For anyone paying attention over these last few years, it’s become abundantly clear that emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness are an important part of the public health infrastructure. Shelters didn’t close during the pandemic. Shelter staff and our partners in the healthcare industry did not work remotely. We stayed open, and, in many cases, … Read more
18-year-old Austin currently spends his nights at the Preble Street Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter or outside on the streets. “I was emancipated at 16 to get away from my family. I lived with friends for about a year and a half. When I turned 18, their parents were like ‘Ok, time to be an adult, … Read more
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Educate yourself and your community about the issue of youth homelessness and what we can do to end it in Maine! In 2022, at least 1,500 youth and young adults experienced the tragedy of homelessness in Maine; in fact, more than 30% of Maine’s homeless population is under the age … Read more
Over the last year, 111 survivors of human trafficking in Maine have worked with Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services (ATS) to reclaim their lives on their own terms. Many of these individuals have received support at the Preble Street Healing Center, which marks its one-year anniversary in September. The Healing Center opened to expand the work … Read more
As we enter the new fiscal year on July 1 we are excited to welcome new Preble Street Board member, Lauren Gauthier! Lauren is the Infectious Disease Prevention Program Director at Maine Center for Disease Control and has a Master of Public Health. Our work is incredibly interconnected with Maine’s public health system and Lauren’s expertise … Read more
Preble Street, a nonprofit human service agency with programs throughout Maine, created its Rapid Re-Housing program (RRH) in 2020 to move more people from homelessness to permanent housing. Today, Preble Street announces that the program has officially served 101 individuals and families and housed 77 people. Nearly 90% of people housed through the program have remained stably housed. “We are excited to have reached the milestone of 100 participants … Read more
Preble Street has top-tier volunteers, and this Volunteer Appreciation Week, we cannot thank them enough for their time, dedication, and love! In the last year, over 1,000 individuals have volunteered with Preble Street, making a difference in the lives and hearts of staff and clients. We could not do the work we do without them! … Read more
BY MARK SWANN SPECIAL TO THE PRESS HERALD Doing anti-poverty work is tough and has become even more challenging as the pandemic has led to unprecedented economic instability, social isolation and increased polarization in society. The mission of Preble Street has always been to care for people who have nowhere else to turn and to … Read more
“In my time working here, I’ve been able to provide people with many things. I’ve given people vouchers, I’ve helped people move into apartments, I’ve helped somebody repair their vehicle. I’ve provided all of these material things. But time and time again, when people talk to me about what was most important to them, it’s been … Read more
