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

Surviving sex trafficking as a child, finding a voice

As a girl and a survivor of sex trafficking, dee Clarke didn’t have the words to explain what had happened to her. All she knew was “prostitute.” But that wasn’t right. It was years before she said: kidnapped, raped, tortured, trafficked. Now 55 and living in Portland, she has found the language to explain the … Read more

Maine’s 40 Emergency Shelter Providers are thankful for one-time funding to support shelter operations

Maine’s emergency shelter providers applaud the passage of LD 698, An Act to Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters in Maine. Relying on a mix of private philanthropy and government funding, emergency shelters have faced rising costs, weathered the pandemic and inflation, and continued to meet the changing and complex needs of individuals and families who need … Read more

Walking alongside survivors

Photo credit: Maine Morning Star  Preble Street’s work is never done in isolation. We are continuously making connections with other social service providers and nonprofits to better serve clients and the needs of the community. This month, we are highlighting a key partner of Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services, MECASA.  The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault … Read more

Seeing the possibilities

Mark Swann’s remarks from the Preble Street 50th Anniversary Celebration  Thank you to every single person who is here tonight. I am so blown away by seeing how many of you came out tonight to help us celebrate 50 years.    I am really proud of all of the work that we’ve done at Preble Street. … Read more

History

The mission of Preble Street is to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to those problems. In 1975, Preble Street was founded as a neighborhood center to involve and empower homeless and low-income residents in Portland. Today, Preble Street is a statewide hub of services and … Read more

Maine Needs and Preble Street Announce Partnership to Help More Mainers Meet their Basic Needs

Preble Street is excited to announce a new partnership with Maine Needs that will support both organizations’ goal to meet the basic needs of Mainers experiencing homelessness or who have recently moved out of homelessness.   As of April 18, 2025, Preble Street will no longer accept individual in-kind, non-food donations. All clothing, hygiene, and household … Read more

50th Anniversary
Event Sponsorship

Join us as a sponsor for the 50th Anniversary Event! Over its history, Preble Street has impacted tens of thousands of people in Maine and led with solutions on some of the biggest issues facing our communities, including hunger, homelessness, human trafficking, equity, and poverty.  This event will reflect on 50 years of service and look to the … Read more

Preble Street in Bangor

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

Hope House

Preble Street Hope House is one of only five privately operated adult low-barrier shelters in Maine and the only one north of Waterville. Hope House, located in Bangor, Maine, is the first 24/7, 365 day a year Preble Street program outside of Portland and joins Preble Street’s Veterans Housing and Anti-Trafficking Services in providing services … Read more