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
Elena’s Way opens soon to provide 24/7 intensive services to 40 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness
A model for future shelters, Elena’s Way provides dignity and choice to individuals of all genders experiencing homelessness and complex health and behavioral issues who are unableto access any other shelter Shelter is a human right, yet the number of people living unsheltered in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and throughout the state of Maine has surged.
Path to Healing
Over the last year, 111 survivors of human trafficking in Maine have worked with Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services (ATS) to reclaim their lives on their own terms. Many of these individuals have received support at the Preble Street Healing Center, which marks its one-year anniversary in September. The Healing Center opened to expand the work
Hope in Recovery
Last year, 631 Mainers died of overdoses, and according to the Maine Overdose Report, the number of fatal overdoses so far this year are 9.7% higher. We know that people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to substance use disorder. We know that leaving them to struggle with this disease on their own is a death
Preble Street Statement on City of South Portland/New Gen Hotels License Conditions: Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Casco Bay Hotels
Preble Street appreciates the efforts of the City of South Portland to reach an agreement with the New Gen Hospitality Management group that will keep people sheltered. It is critical that the cities of Portland and South Portland, the state, and service providers come together to implement a strong and professional outreach effort to the
More than food
People experiencing food insecurity often rely on the emergency food system to have enough food to eat. Unfortunately, because pantries and soup kitchens are often underfunded and rely on donations, the food they provide is regularly highly processed and contains excessive amounts of sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. This highly processed food retains very little
250 youth work to reclaim their lives
We meet incredible young people through our programs — youth who, against all odds, overcome barriers and circumstances most of us could not imagine and work to reclaim their lives. Clients are the experts of their own experiences and caseworkers support them in setting and achieving their goals of independence, stability, and safety. Each of
FEATURED PREBLE STREET STORIES
Dominick’s Story
Twenty-one-year-old Dominick is working day-by-day to build a better life for himself. A rap artist, he writes and performs songs about his experiences, hoping to ensure that Maine youth don’t feel as alone and unsupported as he did when he was younger. “When
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
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.
