Letter from Swannie: Curbside Winter 2022/23

For anyone paying attention over these last few years, it’s become abundantly clear that emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness are an important part of the public health infrastructure. Shelters didn’t close during the pandemic. Shelter staff and our partners in the healthcare industry did not work remotely. We stayed open, and, in many cases, … Read more

Board Profile: Terry Sutton, Board President

How did you get involved with Preble Street? I had Preble Street on my radar as one of the non-profits that I was most impressed with, and I wanted to be more involved in my community… but with small children and a demanding full-time job, I couldn’t see a way to get involved. Luckily, I … Read more

Nonprofit Business Leader of the Year: Mark Swann leads Preble Street on a statewide mission of fighting poverty

We are thrilled to share that Preble Street Executive Director, Mark Swann, has been named a Nonprofit Business Leader of the year by MaineBiz! In his 30 years as our leader, he has helped the agency grow from two employees working in Portland to nearly 300 employees and 1000 volunteers working all over the state … Read more

Ali Lovejoy, Outstanding Woman of the Year

“It’s a really remarkable thing to see these individuals that have so little, yet are so generous with each other. Working with these clients and working with the staff who are so driven and passionate about helping people who have fallen through the cracks — it keeps me coming back.” Preble Street Senior Director of … Read more

The Best Decision Ever: One Nonprofit’s Extraordinary COVID-19 Choice

Executives are enmeshed in crucial conversations about the future of their organizations and need to make quick decisions in those regards… but the calculations some nonprofits made exceeded the question of cash on hand. Maine’s Preble Street, which serves the homeless population, has actually raised salaries in anticipation of what’s now a very hazardous assignment. … Read more

Positively Maine: Mark Swann

Tory Ryden created Positively Maine in response to the explosion of negative, troubling and worry-inducing news stories that infiltrate all air waves. The show is an hour-long and features no vitriolic arguments–rather, inspirational, informative stories that motivate and, the goal is, uplift. We feature individuals, groups and companies from every pocket of this great state … Read more

Mark Swann Remembers Leon Gorman

… Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street, said Gorman volunteered at the agency’s Portland soup kitchen every Wednesday morning for 12 years. Swann announced that the agency’s volunteer of the year award will be named the Leon Gorman Volunteer Service Award. Swann remembered getting a call last winter from Gorman while Gorman was sitting … Read more

Survey indicates many teens are homeless

PORTLAND, Maine -A 6-page, 45-question survey is being conducted in local communities to find new ways to help vulnerable young adults. Preble Street Resource Center is conducting the study in seven counties. Preliminary results show that many young adults are homeless. Teens that couch surf, camp out or find other ways to survive are being … Read more

On the Radio: Mark Swann

Mark Swann is the Executive Director of Preble Street, a Portland Organization that finds solutions for those who are experiencing homelessness, hunger and poverty. A finalist for the Congressional Medal of Honor, 51-year-old Swann has been with Preble Street for 23 years.  You were one of our earliest guests when you first came on Love … Read more

Dr. Lisa Radio Hour: Life on the Edges #153

How do we handle ourselves when life throws us a curve? Bruce Fitzgerald, Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, and Joshua Frances, Director of Emergency Management at Maine Medical Center, give us valuable information about emergencies, how we might be impacted and how we can best prepare. Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann discusses what happens … Read more