NEWS & UPDATES
MaineHealth CONNECT Van started service on July 1
It’s a hot and sunny day in mid-June. This summer has brought many days just like it for Maine. Two people stand talking in front of a parked white van. There is a camera rolling, and one person stands answering questions and pointing at the van parked behind them. This is Malia Haddock, Psychiatric Nurse
KeyBank Foundation supports expansion of Preble Street’s Site-Based Housing First programs in Maine
Preble Street, which has offices in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland, ME. has received a three-year, $300,000 grant commitment from KeyBank Foundation to support Preble Street’s Site-Based Housing First (SBHF) programs. The funds will help them support the State of Maine’s plan to functionally end chronic homelessness for our community’s most vulnerable members through the creation
Seasonal outreach ramps up for Anti-Trafficking Services
Human trafficking happens everywhere, including right here in Maine. Throughout Maine, children and adults of all genders, ages, and races are forced to do farm labor, and, to that end, many other types of work, like domestic service, commercial sex work, and restaurant and hospitality service, through threats, physical and sexual violence, and psychological coercion.
Joe’s Place: bringing services for youth under one roof
Preble Street Teen Services operates separate day and night shelters for homeless and runaway youth: the Preble Street Teen Center and the Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter. Because the Teen Center and Shelter are separate facilities, youth utilizing our overnight services must leave the day center every evening, taking their belongings to the overnight shelter, then go back to the
Educating future doctors at the Learning Collaborative
“You can be the best doctor in the world… have a photographic memory and memorize every type of medication. But, if your patients aren’t getting their basic needs met outside of the clinical environment, if they don’t have housing or shelter, if they don’t have access to food, it’s really, really hard to treat them
Volunteers needed! Summer volunteer opportunities
Preble Street has many rewarding and fun volunteer opportunities that are great for individuals, families, and even groups! Whether chopping veggies and helping to prepare meals at Preble Street’s Food Security Hub or organizing donations at the Receiving Center, there is a way for everyone to get involved and make a direct impact in the
What does Harm Reduction look like at Preble Street?
“I am a human being. Part of my job, part of being alive, is making sure others are, too.” Joe Kreisler, Preble Street Founder Every ten days, a client at one of Preble Street’s programs experiences an overdose. Preble Street staff respond to these overdoses, reversing as many as possible, saving lives, and compassionately utilizing
Vision for Food Security Hub becoming a reality
Food insecurity is a critical issue facing Maine. According to Feeding America, Maine has a higher-than-average food insecurity rate of 12.3%. The national average is 10.5%. One‐in-eight Maine people and one‐in‐five Maine children are hungry or at risk for hunger. Maine’s Roadmap to End Hunger initiative estimates the total number of people experiencing food insecurity
Preble Street Board Profile – Joe Ingream: Curbside Spring/Summer 2024
How did you first get involved with Preble Street? My first experience working with Preble Street was volunteering at their former soup kitchen in downtown Portland. I volunteered many times with my daughters while they were in middle school and high school. I also volunteered several times with colleagues prior to joining OneAmerica Financial. The
A whole new chance at life
For 14 years, Kabir was homeless in Portland. But today, he is safely housed at Logan Place, Maine’s first Site-based Housing First program which opened 19 years ago. Kabir’s time on the streets was tough. “There is no break when you’re homeless. There’s no door to close,” he shared. Living outside led to numerous health
Preventing youth from becoming unhoused
One of the most important things we can do for young people experiencing difficult, unsafe, or unstable situations is to find alternative options to entering emergency shelter. The impact of diverting youth from spending even just one night in a shelter bed can make a significant impact over their lifetime. “Once someone accesses emergency shelter,
Letter from Swannie: Spring/Summer 2024
PHOTO: Partnership at work! Staff from Greater Portland Health, Maine Medical Center, and Preble Street recently celebrated the one year anniversary of recuperative care in Maine Anti-poverty work is far too important and complex to expect any one organization to be able to do it alone. Partnerships and collaboration are key. I was amazed when
