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Portland coalition takes aim at human trafficking

PORTLAND – A coalition led by social service agency Preble Street has received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to provide services for victims of human trafficking in Cumberland and York counties. With the two-year grant, the Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Coalition will provide outreach, health and legal services, case management and other

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Portland agency gets grant to help human trafficking victims

An agency in Portland that assists the homeless and those with low incomes has received a $400,000 federal grant to support a coalition that will provide services to victims of human trafficking in southern Maine. Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann says sex trafficking and exploitation, along with labor trafficking, are growing problems in York

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Preble Street receives grant to fight sex trafficking

Preble Street will use a $400,000 federal grant to establish services for prostitution victims in Maine. Daniella Cameron, supervisor of Preble Street Teen Services, said sex trafficking – usually involving homeless girls coerced by men into prostitution – isn’t something that the victims will talk about unless asked the right questions in the right way.

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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

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Preble Street election forum draws four Portland City Council candidates

PORTLAND – You don’t need a home to vote. That was the message at a candidates forum held Oct. 11 by Homeless Voices for Justice, the advocacy campaign affiliated with Preble Street Resource Center. Four of the seven candidates for City Council participated to answer questions from about two dozen people, including individuals who described

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PowerPay Marks 10th Anniversary with “10 Days of Giving”

PORTLAND, MAINE – In recognition of its 10-year anniversary, local credit card processor PowerPay is launching "10 Days of Giving" (www.10daysofgiving.com)- a celebration that reflects the company’s corporate culture and commitment to giving, sustainability and community. During the first 10 days of October, PowerPay employees are volunteering time during their workdays and making donations of

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Rep. Pingree to visit Portland soup kitchen, homeless shelter

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is visiting a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Portland. The Democratic congresswoman will visit the Preble Street soup kitchen on Wednesday. Pingree’s office says that the congresswoman will talk to three residents at the Oxford Street Shelter who haven’t been able to move into permanent housing due to mandatory federal

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Mainers to see cut in SNAP benefits

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) – Mainers on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are about to take a big hit because the federal stimulus package is expiring. More than $30 million a month goes to Maine residents through SNAP, or what’s commonly known as food stamps, but there will be big cuts across the board starting Nov.

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Federal cuts impact Portland homeless program

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – An initiative put together by the City of Portland’s task force on homelessness to get 40 chronic homeless people into permanent housing is about to feel the impact of Federal budget cuts. Some of the people who received Section 8 vouchers have been informed they may be pulled and funding

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Proposed SNAP Cuts Worry Maine Recipients

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote today on a Republican proposal to slash $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP. Critics say it will result in four million low-income seniors, veterans, children and their families losing food stamps benefits. The move comes at a time when Maine is

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Businesses helping feed the homeless

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — More than two dozen businesses, churches and schools are answering the call to help feed the homeless while Portland’s largest soup kitchen is temporarily closed. Employees at Verrill Dana spent their lunch break making sandwiches — a lot of sandwiches. 24-hundred pieces of bread and 12-hundred slices of luncheon meat

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