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.
Preble Street statement on ICE actions
Keeping vulnerable people safe is core to the Preble Street mission. And right now, many of our community members, rightfully so, do not feel safe. Increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as part of the dehumanizingly named ‘Operation Catch of the Day,’ is creating constant fear and anxiety for so many of our neighbors. Targeting people based on their skin color or country of birth — even those
5 top legislative priorities – Spring 2026
The second session of the 132nd Maine Legislature began on January 7 and will run until April 15. Maine’s Legislature works in two-year cycles that include a long and a short session. We are in the short session, which covers only two types of bills: carry-overs (bills filed last session that still need to be
Doubling down on our mission in our 50th year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1j-w6NGTyc This short video reflects back on some of the impactful events of 2025 As I reflect on the 50th year of Preble Street, I’m struck by the contrasts. There was much cause for celebration — assuming operations of the Hope House low-barrier shelter in Bangor, the Grand Opening of the Food Security Hub, celebrating our