“I think it says something when you provide a beautiful, calming, home-like space for youth who have experienced a lot of trauma. There’s something about building a beautiful new space, to serve all their needs, that says, ‘You deserve this, you are loved, you are worth fighting for.’” – Leah McDonald, Preble Street Senior Director of Social Work, in a recent Press Herald article
The Preble Street Teen Center and Overnight shelter will soon be under one roof! Construction on Joe’s Place has officially begun.
Named after Preble Street founder Joe Kreisler, Joe’s Place will offer a safe space for young people experiencing homelessness to receive support 24/7. Until now, the Teen Center and Teen Shelter have been across the street from each other, meaning youth have had to gather their backpack and other belongings twice a day to transfer back and forth. When Joe’s Place is complete next year, youth will have a stable place to rest, recover, and connect with the services they need to move into housing and a hopeful future.
Senator Susan Collins, who has strongly advocated for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and other legislation to address youth homelessness, provided critical support for Joe’s Place. Grants and private fundraising are also helping this project come to fruition.
Preble Street has been providing services to teens for nearly 30 years. Noting the high numbers of young people arriving at the old Resource Center, Preble Street began offering dedicated teen services in 1996. The Teen Center opened as a day space for youth-specific services including specialized health care, employment services, mental health and substance use counseling, and an education center.
Since then, Preble Street Teen Services has expanded to include the overnight Teen Shelter, Teen Housing, and Teen Outreach. These programs provide services for youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 12-24 in Maine.
Joe’s Place has been a long-time hope of the agency, and we’re so thankful that we can make it a reality. Bringing all of Teen Services under one roof will mean even more stability, increased safety, and one less transition for homeless youth to navigate.
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