This year, the National Association of Social Workers’ Maine Chapter named Preble Street the 2024 Social Work Agency of the Year. Preble Street’s Vice President of Social Work, Andrew Bove, accepted the award on behalf of the agency. Below are the remarks he gave in his acceptance speech. My name is Andrew Bove, and I … Read more
In the past year, Preble Street’s Veteran Housing Services (VHS) program has housed over 270 Veterans. This past September, VHS housed more Veterans than ever before in one month, connecting 28 Veterans to housing. These numbers represent hours, days, and weeks of hard work from the incredibly dedicated VHS team, who show up with compassion and … Read more
“By being present here today, as well as by paying attention every day, by thoughtfully connecting the dots between the tragedy of homelessness and the racial inequities, social determinants of health, gentrification pressures, and widening economic inequities that cause homelessness, you are the group of people I am most optimistic about creating the change that … Read more
October 2024 marks two years of service to vulnerable community members experiencing unsheltered homelessness at the Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter. Since opening its doors, Elena’s Way has provided over 18,000 bed nights to individuals experiencing homelessness. That represents more than 18,000 times that a person has been able to sleep inside a warm, safe, and dignified shelter environment instead of … Read more
This October, Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) conducted its annual Candidate Forums, hosting candidates running for Portland City Council and the US House at Preble Street Offices and the City of Portland’s Homeless Services Center. HVJ is a grassroots social change organization that works with, and on behalf of, people with lived experience of homelessness and poverty. HVJ … Read more
The 2024 Voting Guide from Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) is now available! Every year, HVJ polls candidates running at the local, state, and federal level on important questions and issues related to housing, homelessness, and poverty. The candidates’ responses to these pressing questions and critical issues are compiled in the below PDFs to help you make … Read more
Preble Street, a nonprofit social service agency committed to serving the most vulnerable people in Maine for the past 50 years, yesterday awarded Greg Payne, Senior Advisor, Housing Policy, in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future (GOPIF), with its Force for Good Award. The award was presented during the Second Biennial Conference … Read more
Art, books, and inspiring messages are found inside and on the walls at Maine’s first recuperative care program. Picture this… you’ve endured a difficult surgery or have had a life-threatening illness or injury. You’re about to embark on a long recovery process, and will soon be discharged from the hospital and have nowhere to go … Read more
Low-income and housing-insecure individuals face more barriers to voting, and every election season Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ) conducts the “You Don’t Need a Home to Vote” campaign to educate individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty about their voting rights. Many individuals might not know that US citizens in Maine have a right to vote regardless of any … Read more
Caption: Staff attending a recent Racial Health Equity training, led by Dr. Michelle Durham, an addiction medicine specialist and psychiatrist. Preble Street is on an ongoing journey to become an anti-racist organization. We do this critical work informed by — and in partnership with — the people we serve. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have been … Read more
