Homeless urged to shelters as Maine braces for snowstorm

With temperatures frigid and this season’s first major snowfall approaching, outreach teams in Portland urged the homeless Friday to come into emergency shelters. Weather that cold is particularly hard on the homeless, said John Bradley, associate director of the Preble Street social service agency in Portland. "We’ve been worrying about the weather for the last … Read more

Cold weather leads to crowded shelters

PORTLAND (WGME) — The Oxford Street Shelter is expecting more than 500 people as the temperature drops Wednesday night. The overflow space at the Preble Street Resource Center typically holds 75 and repairs were made in time to accommodate all of those people, but shelter directors say many will still be left out in the … Read more

Top U.S. housing official visits Maine

U.S. housing official Barbara Poppe pays a visit today to the Joe Kriesler Teen Shelter at Preble Street in Portland. One of the federal government’s top housing officials has been visiting a couple of homeless shelters in Maine’s biggest city. Barbara Poppe, the executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, toured the Florence … Read more

Obama official: Portland's homeless need more permanent solutions

The Obama administration’s top official dedicated to ending homelessness is in Portland this week to meet with administrators of shelters and speak at a conference on homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. As executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Barbara Poppe is responsible for administering Opening Doors, the nation’s first comprehensive … Read more

Portland homeless shelters at full capacity

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — On an average night last September, 500 people were staying at Portland homeless shelter — a record-breaking month for the city. Portland shelters are at full capacity, looking for overflow spaces and housing solutions for the growing homeless population. At Preble Street, they’re seeing an increase in elderly clients, many … Read more

New grant to help Maine victims of sex trafficking

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland’s Preble Street Resources Center is getting a $400,000 grant to help young women escape from sex trafficking. The social services agency will begin receiving the first $200,000 installment of the two-year grant from the Department of Justice this fall. Part of it will be used to develop a statewide network … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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. … Read more

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 … Read more