Preble Street Executive Director, Mark Swann,
on the White House's executive order that criminalizes homelessness. |
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5 years of "social work without walls" |
When someone is focused on day-to-day survival, there is little time to attend to long-term goals. Accessing the limited available resources requires sorting through a convoluted web of systems and can be impossible to navigate alone.
Every day for the past 5 years, the small but mighty Street Outreach Collaborative (SOC) at Preble Street works tirelessly to meet the basic needs of hundreds of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Portland. Over the last year, this four-person team has provided services to 290 clients and has helped 1,308 individuals since the program was formed five years ago. It is partly through this work and these stories that Preble Street caseworkers — including the SOC — know that homelessness is not caused by personal failure. It is caused by failed systems. |
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Funding cuts endanger
unsheltered youth |
Much like the Street Outreach Collaborative but with a focus on youth, Preble Street’s Teen Outreach Specialists provide resources and basic needs to young people living outside. Though Preble Street is exploring ways to continue this lifesaving program, it is likely coming to an end or will have its services dramatically cut.
On July 9, Preble Street and other nonprofits across the country received the devastating news that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to consolidate stand-alone funding for street outreach to unsheltered youth into other awards. This effectively destroys a vital resource to prevent and rapidly respond to youth homelessness, abuse, and trafficking. Preble Street’s Teen Outreach program received $150,000 annually from this grant. Each year, the Preble Street Teen Outreach program serves approximately 150 young people in York and Cumberland counties who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, couch surfing, or are otherwise difficult to find or engage. The team conducts weekly on foot outreach routes in Portland, Biddeford, Sanford, and Old Orchard Beach.
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| Staff highlight: Caitlin Tobin
"I learn so much from our clients.” |
Preble Street staff are #CompassionInAction, and we want you to get to know them! This month we’re introducing you to Caitlin Tobin, 1st Shift Case Manager at the Recuperative Care Program. Name, title, program, length of time working at Preble Street: Cait Tobin, Case Manager, Recuperative Care Program (RCP), I've been here for 2.5 years.
What do you like best about your role? Every day is different. I get to connect with people and either help them with something or simply listen. It's not always about accomplishing a task but rather making a meaningful connection. I learn so much from our clients.
What is a favorite memory you have at your current program? One of my older clients getting a home directly from RCP. She recently passed away, and I'm so happy that her last months were in a home of her own. What is the best piece of advice you've heard? To let it go and trust that things will work out the way they are supposed to.
What are some of your favorite local spots to visit? I love walking the Back Cove trail. I live in Casco, so I love being there amongst the lakes. |
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New Preble Street Board: Ready for the road ahead |
Preble Street is excited to share its new elected officers for its Board of Directors for 2026-2028 (fiscal year beginning on July 1, not calendar year). The new officers are: - Chip Leighton, President
- Yemaya St. Clair, Vice President
- Joann Bautista, Secretary
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Justin Rosner, Treasurer
“Preble Street has really smart and committed people serving on our volunteer Board of Directors and I’m excited to work closely with this really talented group over the next three years,” says Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann. “They donate their time and big brains and hearts to make sure that we stay focused on our mission and remain a strong organization in both the short and long term. While the people on the Board have changed over the years, it’s not an exaggeration to say that our strong Board of Directors is one of the key reasons that Preble Street has been around for 50 years and will be able to navigate the challenges of the coming years.”
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On Friday, July 18 Preble Street Health Services took over the parking lot at our 55 Portland Street office to host the first annual Bayside Health Fair! This event brought providers and unhoused people in the Bayside neighborhood together for several hours of resource sharing, health care, music, food, and fun. Volunteers were also on-site providing haircuts, manicures, and a tie dye station, while Preble Street staff grilled burgers and hot dogs to go with the potato salad and fruit salad. One of our favorite local nurses, Peggy Akers was on hand to help people receive updated vaccinations.
Events like this strengthen partnerships between providers and build a true sense of community between and among staff and clients.
Organizations present at the event included: City of Portland Public Health, Commonspace, Greater Portland Health, Hope Squad, LymeTV (tick & lyme disease prevention), MaineHealth, Milestone, Preble Street, Spurwink, and The Opportunity Alliance.
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Employment Opportunity:
Senior Director of Social Work |
Preble Street is currently seeking a Senior Director of Social Work to lead the Hope House emergency shelter in Bangor, Maine —as well as other designated social work programs — toward supporting and strengthening the agency’s housing, shelter, casework, and other essential services for people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty.
Reporting to the Vice President of Social Work, Senior Directors of Social Work provide leadership in all aspects of programming, staff management, and administration to designated social work programs to ensure high-quality service provision and work collaboratively as members of senior management to advance Preble Street’s mission to provide accessible, barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty. |
| Volunteer Opportunity:
Homeless Services Center |
Come serve up meals at the City of Portland’s Homeless Services Center (HSC)! The HSC is a vital resource offering temporary shelter and support services to adults facing homelessness. While the City owns and runs the shelter, Preble Street staff and volunteers prepare and serve nourishing meals that bring dignity and comfort to shelter guests.
We invite volunteers ages 16 and up (with an accompanying adult) or 18 and up (to volunteer independently) to join us in creating a welcoming and caring space by helping set up, serve lunch and dinner, and assist with cleanup. Lunch shifts are available daily from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and dinner shifts from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
Read this recent article about fostering connection through food at the HSC. |
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Make a will,
make an impact |
Hundreds of people like the man above now receive nourishing meals every day. Stories like this would not be possible without your support. August is Make-A-Will Month, and you can continue making a positive impact to Mainers in need by creating a legacy gift in your will. Legacy gifts cost nothing today but support our neighbors for years to come. Use the free will-writing tool below to get started!
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50 FOR 50 MONTHLY
PARTNERS CHALLENGE |
2025 marks our 50th year of compassion in action - so we are seeking 50 supporters to join us this year as new, monthly partners. Gifts of $10, $50, $100 or more per month will directly impact our neighbors and cultivate a community that demonstrates kindness and compassion. We would be honored if you would partner with us each month.
Will you join us today? |
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Next week, Preble Street Veterans Housing Services, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other Veterans service agencies in the state, will be launching a three-day housing surge focused on unsheltered Maine Veterans.
This surge will also mark the kick-off of a state-wide initiative to house as many unhoused Veterans as possible in 100 days. We'll share more info in August's newsletter! |
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If you’re looking for better ways to stay informed on the issues affecting Mainers along with guidance on how to take action, we have good news! Next month Preble Street is launching our monthly Advocacy newsletter, which will feature a brief highlight of current policies impacting our neighbors along with suggestions on how you can help. |
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Compassion in action: Preble Street at 50 |
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Through the years:
A Preble Street timeline |
In 1975, Preble Street was founded as a neighborhood center to involve and empower homeless and low-income residents in Portland. Today, Preble Street is a statewide hub of services and compassion for some of the most vulnerable and underserved people in Maine.
From the early days with Joe Kreisler, to fulfilling our vision for statewide hunger solutions, take a look at how we got there! |
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We want to hear from you! Share your Preble Street story... |
Pictured: Art at Preble Street Teen Center
Maybe you worked, interned, served on the board, or volunteered at Preble Street? Maybe you received food or services at a time in your life when you needed it? Maybe you created a piece of art for one of our programs? Maybe it made a difference for one of your relatives or friends to spend a night at one of our shelters or years as a tenant in Logan Place, Florence House, or Huston Commons? Whatever your Preble Street story may be from the last 50 years, we'd love to it! |
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55 Portland Street, Portland, ME 04101 |
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We're now live on Bluesky! Follow and like our page. |
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