NEWS & UPDATES
Homeless Voices for Justice gets out the vote!
“For there to be meaningful policy change, the rules have to be crafted somewhat by the people who are impacted most.” – Jim Devine, Homeless Voices for Justice Advocate Over the past week, Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) hosted its annual Candidates Forums. This year’s forums offered a chance for Portland City Council candidates and
Opening of Elena’s Way
“I friggin’ love it here!” – Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter client On a Tuesday in early October, the first guests entered the long-awaited Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter. They were greeted by a wide-open space filled with natural light, soothing colors and art on the walls, and their very own bed. Preble Street caseworkers gave them
Homeless Voices for Justice hosts Candidate Forums Friday, October 21, and Monday, October 24
Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) is holding their 2022 Candidate Forums as part of their You Don’t Need a Home to Vote campaign. The forums will feature candidates for Portland City Council and the Maine State House of Representatives. These forums allow candidates to listen to, answer the questions of, and learn from a constituency
Tune in on Monday, November 21, for the 17th Annual Stuff the Bus!
Join Preble Street and local radio stations – 98.9 WCLZ, Coast 93.1, and Rewind 100.9 – on Monday, November 21, 2022, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the 17th annual ‘Stuff the Bus.’ This year’s event is virtual, so all you need to do is tune in to one of those stations! Thank you
Preble Street partners with landlords to help find permanent housing for people in need
Preble Street says there’s been a lot of need for help and more permanent housing. That’s why they are always looking to partner with landlords. “We have case management,” Preble Street Director of Rapid Re-Housing Erin Kelly said. “We have financial landlord incentives. And we really do work to be great partners with local landlords.
New non-traditional 24/7 shelter, ‘Elena’s Way,’ to open in Portland in mid-October
Preble Street’s new 24/7 shelter is set to open next week as a non-traditional model to help people struggling to find stable housing. “Elena’s Way” will offer 40 beds as permanent spaces for people experiencing homelessness. Staff will target those who either cannot or will not stay in the city’s shelters, such as those with
Sustainability Efforts at the Preble Street Food Security Hub
Food production and energy use are two of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. While climate change affects all of us, people living in poverty are most vulnerable to its impacts, including rising temperatures, natural disasters, and potential global threats to food security. Recognizing the potential outsized impact on socially
Get ready to vote this Election Day!
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8 and we want you to get out and vote! Advocacy is key to our mission and one of the most important aspects of the Preble Street Advocacy Team’s work this time of year is ensuring that Mainers experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty know their voting rights and are registered to vote. Preble
Elena’s Way opens soon to provide 24/7 intensive services to 40 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness
A model for future shelters, Elena’s Way provides dignity and choice to individuals of all genders experiencing homelessness and complex health and behavioral issues who are unableto access any other shelter Shelter is a human right, yet the number of people living unsheltered in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and throughout the state of Maine has surged.
Path to Healing
Over the last year, 111 survivors of human trafficking in Maine have worked with Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services (ATS) to reclaim their lives on their own terms. Many of these individuals have received support at the Preble Street Healing Center, which marks its one-year anniversary in September. The Healing Center opened to expand the work
Hope in Recovery
Last year, 631 Mainers died of overdoses, and according to the Maine Overdose Report, the number of fatal overdoses so far this year are 9.7% higher. We know that people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to substance use disorder. We know that leaving them to struggle with this disease on their own is a death
Preble Street Statement on City of South Portland/New Gen Hotels License Conditions: Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Casco Bay Hotels
Preble Street appreciates the efforts of the City of South Portland to reach an agreement with the New Gen Hospitality Management group that will keep people sheltered. It is critical that the cities of Portland and South Portland, the state, and service providers come together to implement a strong and professional outreach effort to the
