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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

The importance of vouchers to secure housing

For countless Mainers, housing vouchers have been a crucial steppingstone to stability. In the last decade, especially the past few years, as rents went up and the number of available apartments or houses to rent has dwindled, waiting lists for vouchers have grown and it’s become more difficult for voucher-holders to secure housing.   This

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Preble Street’s Recuperative Care is a one-of-a-kind program for Maine

Art, books, and inspiring messages are found inside and on the walls at Maine’s first recuperative care program. Picture this… you’ve endured a difficult surgery or have had a life-threatening illness or injury. You’re about to embark on a long recovery process, and will soon be discharged from the hospital and have nowhere to go

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You Don’t Need a Home to Vote

Low-income and housing-insecure individuals face more barriers to voting, and every election season Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) conducts the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign to educate individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty about their voting rights.  Many individuals might not know that US citizens in Maine have a right to vote regardless of any

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What does racial equity work look like at Preble Street?

Caption: Staff attending a recent Racial Health Equity training, led by Dr. Michelle Durham, an addiction medicine specialist and psychiatrist. Preble Street is on an ongoing journey to become an anti-racist organization. We do this critical work informed by — and in partnership with — the people we serve. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been

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Ending hunger in Maine starts one food box at a time

Every food box from the Preble Street Food Pantry tells a unique story. Each item inside a food box can tell you something about the person or family who it’s going to, what they might like to eat, and even possibly something about their heritage and culture. Kale is one vegetable that goes into many of our

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Preble Street to host Second, Biennial Conference on Homelessness

There are a wide range of complex factors contributing to the homelessness crisis in Maine: a lack of affordable housing and accessible emergency shelter, inconsistent shelter funding, an increase in unsheltered individuals, and rising numbers of people needing support for substance use disorders and behavioral health issues. Preble Street and the Atlantic Charitable Fund are

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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.