Preble Street Resource Center, which has been helping low-income residents at its Portland location since the 1970s, landed a $1.7 million U.S. Veterans Affairs grant Thursday to expand its program for homeless veterans from Portland to the entire state.

Mark Swann, Preble Street’s executive director, said the federal grant will help the group serve about 1,000 struggling veterans. The grant provides a significant financial boost to the non-profit group, which has been operating with an $8 million budget.

"It’s by far the largest grant we’ve ever received," Swann said. He said about half of Preble Street’s revenue comes from private donations, with the other half from public funds [click here to read the full story on the Portland Press Herald website].