Your vote in this year’s elections will have important impacts on your local community! The candidates who are elected will soon have the power to make decisions about shelter services, the substance use epidemic, affordable housing, social safety net spending, mental healthcare availability, and other issues that have a direct impact on the lives of … Read more
By Gillian Graham; Portland Press Herald Food stamp recipients have just gotten the first substantial, permanent boost in monthly benefits in four decades, a change that both they and hunger experts agree is needed to address Maine’s high food insecurity rates and give those in need better access to nutritious food. The largest single increase … Read more
At Preble Street we know that #HousingIsAHumanRight, and we are so excited to see federal legislation that seeks to ensure that every person has safe, dignified housing! Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Grace Meng (NY-06) have recently introduced the Housing Is a Human Right Act, which provides more than $300 billion for crucial housing infrastructure while increasing affordable … Read more
The City of Portland is giving YOU a voice in how they spend $46 million in Federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Participate in their poll and tell them that homeless services and affordable housing need to be priorities! The shortage of affordable housing, a lack of supportive shelters, and the COVID-19 pandemic have created … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
UPDATE MAY 3, 2021: The Judiciary Committee will be taking public testimony on this bill at a public hearing this Thursday, May 6 at 9am. We need you to contact the Judiciary Committee to express why this bill should not be passed. Please email the Committee members, submit written testimony, or testify live in opposition … Read more
TOMORROW, March 17, the Maine State Committee on Labor and Housing will vote whether to send LD 211: An Act to Support Emergency Shelter Access for Persons Experiencing Homelessness to the full legislature. This critical legislation would allocate $3 million in additional funding to homeless shelters in Maine, allowing them to provide life-saving services to … Read more
“More people died of an overdose in Maine in 2020 than of COVID-19. Although we don’t have a vaccine for Substance Use Disorder, we do have an antidote. It is the evidenced-based practices that are proven effective in treating it — access to treatment, harm reduction services, and mental health and peer support, and perhaps … Read more
UPDATED MARCH 1: As we wait for the Labor and Housing Committee to hold a work session on LD 211, please continue to email them your support of this bill. More information at Step 3 on the list below. TODAY, February 17, is the public hearing for LD 211: An Act to Support Emergency Shelter … Read more
