Preble Street Teen Services earns national attention

PORTLAND, Maine — Teenagers arrive at Preble Street’s Teen Center or Lighthouse Shelter for a wide range of reasons. Abuse, sexual abuse, trouble with the law, family crises. But once they show up, none are turned away. “Anybody under 21 who walks through our doors can get their basic needs met,” said Chris Bicknell, director … Read more

Teen Services coordinator Chris Bicknell featured on Dr. Lisa Radio Show & Podcast

From an aching back to an aching life. How do we combat the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ that bring discomfort to our bodies? Our guests include Dr. Mike Totta of the Spine Center at Orthopedic Associates Dr. Bob Lynch of Lynch Chiropractic Arts Center Chris Bicknell Coordinator of the Teen Center and Lighthouse … Read more

Shelter by next summer?

PORTLAND – It’s become a nearly daily ritual for the homeless youths in Maine’s largest city — a lottery to see who gets a bed and who doesn’t. "Four out of five nights, we’re turning young people away," said Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street, a non-profit agency that runs the city’s only shelter … Read more

Preble Street seeks new home for Lighthouse teen shelter

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — Preble Street is hoping to move its homeless shelter for teens. But first, it needs approval from Portland’s planning board. A workshop was held on the proposed move of the Lighthouse Shelter Tuesday afternoon. Preble Street says the current shelter is in a building with a crumbling foundation and it … Read more

State of Homelessness in Portland

Mark Swann, Executive Director of Preble Street, discussed teen homelessness, plans to move the Lighthouse Teen Shelter to a larger, safer facility, and the challenges that have arisen due to the recent closure of the Milestone shelter with NewsCenters’ Cindy Williams.

Preble Street planning to move teen shelter

More nights than not, teenagers looking for a place to sleep are turned away from Preble Street’s Lighthouse teen shelter. The teen facility, on Elm Street, can sleep 16 people. But because of limitations with the existing shelter layout, and rules requiring people of different ages and genders to be separated, some kids get turned … Read more

16 win awards for service to crime victims

PORTLAND – Sixteen individuals have been honored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for outstanding service to crime victims. The annual awards were presented Friday in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, according to a media release issued today by U.S. Attorney for Maine, Paula Silsby. The award recipients were: Sheriff Donna Dennison and Detective … Read more