Preble Street, a nonprofit social service agency committed to serving the most vulnerable people in Maine for the past 50 years, yesterday awarded Greg Payne, Senior Advisor, Housing Policy, in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF), with its Force for Good Award. The award was presented during the Second Biennial Conference on Homelessness: Solutions Start with ME by Michelle “Chelle” Ducas, a tenant of the Huston Commons Site-based Housing First program, and Mark Swann, Executive Director, Preble Street.
“During the pandemic, we needed to work with people who could solve problems,” said Swann. “And Greg is unbelievable at that. Working with municipalities, with businesses, with landlords, with developers, with state legislators, he has created impactful relationships and has built trust across the aisle and across the state.”
Payne is one of Maine’s most experienced leaders in issues relating to housing and homelessness. Prior to joining GOPIF, he served as director of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition. In addition, he was a development officer for more than 14 years with nonprofit Avesta Housing, managing all aspects of multifamily rental projects from concept to completion. He is the former board chair of the National Low Income Housing Coalition and has worked for the Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
“At this very conference two years ago, Greg drew a line in the sand and said that ‘the problem is that the pace at which we are getting these desperately needed and highly successful properties up and running is not nearly good enough,” shares Swann. “He challenged Maine to prioritize Site-based Housing First and to add enough programs across the state to end chronic homelessness in Maine. And then he spent these past two years, working to pass the legislation that can make that happen.”
During the emotional presentation, Ducas shared about the impact that Site-based Housing First has had on her life, “Today I stand here, two weeks away from being one year sober, and if I were still homeless while all of this happened…if not for the Housing First Program…if not for my friends, the staff at Huston Commons…I may not be standing here at all.”
Preble Street is a nonprofit social service agency, committed to serving the most vulnerable people in Maine since 1975 through innovative, best-practice, client-centered programs. In addition to the largest direct service emergency food program in northern New England, Preble Street operates low-barrier programs throughout Maine, providing 24/365 services for individuals and families, including homeless youth, women, veterans, and survivors of human trafficking, driven by its mission to meet urgent needs, empower people to move beyond the crises in their lives, and advocate for solutions to homelessness, hunger, and poverty. PrebleStreet.org
