the Lighthouse, I’d probably be sleeping outside or in an abandoned building.” 

Shawna sits at the large table in the shelter’s common area.  Leaning intently over a list of adjectives she has written—“humorous, bubbly, sociable”—for a school assignment to describe her character. Taking a moment to think she adds three more words in her smooth, careful print:  “Independent, hard-working, and strong.”

A low-barrier state licensed emergency overnight shelter, the Lighthouse provides a safe place for homeless and street-involved youth ages 12 through 20 and assists them in making plans to get off the street. 

Centrally located and close to the Teen Center and other programs targeting homeless youth, the Lighthouse Shelter ensures that youth

  • are in a safe place off the streets for the night
  • have their basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene) met
  • can participate in informal social and recreational activities.
  • are connected to appropriate community resources

Housing support staff assess the needs of new clients, supervise informal activities, provide crisis intervention and individual support, make referrals, encourage younger teens to connect with parents or guardians, and coordinate with collaborative partners regarding client interests and challenges. 

The doors of the Lighthouse Shelter not only offer teens a warm welcome and safety but also provide access to a full range of services at the Teen Center, and shelter staff coordinates policies as well as individual interventions with Preble Street Teen Services. 

Location and Hours of Operation

Every day, 8:00pm-8:00am

65 Elm Street, Portland
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