Equity and Inclusion

Preble Street statement on ICE actions

TAKE ACTION to Protect Maine’s Public Schools, Hospitals, Daycares, and Libraries from ICE Keeping vulnerable people safe is core to the Preble Street mission. And right now, many of our community members, rightfully so, do not feel safe. Increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as part of the dehumanizingly named ‘Operation Catch of the Day,’ is creating constant fear and anxiety for so many of our neighbors.  Targeting … Read more

Basic Needs −> Shelter −> Long-term Solutions

50 years ago, Joe Kreisler founded Preble Street as a real-world training ground for his students at the University of Southern Maine and a place for Portland’s most vulnerable residents to receive basic services—meals, clothing, bathrooms, etc.—and to connect to resources for healthcare, mental health treatment, employment, and more. “I am a human being. Part … Read more

The power of advocacy

For 50 years, Preble Street has advocated for keeping people in Maine fed, sheltered, and housed. We are deeply committed to lifting up the voices of marginalized and underserved populations, bringing people together to focus on solutions, and ensuring that everyone in our state has food, clothing, and shelter. As a social work agency, we … Read more

Homeless Voices for Justice publishes 2024 Voting Guide

The 2024 Voting Guide from Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) is now available! Every year, HVJ polls candidates running at the local, state, and federal level on important questions and issues related to housing, homelessness, and poverty. The candidates’ responses to these pressing questions and critical issues are compiled in the below PDFs to help you make … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

Joe’s Place: bringing services for youth under one roof

“What I want you to know about Preble Street is that they have a lot of resources to help you, and they want to help you.” Youth currently being served by Preble Street Teen Services Providing 24-hour services, seven days a week, Preble Street Teen Services operates separate day and night shelters for homeless and runaway … Read more

Mental health and homelessness: get to know the facts

Although we don’t have a vaccine for mental health or substance use disorders, we do have practical and effective solutions. They are the effective and evidence-based practices we know work — access to treatment, harm reduction services, mental health support, peer support groups, and perhaps most importantly, educating our community to reduce stigma and promote … Read more

Understanding low barrier shelters

What does a low-barrier shelter look like? At a time when unsheltered homelessness is increasing exponentially in our community and the shortage of low-barrier shelter beds has created a state-wide homelessness crisis, Elena’s Way and Florence House are a model for how we can take care of the most vulnerable people in our community. The … Read more