Advocacy has been embedded into the Preble Street mission since our founding in 1975. In tandem with our Site-based Housing First programs, the Food Security Hub, Rapid Re-Housing and many other programs, Preble Street conducts advocacy and policy work through multiple channels to address homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Our advocacy includes community organizing, with events … Read more
“Please remember that our unhoused community members are humans. They’re part of our community and they’re our neighbors. They deserve compassion. They deserve safety. They deserve advocacy, and they deserve housing,” shared Portland City Councilor Victoria Pelletier at the 2023 Longest Day of Homelessness Sit-in organized by Homeless Voices for Justice. “They deserve resources. They … Read more
A vigil to remember friends from the Greater Portland homeless community who have died will take place December 21 at 4:30pm. A crowd will gather in front of the MMC-Preble Street Learning Collaborative at 20 Portland Street and proceed by candlelight to Monument Square. Every year on the Winter Solstice — the longest night of homelessness … Read more
Today, the Biden-Harris administration released a federal plan for ending homelessness in America that includes an ambitious goal of reducing homelessness 25% by 2025. All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness outlines new strategies to prevent homelessness and increase the supply of housing with supportive services. “We have a homelessness crisis … Read more
“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 … Read more
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 … Read more
FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 8AM-5PM TOMMY’S PARK, PORTLAND On Friday, June 17 from 8am-5pm, Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) will be at Tommy’s Park in Portland for the 15th Annual Longest Day of Homelessness Sit-out, to draw attention to the fact that homelessness is tragic no matter the season.At 12pm, HVJ members and elected officials ― … Read more
Have you or someone you know experienced discrimination based on your housing status? Last year, Homeless Voices for Justice successfully advocated for the passage of the Discrimination Against Homelessness Pilot Project, which directs the Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to collect complaints of discrimination based on housing status. This includes complaints that a person was … Read more
As part of their You Don’t Need A Home To Vote campaign, Homeless Voices for Justice held virtual interviews with federal, state, and city candidates to provide the opportunity to listen to, answer the questions of, and learn from a constituency with lived-experience of homelessness, poverty, and hunger. Topics this year included unsheltered homelessness, affordable … Read more
Homeless people and advocates will are sitting out all day today to raise awareness of homelessness — and make the point that even in the warmer months, it’s tough. Judy Newell is an advocate with Homeless Voices for Justice; she says homelessness is a growing problem in Portland — mostly thanks to the property boom … Read more
