Three years ago this month, in response to the dangers and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Preble Street reimagined the way we provide meals and casework to people experiencing homelessness, and the Street Outreach Collaborative (SOC) was born. Revisit the 2020 PBS Newshour story about these changes:“Mobile outreach: A lifeline during COVID-19” No longer … Read more
For a person experiencing homelessness, poverty, or housing insecurity, meeting the basic need of nourishment is often the first step needed to move toward stability. When basic needs are met, employment, housing, and connection to health services and other social services often become the next step. “At a time of rising food costs, it is … Read more
No Homeless Veterans: The Way Maine Could 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 by June of 2025, we are building a coalition to take on this solvable problem. To jump-start the push to end Veteran … Read more
Read Preble Street’s Legislative Priorities for the regular session of the 132nd Maine Legislature here. Hunger and homelessness have been on the rise in Maine post-pandemic, leaving thousands of fellow Mainers without enough food and without shelter or housing. Lack of available housing and shelter options leaves many experiencing homelessness with no choice other than … Read more
Food insecurity and hunger continue to grow in Maine; the pandemic and rising food costs are driving more people to their local food bank or pantry. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Preble Street has produced and distributed more food than ever before – over one million meals a year – and increased output by … Read more
“I friggin’ love it here!” – Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter client On a Tuesday in early October, the first guests entered the long-awaited Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter. They were greeted by a wide-open space filled with natural light, soothing colors and art on the walls, and their very own bed. Preble Street caseworkers gave them … Read more
A model for future shelters, Elena’s Way provides dignity and choice to individuals of all genders experiencing homelessness and complex health and behavioral issues who are unableto access any other shelter Shelter is a human right, yet the number of people living unsheltered in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, and throughout the state of Maine has surged. … Read more
Over the last year, 111 survivors of human trafficking in Maine have worked with Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services (ATS) to reclaim their lives on their own terms. Many of these individuals have received support at the Preble Street Healing Center, which marks its one-year anniversary in September. The Healing Center opened to expand the work … Read more
Shelter is a human right and emergency shelters are a vital element of the public health infrastructure. When designed and operated using both preventive medicine and social work best practices, emergency shelters are uniquely situated to promote the health and wellness of individuals accessing services as well as the surrounding community. The COVID-19 pandemic has … Read more
Preble Street unequivocally condemns racism, white supremacy, sexism, ableism, and all hateful actions or words wherever they may occur – whether in our offices or shelters, in the communities we work in, or elsewhere in the world. Our mission calls on us to ‘empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty’ and to … Read more