Shelter is a human right and emergency shelters are a vital part 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
By Sam Chamberlain (he/him), Managing Director of Preble Street Quarantine Shelters Note: With funding from MaineHousing, Preble Street operated a Quarantine & Isolation (Q&I) Shelter in Scarborough from May 2020 through March 31, 2022. Because of decreased need, the state consolidated this service to Lewiston as of April 1, 2022. As social workers — and … Read more
OVERVIEW Maine has one of the highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths in the country. The number of Mainers who died from an overdose has tripled over the last seven years, with an estimated 636 people dying from overdoses in 2021 in our state. Most of these deaths were due to opioids. Living in high stress situations with limited access … Read more
Throughout Maine, children and adults of all genders, ages, and races are forced by sexual, physical, and psychological coercion or violence to do all kinds of work, including farm labor, domestic service, sex work, and restaurant and hospitality service. This is human trafficking, a crime of exploitation that can and does impact every community. In Maine, sex … Read more
100 Maine Veterans who were homeless in 2021 are warm, safe, and housed as we enter the winter months — including a Veteran who had been homeless for over 900 days, and a family with seven children. Thanks to massive outreach by caseworkers and community partners, the 100 Veteran Challenge was a resounding success! Veteran … Read more
Since last month’s highlight on youth homelessness in Maine, the Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter has reached maximum capacity several days in a row for the first time in over three years. Preble Street will never turn a minor youth away, and while at maximum capacity, staff are working with community partners and youth 18 and … Read more
IN MEMORY OF DIANNE ‘DEE’ CLARKE For more than 20 years, dee Clarke was a tireless advocate, always speaking up and speaking out with compassion in support of social justice. dee passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House and will be dearly missed by all of us here at Preble Street. … Read more
By Chloe Teboe; News Center Maine Homelessness isn’t a new issue, but the pandemic lasting a year and a half and counting has created new and unprecedented challenges. People from all walks of life have been impacted, and one group that is particularly at risk is veterans. According to the Portland-based nonprofit Preble Street, there has … Read more
In 2020 alone, Preble Street provided over one million meals, a reflection of the increasing needs in the community for food support and access to healthy meals. The food programs offer mobile food services and soup kitchens along with a food pantry for those experiencing food insecurity and housing instability or homelessness. In February 2021, … Read more
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