Preble Street staff are #CompassionInAction, and we want you to get to know them! This month we’re introducing you to JB Carson, Veterans Housing Services Program Assistant Name, title, and program: JB, Program Assistant, Veterans Housing Services (VHS) How long have you worked at Preble Street? I’ve been here for 12 years. What is a … Read more
Preble Street Veterans Housing Services (VHS), in partnership with other Veterans services agencies* across the state have come together to dramatically reduce Veteran homelessness in Maine. Earlier this month, VHS and partners launched a housing surge to get as many homeless Veterans as possible into housing in the 100 days leading up to Veterans’ Day. … Read more
With emergency shelters closing or at full capacity throughout the state, we must do all we can as a community to ensure individuals and families experiencing homelessness return to housing quickly and do not become homeless again. Through casework and financial assistance, Preble Street’s Rapid Re-Housing, Teen Housing, and Veterans Housing programs are working to … Read more
The work we do to empower people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty is never done alone. We are continuously making connections with other social service providers and nonprofits to better serve clients and the needs of the community. From our decades-long collaboration with Avesta Housing for our housing programs to our new partnership with Maine … Read more
Since its start as a small social work agency in Portland, Maine, Preble Street has been guided by its commitment to mission and empowering vulnerable Mainers. Earlier this year, this commitment led Preble Street to assume operations of Hope House, a 56-bed emergency low-barrier shelter in Bangor, after Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) announced the shelter … Read more
In the past year, Preble Street’s Veteran Housing Services (VHS) program has housed over 270 Veterans. This past September, VHS housed more Veterans than ever before in one month, connecting 28 Veterans to housing. These numbers represent hours, days, and weeks of hard work from the incredibly dedicated VHS team, who show up with compassion and … Read more
To address homelessness and housing insecurity in Maine, the help and support of landlords is critical. Preble Street works closely with landlords to identify and maintain stable housing for clients. Their partnership is crucial to successfully housing people, who are transitioning from shelter or the street. Veteran’s Housing Services (VHS), in particular, frequently works alongside landlords … Read more
Three Preble Street programs celebrated their first year of operation in 2023! Elena’s Way, a Preble Street Wellness Shelter Elena’s Way serves the needs of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, individuals unable to access other shelter services, and individuals who are extremely vulnerable should they be unsheltered. At Elena’s Way, guests have control of their own … Read more
On Friday, the No Homeless Veterans Challenge kicked off with an event at the University of Southern Maine. A panel featuring U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, Senator Angus King, and Representative Chellie Pingree was moderated by Dan Hodgkins, Challenge Chair, Senior Director of Social Work, Preble Street. While Mainers are united in the … Read more
“In my time working here, I’ve been able to provide people with many things. I’ve given people vouchers, I’ve helped people move into apartments, I’ve helped somebody repair their vehicle. I’ve provided all of these material things. But time and time again, when people talk to me about what was most important to them, it’s been … Read more