Preble Street Veterans Housing Services (VHS), in partnership with other Veterans services agencies* across the state have come together to dramatically reduce Veteran homelessness in Maine.
Earlier this month, VHS and partners launched a housing surge to get as many homeless Veterans as possible into housing in the 100 days leading up to Veterans’ Day. It began with a 3-day push (August 5-7) to outreach and house as many unsheltered Veterans as possible in four counties: Cumberland, Kennebec, Penobscot, and York. During that 3-day period, outreach caseworkers connected with 22 unsheltered Veterans, many of whom were immediately able to access emergency shelter or an emergency housing assistance placement. The rest of the surge will cover the entire state with a focus on both unsheltered and sheltered Veterans.
Veterans Housing Services caseworker, Brian, shares incredible story of unsheltered
Veteran who was immediately housed after connecting with Preble Street:
“So this Veteran, who started the day with no connection to any meaningful resources,
is now sleeping in a hotel while we wait for his new apartment to be ready for him.”
While connecting with unhoused Veterans, Preble Street and partners are working to reach landlords throughout the state to let them know about the surge and encourage them to help end Veteran homelessness in Maine by working with us. Landlords who join the initiative and work to house Veterans may receive financial assistance, ongoing tenant support, and make a real difference in the lives of Veterans.
Landlords and other community members interested in supporting these efforts should visit nohomelessveterans.org for more information.
No homeless Mainers
Preble Street is filled with gratitude for the governmental and other resources that allow us to quickly serve and house Veterans experiencing homelessness. It has allowed us to dramatically decrease Veteran homelessness in Maine. We are within reach of ensuring that every Maine Veteran has a home.
If these same resources were applied more broadly, we could also ensure that every Mainer has a home. No one deserves to endure the trauma of homelessness, especially for prolonged periods of time. We know that a housing first approach works. We know that access to food and physical and mental health care allow more people to stay housed. It’s time we made these solutions available to all.
*The No Homeless Veterans coalition, led by Preble Street Veterans Housing Services, has successfully completed two similar housing surges for Veterans in 2021 and 2023. See the list of organizations here.
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