OUR MISSION
The mission of Preble Street is to provide accessible barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems.
Our Programs
From a nutritious meal to crisis intervention, from clean clothes to healthcare, from shelters to a permanent home, Preble Street programs not only meet urgent needs but also create solutions to homelessness and hunger.
Who We Serve
The people we meet come from every background. Some were born into abject poverty and abuse. Others were born into a loving and stable family, but life’s circumstances dictated a wildly unanticipated course.
OUR ANNUAL IMPACT
Preble Street is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on the generosity of friends who lend their time and their resources. Every gift you make, every hour you spend, helps those most in need.
LATEST NEWS
Trinitie, Cam, and Maz’s Story
Trinitie, Cam, and Maz’s Story On a snowy day in December, Trinitie holds 3-week-old Mazarine on the couch while her partner, Cam, prepares a bottle in the kitchen. Their apartment is beautifully furnished and decorated with original art all over the walls, despite the young family having only moved in a few weeks prior. “Most
Take Action: Tell Maine to provide permanent funding for emergency shelters!
Depending on where a person lives in our state, they may need to travel hours to the nearest shelter if they become homeless. There is no guarantee that when they arrive there will be a bed available. Right now, there are not enough shelter beds in Maine for the thousands of individuals and families experiencing
TAKE ACTION to Protect Maine’s Public Schools, Hospitals, Daycares, and Libraries from ICE
Tell your Maine legislators to support LD 2106! Increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, as part of the dehumanizingly named ‘Operation Catch of the Day,’ is creating constant fear and anxiety for so many of our neighbors, leaving them scared to leave their homes, go to work, take their children to school, seek
Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention in Maine
Hailey Virusso, Director of Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services, spoke with News Center Maine about human trafficking in our state. Watch here. ACTION ALERT: On Wednesday, February 4, Maine’s Health and Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 2136, An Act to Support Victims of Trafficking in Maine in Response to Federal Funding
“Anti-poverty work is trafficking prevention.” – an interview with Alicia Peters
Alicia Peters, Ph.D., is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of New England. Her most recent book, “Trafficking Trajectories: Vulnerability, Failed Systems, and the Case for Prevention” focuses on the experiences of trafficking survivors in Maine and New Hampshire. Prevention, survivors’ needs Since your focus most recently has been on Maine and New
Impact of current ICE actions on Preble Street
TAKE ACTION to Protect Maine’s Public Schools, Hospitals, Daycares, and Libraries from ICE Leah McDonald, Vice President of Staff & Culture at Preble Street, shares how the recent surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Maine is affecting staff and their work. How would you describe Preble Street staff and the work they
FEATURED STORIES
Trinitie, Cam, and Maz’s Story
Trinitie, Cam, and Maz’s Story On a snowy day in December, Trinitie holds 3-week-old Mazarine on the couch while her partner, Cam, prepares a bottle in the kitchen. Their apartment is beautifully furnished and decorated with original art all over the walls, despite
Brian’s story
Brian Hester is a proud Marine Corps Veteran. If you ask, he’ll tell you he “loved every minute” of his two-and-a-half years of service with the Marines. But, like many Veterans in Maine and all over the U.S., Brian cycled in and out
Peter’s Story
Peter was homeless for eight months, sleeping on the street and in different shelters in Augusta and Lewiston. He’s an Air Force Veteran, originally from Madawaska, Maine, who lost housing when his landlord increased his rent with only a month’s notice. “I had
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every week 350 community volunteers lend a hand at Preble Street and almost 100% of the food and clothing we distribute is donated. We welcome — we depend on — your time, financial support, and in-kind donations. Volunteering at one meal a year, once in a while, or every week; donating work boots for someone trying to turn their life around, or organizing a fundraiser — every gift you give helps those most in need.