NEWS & UPDATES
The importance of vouchers to secure housing
For countless Mainers, housing vouchers have been a crucial steppingstone to stability. In the last decade, especially the past few years, as rents went up and the number of available apartments or houses to rent has dwindled, waiting lists for vouchers have grown and it’s become more difficult for voucher-holders to secure housing. This
Preble Street’s Recuperative Care is a one-of-a-kind program for Maine
Art, books, and inspiring messages are found inside and on the walls at Maine’s first recuperative care program. Picture this… you’ve endured a difficult surgery or have had a life-threatening illness or injury. You’re about to embark on a long recovery process, and will soon be discharged from the hospital and have nowhere to go
You Don’t Need a Home to Vote
Low-income and housing-insecure individuals face more barriers to voting, and every election season Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) conducts the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign to educate individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty about their voting rights. Many individuals might not know that US citizens in Maine have a right to vote regardless of any
What does racial equity work look like at Preble Street?
Caption: Staff attending a recent Racial Health Equity training, led by Dr. Michelle Durham, an addiction medicine specialist and psychiatrist. Preble Street is on an ongoing journey to become an anti-racist organization. We do this critical work informed by — and in partnership with — the people we serve. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been
Ending hunger in Maine starts one food box at a time
Every food box from the Preble Street Food Pantry tells a unique story. Each item inside a food box can tell you something about the person or family who it’s going to, what they might like to eat, and even possibly something about their heritage and culture. Kale is one vegetable that goes into many of our
No Homeless Veterans is solving Veteran Homelessness in Maine
There are Maine Veterans across the state experiencing homelessness, sleeping outside, living in their cars, couch surfing, and sleeping in shelters. This is not the way Maine should be. Mainers are united in the belief that no Veteran should have to endure the struggle of homelessness. To reach the goal of ending Veteran homelessness in Maine
Rapid Re-Housing opens in Lewiston-Auburn
Photo caption: Leanne Pomeroy, Director of Rapid Re-Housing, Preble Street; Zakk Maher, Deputy Director of Business & Community Development, City of Auburn, Maine; Mayor Jeff Harmon, City of Auburn, Maine; and Erin Kelly, Senior Director of Social Work, Preble Street gather to launch Rapid Rehousing in Lewiston-Auburn. On Monday, August 12, 2024, Preble Street officially
Families eligible for one-time summer EBT benefit
During the school year, more than 20 million children in the U.S. rely on school lunches for daily meals. School breakfast and lunch programs are an important tool to address food insecurity among school age children in the U.S. However, when school is out of session, children can no longer access these daily meals, leading
Advocating for the safety of everyone
Early this morning, a woman was wounded by a gunshot on Portland Street, near several of the buildings where Preble Street staff work each day and clients receive services. Preble Street is horrified by this senseless act of gun violence and our thoughts are focused on the wellbeing of the victim of this shooting and
MaineHealth CONNECT Van started service on July 1
National data from Harvard Medical School show that mobile health clinics are money savers that connect people to preventative care and outpatient services. Across the country, mobile clinics have reduced emergency department visits, returned money to communities, and saved lives. On July 1, MaineHealth launched their very own mobile health clinic, called the CONNECT Outreach Van. The CONNECT
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
Preble Street’s Healing Center, located at 55 Portland Street, Portland, ME, is the only dedicated space in Maine for trafficking survivors. Preble Street has provided more than 500 people with anti-trafficking-related services, since ATS began over a decade ago. Human trafficking happens everywhere, including right here in Maine. Children and adults of all genders, ages,
