We’re hiring! Do you want to be a member of a diverse team of professional, compassionate, and innovative agents of change working to end homelessness, hunger, and poverty in Maine? If so, Preble Street may be the place for you.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Preble Street is to provide accessible barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems.
Our Programs
From a nutritious meal to crisis intervention, from clean clothes to healthcare, from showers to a permanent home, Preble Street programs not only meet urgent needs but also create solutions to homelessness and hunger.
Who We Serve
The people we meet come from every background. Some were born into abject poverty and abuse. Others were born into a loving and stable family, but life’s circumstances dictated a wildly unanticipated course.
OUR ANNUAL IMPACT
LATEST NEWS
Client Assistance Fund: A hand up
Homelessness and poverty disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. In Maine, Black and African American individuals are ten times more likely to experience homelessness than their White peers. To help counteract these negative effects of white supremacist systems, a generous donor contributed $150,000 for a Client Assistance Fund (CAF) to address
Welcome aboard and a farewell to friends!
As we enter the new fiscal year on July 1 we are excited to welcome new Preble Street Board member, Lauren Gauthier! Lauren is the Infectious Disease Prevention Program Director at Maine Center for Disease Control and has a Master of Public Health. Our work is incredibly interconnected with Maine’s public health system and Lauren’s expertise
Tell Maine Senators Collins and King to support the Eviction Crisis Act!
The affordable housing crisis, inflation in the cost of basic necessities, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have created a homelessness and eviction crisis in Maine and across the United States. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado has introduced a bill to address this growing issue. Join us in asking Senator Susan Collins and Senator
Longest Day of Homelessness Summer Solstice Vigil
FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 8AM-5PM TOMMY’S PARK, PORTLAND On Friday, June 17 from 8am-5pm, Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) will be at Tommy’s Park in Portland for the 15th Annual Longest Day of Homelessness Sit-out, to draw attention to the fact that homelessness is tragic no matter the season.At 12pm, HVJ members and elected officials ―
Mental Health and Homelessness
Behind the struggles faced by many of the people Preble Street serves are fundamentally broken mental health and shelter systems. Living in high-stress situations on the streets or in crowded shelters with limited access to treatment makes people experiencing homelessness particularly vulnerable to chronic mental health issues and co-occurring substance use disorders. Earlier this month,
Maine’s 2022 homeless numbers spike as experts point to lack of available housing
BY CHLOE TEBOE, NEWS CENTER MAINE “We’re spending a great deal of money to keep people homeless,” says Cullen Ryan, Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine… Preble Street’s Rapid Re-Housing program is designed to change that. The nonprofit has helped save the emergency services system in Maine more than $1 million since it was started
FEATURED PREBLE STREET STORIES
George’s Story
For the two years that he experienced homelessness, 67-year-old George had to carry all his belongings on his back. A friend who had been connected to an apartment through the Preble Street Rapid Re-Housing program suggested George reach out. “I was feeling really
Elizabeth’s Story
U.S. Air Force Veteran, Elizabeth, who served in the 1950s, unexpectedly fell into homelessness in 2021. She immediately connected with Preble Street Veterans Housing Services (VHS), who secured her a room in a hotel shelter until she could find permanent housing. “I can’t
James’s Story
“I love living here already! I don’t need to pull down my mask for you to know I’m smiling.” After about seven years of homelessness, James moved into his apartment at Preble Street Housing First Program, Logan Place, in July 2021! Over the
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every week 350 community volunteers lend a hand at Preble Street and almost 100% of the food and clothing we distribute is donated. We welcome — we depend on — your time, financial support, or in-kind donations. We welcome — we depend on — your time, financial support, and in-kind donations. Volunteering at one meal a year, once in a while, or every week; donating work boots for someone trying to turn their life around, or organizing a fundraiser — every gift you give helps those most in need.
