NEWS & UPDATES
Discrimination Against Homelessness Pilot Project
Have you or someone you know experienced discrimination based on your housing status? Last year, Homeless Voices for Justice successfully advocated for the passage of the Discrimination Against Homelessness Pilot Project, which directs the Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to collect complaints of discrimination based on housing status. This includes complaints that a person was
Preble Street receives $95,000 No Kid Hungry grant to help end hunger among Maine children
Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative is partnering with family shelters, YMCAs, and immigrant-led organizations across the state to reach up to 30,000 Maine children by the end of September. Earlier this month, Preble Street received a $95,000 Community Nutrition grant from No Kid Hungry to ensure that children and families experiencing homelessness, immigrant families, and
Read the latest edition of Curbside!
Dignified shelter ? Hearty meals ? Supported housing ? Accessible healthcare ? The latest edition of Curbside is out! Read it here.
Preble Street assumes operations of Quarantine and Temporary Wellness Shelters in Lewiston
As of Sunday, May 16 Preble Street assumed operations of the 44 bed Quarantine and Temporary Wellness Shelters in Lewiston that have been run by Community Concepts Inc. (CCI) since early 2020. Many CCI shelter staff will continue their positions as Preble Street employees. “The critically important role of emergency shelters has never been more
Tell the Portland City Council: NO SHELTER MORATORIUM
Update June 4: The attempt to pass a moratorium on shelters in Portland needed 7 City Councilor votes to pass as an emergency measure. It failed by one vote. Now we have a tougher road ahead. This Monday, June 7, the Portland City Council will vote again to institute a moratorium on emergency shelters in
Maine Voices: As need for shelters in Portland grows, so does resistance to them
BY MARK R. SWANN SPECIAL TO THE PRESS HERALD Opening a new emergency shelter – or, I should say, trying to open a new emergency shelter – is perhaps the most challenging thing a social service agency can do. The politics are terrible, the neighborhood response can be vicious, the funding is woefully inadequate to both
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED: Contact Portland City Council before Monday afternoon
UPDATE: New vote on June 7. Take action here. Today we learned that this Monday, May 17, the Portland City Council will vote whether to implement an immediate Emergency Shelter Moratorium in the Bayside neighborhood of Portland. We need you to call and email the Portland City Council IMMEDIATELY and tell them to vote no on this moratorium. It’s
Statement on recent murders of men of color
On April 19, Mario Gonzalez was killed by Alameda, CA police. On March 31, Anthony Alvarez was fatally shot by a Chicago, IL policeman just two days after a different Chicago Police Officer fatally shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo. These killings of men and boys of color in our country reflect the fact that
Preble Street launches new Culturally Appropriate Meals intiative
In 2020 alone, Preble Street provided over one million meals, a reflection of the increasing needs in the community for food support and access to healthy meals. The food programs offer mobile food services and soup kitchens along with a food pantry for those experiencing food insecurity and housing instability or homelessness. In February 2021,
Support LD 1478: An Act to Decriminalize Homelessness
At Preble Street, we know that the solution to homelessness is housing, not handcuffs. That is why we support LD 1478: An Act to Decriminalize Homelessness. Join us in telling the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety that they must pass this important legislation! Click here to send an email to the
Statement on Derek Chauvin Verdict and the Recent Murders of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color
Preble Street is relieved that Derek Chauvin has been held accountable for the murder of George Floyd. However, this verdict does not bring justice to Black communities, nor does it solve the centuries-long tradition of racist state violence in America. Yesterday, Andrew Brown, Jr. was killed by a police officer. In the last few weeks,
Help pass LD 996! Dental care IS health care!
This Monday, April 26, at 1 pm there is a public hearing for LD 996: An Act to Improve Dental Access for Maine Children and Adults with Low Incomes. Currently, Mainers with low-income over the age of 21 do not have access to preventative, diagnostic, and restorative dental services. This leaves them in pain with abscesses, tooth decay,
