Exciting news: Renovations have begun at the Preble Street Hope House shelter in Bangor!
Preble Street assumed operations of Hope House in February, keeping one of Maine’s largest shelters open and ensuring that 56 people continued to have a warm, safe place to sleep and access to meals, clothing, laundry, and support to help them connect with housing, health care, family, and other critical resources.
The City of Bangor and Penobscot County understand the importance of emergency shelter and supported funding for renovations at Hope House. Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) owns the building, and kicked off the construction this month on the building. The building houses the emergency shelter, operated by Preble Street, and a transitional housing program, operated by PCHC. When these renovations are complete, Hope House will be an even more welcoming, safe, and trauma-informed space for people experiencing homelessness. This renovation will also allow us to increase capacity from 56 to 68 permanent shelter beds. These 12 additional beds will bring more people inside where they can get the care and services they need to move into permanent housing and a more stable future.
Staff at the Hope House groundbreaking
Shelters across the state are at capacity every night. Every tent and encampment you see is a visual representation that Maine needs more shelter beds, and that shelters need continued support to be able to keep their doors open. With the federal government continuing to cut funding for food assistance, health care, and housing, we can only expect the need for shelters to grow.
Low-barrier access to emergency shelters like Hope House is often the first step for unhoused people on their journey to safety, health, and stable long-term housing. To shore up Maine’s emergency shelter network in anticipation of increased homelessness, call or write to Governor Janet Mills, asking for increased permanent funding for emergency shelters. This funding will keep Maine’s emergency shelter beds open and ready for the anticipated influx of people seeking shelter, especially during these cold winter months.
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
Annual Homeless Persons’s Memorial Vigil
VIGIL LOCATION CHANGE: Tonight’s Annual Homeless Persons’ Vigil has been moved to First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist at 425 Congress Street, Portland. A candlelight procession will start at the MaineHealth-Preble Street Learning Collaborative, located at 20 Portland Street, at 4:30 pm and proceed to First Parish. Attendees are also welcome to gather inside First Parish beginning
Staff highlight: Rich Tucker – Helping clients move forward
Preble Street staff are #CompassionInAction, and we want you to get to know them! This month we’re introducing you to Rich Tucker, Housing Support Worker, Teen Services How long have you worked at Preble Street? And in your current program? I’ve been at Preble Street since November 2005, and with Teen Services for almost 4 years. What do you