On Wednesday night, we received the awful news that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to consolidate funding for street outreach to unsheltered youth into other awards, which we know effectively destroys this vital resource to prevent youth homelessness, abuse, and trafficking.

Our youth Street Outreach Program (SOP) serves young people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, couch surfing, or are otherwise difficult to find or engage. The program focuses on outreach and the provision of basic life-saving supplies in York and Cumberland counties. The team conducts weekly on-foot outreach routes in four unique towns/cities — Portland, Biddeford, Sanford, and Old Orchard Beach.

There is no question that our Street Outreach program saves lives. Outreach workers meet youth where they are — camping on the periphery of towns and cities, sleeping on the beach during the tourist season, or sleeping in their car in a Walmart parking lot. They build trust to connect them to safety and services. Outreach is one important part of the system of care that has been developed to support young people experiencing difficult, unsafe, or unstable situations.

The existing funding through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Preble Street is already exploring creative ways to continue providing this important work in Maine, but it is likely that our Street Outreach team will need to be dismantled or restructured due to these changes by the current administration.

Eliminating funding for this Street Outreach Program takes away the safety and stability that all young people in Maine deserve.