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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 shelters 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

homeless youth find safety, services, and housing
0
Veterans and their families receive housing support
0
meals served to families and individuals in need
1 M
homeless adults have basic needs met & work towards goals
0
survivors of human trafficking reclaim their lives
0
shelter nights avoided through Site-based Housing First
30000

Preble Street is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on the generosity of friends who lend their time and their resources. Every gift you make, every hour you spend, helps those most in need.

LATEST NEWS

A feeling of home sweet home

[A meal] is so comforting. It’s a feeling of home sweet home. There have been times when I’ve been hungry for so long and struggled for so long that I had a hard time digesting food… I know people that have gone without food so long that having a plate of food in front of

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Rapid Re-Housing is expanding services to reach more Mainers

From July to October of this year, the Preble Street Rapid Re-Housing program (RRH) helped to move 18 individuals into permanent housing. This represents ten different households or families, moving from the street or a shelter into a warm, safe, and permanent home. No matter a person’s race, income, or where they’re from, everyone needs a home, and

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November is Youth Homelessness Awareness Month

“Preble Street is family to me. I don’t have family, and if I didn’t have them, where would I be?” – Teen Services Youth According to the latest data, over 30% of the people experiencing homelessness in Maine were under the age of 24. Young people in Maine experience homelessness for many different reasons… some are victims

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Social work is heart work

This year, the National Association of Social Workers’ Maine Chapter named Preble Street the 2024 Social Work Agency of the Year. Preble Street’s Vice President of Social Work, Andrew Bove, accepted the award on behalf of the agency. Below are the remarks he gave in his acceptance speech. My name is Andrew Bove, and I

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Ending Veteran homelessness in Maine

In the past year, Preble Street’s Veteran Housing Services (VHS) program has housed over 270 Veterans. This past September, VHS housed more Veterans than ever before in one month, connecting 28 Veterans to housing. These numbers represent hours, days, and weeks of hard work from the incredibly dedicated VHS team, who show up with compassion and

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FEATURED STORIES

Peter’s Story

Peter was homeless for eight months, sleeping on the street and in different shelters in Augusta and Lewiston. He’s an Air Force Veteran, originally from Madawaska, Maine, who lost housing when his landlord increased his rent with only a month’s notice. “I had

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Ron’s Story

“I’ll say it 1000 times over, the VA saved my life,” shares Ron. Ron is a former U.S. Marine. He currently lives at a residential facility in Lewiston, Maine, operated by Veteran’s Inc., a nonprofit that provides support services to Veterans and Veteran families

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Austin’s Story

When he first shared his story in the fall of 2022, Austin was spending his nights at the Preble Street Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter or outside on the streets. But for the past six months, Austin has been living in a one-bedroom apartment

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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, 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.