Teen Outreach
When a young person experiences homelessness, they deserve an integrated system of care and safety. Preble Street Teen Services is proud to work alongside other youth-serving organizations throughout Maine to provide mobile outreach to youth in their community of choice to rapidly resolve episodes of homelessness.
The Preble Street Teen Outreach Services team serves youth and young adults who are:
- currently experiencing homelessness,
- are at imminent risk of becoming homeless, or
- are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence and have minimal options for support.
Serving a large geographical area in Maine, Preble Street caseworkers provide intensive, short-term services (1-3 months) to rapidly resolve episodes of homelessness, in their community of choice. People receiving diversion or navigation services through Preble Street Teen Services connect to critical resources as needed and also can work with a peer mentor, an individual with lived experience and expertise.
Preble Street Teen Services launched a Street Outreach program in spring 2023. This program connects unhoused youth in Cumberland and York counties to supportive services. The current route for street outreach caseworkers focuses on the Portland and Biddeford areas.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness describes diversion as ‘a client-driven approach; its goal is to help the person or household find safe alternative housing immediately, rather than entering shelter or experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It is intended to ensure that the homelessness experience is as brief as possible, to prevent unsheltered homelessness, and to avert stays in shelter.’
The Preble Street Teen Services Mobile Diversion and Navigation team is able to leverage already-present resources to ensure a streamlined and complementary approach to diversion and outreach work across Maine.
Who is eligible for Outreach Services?
- Youth and young adults ages 12-24
- Meeting the HUD eligibility criteria of homeless under Categories 1, 2, or 4:
- Literal homelessness (currently experiencing homelessness; ex: shelter, streets, place not designed for human habitation)
- Imminent risk of experiencing homelessness (ex: evictions, couch-surfing)
- Actively fleeing or attempting to flee dangerous situations related to violence that has taken place in their home or made them afraid to return home, including lack of other residence and resources or support networks to obtain permanent housing
Location and Geographic Scope: York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Waldo, Knox, Kennebec, and Somerset Counties
McKinney-Vento Outreach Program
Funded by the
Department of Education
Program Description
In partnership with the Department of Education, the McKinney-Vento Liaison Outreach Program works directly with schools across Cumberland and York counties to increase their internal capacity to identify and provide appropriate resources for eligible McKinney-Vento students and families.
This program provides training, technical assistance, referral guidance, and direct support to school personnel with the intention of ensuring that students, families, and schools are aware of the educational rights and community resources afforded to youth experiencing homelessness.
Due to the nature of this work, there are no eligibility criteria or referral processes outlined.
Geographic Scope: York and Cumberland Counties
To contact the Outreach team:
