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.
Maine’s 40 Emergency Shelter Providers are thankful for one-time funding to support shelter operations
Maine’s emergency shelter providers applaud the passage of LD 698, An Act to Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters in Maine. Relying on a mix of private philanthropy and government funding, emergency shelters have faced rising costs, weathered the pandemic and inflation, and continued to meet the changing and complex needs of individuals and families who need
Do your job as a Mainer: Make sure families in our state have food and healthcare!
Someone you know — likely MANY people you know — are about to lose food assistance and healthcare. Food and healthcare are basic human rights that, for many Mainers, are only possible through SNAP and Medicaid. The massive proposed cuts to these vital programs will harm thousands of Maine caregivers, older adults, people with disabilities, Veterans, families,
Walking alongside survivors
Photo credit: Maine Morning Star Preble Street’s work is never done in isolation. We are continuously making connections with other social service providers and nonprofits to better serve clients and the needs of the community. This month, we are highlighting a key partner of Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services, MECASA. The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault