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 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
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: Contact Portland City Council before Monday afternoon
Today we learned that this Monday, May 17, the Portland City Council will vote whether to implement an immediate Emergency Shelter Moratorium in the Bayside neighborhood of Portland. We need you to call and email the Portland City Council IMMEDIATELY and tell them to vote no on this moratorium. It’s heartbreaking that during a public health emergency, when the
Statement on recent murders of men of color
On April 19, Mario Gonzalez was killed by Alameda, CA police. On March 31, Anthony Alvarez was fatally shot by a Chicago, IL policeman just two days after a different Chicago Police Officer fatally shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo. These killings of men and boys of color in our country reflect the fact that
Preble Street launches new Culturally Appropriate Meals intiative
In 2020 alone, Preble Street provided over one million meals, a reflection of the increasing needs in the community for food support and access to healthy meals. The food programs offer mobile food services and soup kitchens along with a food pantry for those experiencing food insecurity and housing instability or homelessness. In February 2021,
FEATURED PREBLE STREET STORIES
Ben’s Story
A month before turning 18, Ben arrived at Preble Street after having stayed at multiple foster homes and youth shelters. Over the course of the spring and summer, Teen Services staff — along with collaborative partners — provided Ben the structure and stability he desperately wanted and needed. Ben gained
Jojo’s Story
JoJo became a tenant of Florence House after living in both the emergency shelter and safe haven housing in the building. “You have a place to go, you have people to talk to, you have the support of the staff. It’s a lot safer than being out in the streets…
Matthew’s Story
The first time Matthew experienced homelessness was when he was 14. He was living in the woods of rural Maine in a tent by himself. Depression about his situation led to substance use, which led to more depression, and he went a decade without seeing or speaking with his family.
HOUSING SERVICES
Preble Street is committed to providing safe, affordable, permanent housing and support to chronically homeless men and women in Maine. Our services are based on approaches to homelessness and chronic mental illness that have emerged nationally as key strategies for ending homelessness combined with experience gained at the Preble Street Resource Center.
TEEN SERVICES
Preble Street Teen Services meets the urgent needs of homeless and runaway youth — providing warmth and safety, nutritious meals, clothing, crisis intervention, and overnight shelter.
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.
Support LD 1478: An Act to Decriminalize Homelessness! Take action at http://preblestreet.org/2021/04/30/support-ld-1478
"If we were to use the money we spend on keeping these folks homeless and in the criminal justice system, we could house over 13,000 people in Maine." — @Rep_Morales, public hearing on LD 1478 An Act to Decriminalize Homelessness #SupportLD1478
"We are free to sleep, change clothes, use the toilet, or have a drink in the privacy of our homes. This is not the case for our unhoused neighbors. Experiencing homelessness & trying to survive should not be a crime." — Andrew Bove, Preble Street Outreach Director #SupportLD1478
"We know that substance use disorder and mental illness call for responses rooted in public health expertise, not criminal law. But this reality doesn't exist. LD 1478 will bring us one step closer to that reality." — Andrew Bove, Preble Street Outreach Director #SupportLD1478
"Every time a person experiencing homelessness is jailed for a crime connected to their housing status, it cuts them off from the supportive services they have connected with, bringing them backwards on their journey." — Andrew Bove, Preble Street Outreach Director #SupportLD1478
"Landlords get cold feet when they find that people we work with have criminal records. These records are full of non-violent charges associated w/ homelessness, namely the 5 things this bill seeks to decriminalize." — Andrew Bove, Preble Street Outreach Director #SupportLD1478
