Preble Street

“The loss of Hope House would’ve been felt statewide." Mark Swann, Preble Street Executive Director No matter our race, income, or where we're from, we all need and deserve a safe place to sleep. Accessible, low-barrier shelters are one critical resource that help to make sure everyone in our communities has a safe place to sleep and can access basic needs. They are often the first step in the process for people to exit homelessness and find housing. Starting in 2025, Preble Street is taking over the operations of Hope House, a 56-bed, low-barrier shelter in Bangor. In the fall of 2023, Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC) announced it would close Hope House in one year unless another provider could take over operations. Preble Street is assuming operations to ensure this critical resource remains available for the Bangor community and its residents. Hope House is the only adult, low-barrier shelter north of Waterville and the largest shelter in Bangor. Continue reading here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gJ7G2JtS Or, watch this news coverage about the transition 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwTkdddR

2024 was a year full of many challenges and lessons but also a year full of progress on many important issues. Some of the year's major highlights for Preble Street include ongoing funding for low-barrier shelters, construction at Preble Street's Food Security Hub, Hope House, amazing housing success from Veteran's Housing Services, and more. Follow the link below to look back with us on a productive 2024: https://lnkd.in/gx3QKhtz

Happy New Year from Preble Street 🥳 We have lots to celebrate this year. 2025 is Preble Street's 50th anniversary. Preble Street began as a small social work agency in the Bayside neighborhood in Portland, and now, 50 years later, Preble Street is a statewide organization, providing critical services and care that impact thousands of the most vulnerable Mainers each year. Preble Street has and always will be guided by its mission to provide accessible barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, hunger, and poverty, and to advocate for solutions to these problems. Read more about our history and follow along for upcoming events: https://lnkd.in/gMwR6f6X

Thanks to your support, more people are home, fed, safe, and warm as 2024 comes to a close. We are thankful for you and all that you do to help people in need in communities across the state of Maine. Read more:

“I want to keep moving up in the housing department. I want to get from our one-bedroom to a two-bedroom and then just keep leveling up until we can get a loan or a down payment on the house or even a small trailer. I want to be able to get stable.” - Austin, Preble Street Teen Services Client Austen's journey is a moving and powerful example of the support and services Preble Street Teen Services provides to help young people exit homelessness and secure housing, employment, and more. In fall 2022, Austin slept at the Preble Street Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter or outside on the streets. Now, Austin rents an apartment and is saving up for the next step. You can support young people, like Austin, and help break the cycle of homelessness for youth in Maine with a donation to Preble Street. Donate now to double your impact thanks to a generous Match Challenge from Allagash Brewing Company and anonymous donors. https://lnkd.in/eK3vaab6 Continue reading Austin's Story https://lnkd.in/gmMTg93c

"I'm very grateful for Florence House. Once I got in here, it meant I would never have to worry about being out in the cold or in the rain or hungry... I don't wish that on anybody." - Florence House Tenant Your donation to Preble Street helps keep vulnerable Mainers warm, safe, and stably housed. Florence House is one of Preble Street's three Site-based Housing First programs, which provide housing and supportive services to people who've experienced chronic homelessness. Donate today to support these essential programs that serve the most vulnerable Mainers. Your impact will be doubled up to $100,000 thanks to a generous match challenge from Allagash Brewing Company & anonymous donors. https://lnkd.in/eK3vaab6

Preble Street will assume operations of Bangor’s Hope House in February 2025 and we are looking for a Program Director to lead this low-barrier shelter. The Hope House Program Director requires an understanding of and alignment with Preble Street’s social justice mission; strong skills and experience in team management and leadership in a complex program or organization; commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce and services; ability to successfully plan, implement, and manage programs; and ability to adapt to and navigate change. The Director’s role is essential in ensuring shelter services are provided to meet the complex needs of individuals accessing services in alignment with program objectives and the agency mission. To learn more and to apply: https://lnkd.in/e8-JnNt2

The front page of today's The Portland Press Herald serves as a powerful message about the need for more support and services for the most vulnerable people in our community. Last night, Portland held its annual vigil to mourn the lives of the 50 people who died this past year who had experienced homelessness. The vigil article is directly below an article about Site-based Housing First and how it improves the health and lives of people who have experienced chronic homelessness. “I finally feel worthy, and this place has helped me feel that way,” Billie-Jo Burgess shares about her move into Site-based Housing First. Whether Burgess stays one year or 10 or 30 in that apartment, whether she lives out the rest of her days there or moves away, she said her life has been immeasurably altered. “I never thought I’d make it to 50, but now, I don’t want to die. I want my kids to know that I can do better than I have done.” We know the solutions to homelessness – shelter and housing options in partnership with healthcare. It’s complex, but together, we can have a community where everyone can have a safe and warm place to sleep. Read the article about Site-based Housing First here: https://lnkd.in/eXA-kN_k Read the Vigil article here: https://lnkd.in/eBENzGhd To ensure that people in our community can receive the shelter and supportive services they need, visit: https://lnkd.in/eK3vaab6

Preble Street will assume operations of Bangor’s Hope House in February 2025 and we are looking for a Program Director to lead this low-barrier shelter. The Hope House Program Director requires an understanding of and alignment with Preble Street’s social justice mission; strong skills and experience in team management and leadership in a complex program or organization; commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce and services; ability to successfully plan, implement, and manage programs; and ability to adapt to and navigate change. The Director’s role is essential in ensuring shelter services are provided to meet the complex needs of individuals accessing services in alignment with program objectives and the agency mission. To learn more and to apply: https://lnkd.in/e8-JnNt2

This Friday, December 20 at 4:30 PM is Portland's Annual Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil. A candlelight procession will start at the MaineHealth-Preble Street Learning Collaborative, 20 Portland Street, at 4:30 pm and will proceed to Monument Square for a ceremony dedicated to people who have experienced homelessness and who died this year. You can join us at 4:30 at 20 Portland Street or at 4:45 at Monument Square. All persons who are homeless, who have been homeless, who work with people who are homeless, or who are thankful they are not homeless are welcome to participate. This event is co-sponsored by the City of Portland, Maine, Northern Light Health Mercy Hospital, Greater Portland Health, and MaineHealth. Learn more here: