Obama official: Portland's homeless need more permanent solutions

The Obama administration’s top official dedicated to ending homelessness is in Portland this week to meet with administrators of shelters and speak at a conference on homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. As executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Barbara Poppe is responsible for administering Opening Doors, the nation’s first comprehensive … Read more

New grant to help Maine victims of sex trafficking

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland’s Preble Street Resources Center is getting a $400,000 grant to help young women escape from sex trafficking. The social services agency will begin receiving the first $200,000 installment of the two-year grant from the Department of Justice this fall. Part of it will be used to develop a statewide network … Read more

Preble Street receives grant to fight sex trafficking

Preble Street will use a $400,000 federal grant to establish services for prostitution victims in Maine. Daniella Cameron, supervisor of Preble Street Teen Services, said sex trafficking – usually involving homeless girls coerced by men into prostitution – isn’t something that the victims will talk about unless asked the right questions in the right way. … Read more

Maine efforts to combat human trafficking get federal funding

Advocates for homeless teenagers and young people with disabilities in southern Maine say a $400,000 federal grant will help dedicate resources for young people who have been coerced into trading sex for money or a place to sleep. The two-year grant from the Department of Justice to Preble Street allocates funds directly to help victims … Read more

Preble Street election forum draws four Portland City Council candidates

PORTLAND – You don’t need a home to vote. That was the message at a candidates forum held Oct. 11 by Homeless Voices for Justice, the advocacy campaign affiliated with Preble Street Resource Center. Four of the seven candidates for City Council participated to answer questions from about two dozen people, including individuals who described … Read more

Unsung Heroes: The Sawyers of Cumberland, Preble Street Sunday stalwarts

CUMBERLAND – In January 2012, the four members of the Sawyer family made a collective New Year’s resolution that was not of the exercise more/eat better/lose weight variety. They decided to do something together on a regular basis as a family, to help others. So they contacted Preble Street in Portland and were soon put … Read more

Feeding Maine's hungry kids: summer meal programs expand

For the first time ever, every county in Maine has free summer meal sites for kids. It’s a feat that’s taken decades to achieve, since the federal Summer Food Service Program began in the late 60s. But even in 2013, advocates say, lack of awareness is the biggest barrier between hungry kids and free summer … Read more

Food Drive Kicks-off Community Week; 4/1- 4/5

Donations of non-perilshable food and other items are being accepted all this week at City Hall, Room 312 for Preble Street and other City Shelters. Other donations needed include: clean clothing, backpacks and socks. Donations will be accepted today through Friday, April 5th. This event is the first in a series of activities this week … Read more

Welfare fraud is not the problem, poverty is

Some policymakers act as if they would like to make the poor disappear, as if by magic. Gov. LePage’s budget has many versions of the trick, including a plan to cap state support for General Assistance programs, apparently under the belief that if there were less money to meet people’s needs, there would be fewer … Read more