Anti-Trafficking Services at risk without federal funds |
Pictured: Most of the Preble Street ATS team, in front of a portrait of dee Clarke,
a trafficking survivor who became an inspirational advocate
As of October 1, Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services (ATS) and many other anti-trafficking program providers across the country will be left without a large part of their funding. Since launching in 2013, Preble Street ATS has relied on funding from the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The most recent three-year grant of $950,000 expires today, September 30. In just this past year, these funds have allowed ATS to support 157 survivors from 7 counties in Maine.
Though OVC grant applications usually open in April, with funds dispersing on October 1, the federal government has not announced any intention of opening the grants this year.
“In the last three years of this grant, our Anti-Trafficking program has borne witness to great love: families reunited locally and across borders, college degrees attained, survivors signing their first leases, and most importantly, the feeling of safety within their body and heart," says Hailey Virusso, Director of Preble Street Anti-Trafficking Services. “Maine’s commitment to supporting survivors of trafficking must be prioritized and we will not stop advocating for solutions that keep all of our community members safe.”
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Sitting at a table at the Recuperative Care Program (RCP), Brian lays out pages of his art. “I’m working on making a children’s coloring book,” he says. Most of the pieces he has laid out are of captivating coastal scenes featuring birds, boats, and buoys. The longer you look at each page, the more you’ll spot new scenes within each picture. For the coloring book, he plans to hide a letter of the alphabet on each page.
“I’ve known since I was a kid that I was good at drawing,” Brian, now in his early sixties, shares. “I’m glad I finally have time to do it. Out in the street, none of this happens. I’ll sit and try to draw, and the police just push me along. I have to keep moving. Or my folder of drawings gets stolen. I can do my work best here at the RCP. I mean, I’ve been able to sit down, the people are nice. This place has been an absolute blessing.” Before needing urgent medical care and recovery this summer, Brian had been living on the streets of Portland for about eight years. “Every day a little piece of you leaves, you know?”
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The results of Maine Referendum Question 1 will have a huge effect on voting rights in our state. On November’s ballot, there is a referendum question asking whether voters should be required to show photo ID before voting in all future elections:
Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?
All pieces of this referendum are harmful, and we’re thankful that a large coalition of our partners is educating the public about how the erosion of absentee ballot access will exclude many Mainers from the voting process. At Preble Street, we also want to bring attention to the many ways a Voter ID law would suppress Maine voters, especially people experiencing homelessness, members of the BIPOC community, people with disabilities, college students, and older adults.
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Joe's Place is being constructed at the former Preble Street Teen Center |
Breaking ground on Joe’s Place |
“I think it says something when you provide a beautiful, calming, home-like space for youth who have experienced a lot of trauma. There’s something about building a beautiful new space, to serve all their needs, that says, ‘You deserve this, you are loved, you are worth fighting for.’”
– Leah McDonald, Preble Street Senior Director of Social Work The Preble Street Teen Center and Overnight shelter will soon be under one roof! Construction on Joe’s Place has officially begun.
Named after Preble Street founder Joe Kreisler, Joe’s Place will offer a safe space for young people experiencing homelessness to receive support 24/7. Until now, the Teen Center and Teen Shelter have been across the street from each other, meaning youth have had to gather their backpack and other belongings twice a day to transfer back and forth. When Joe’s Place is complete next year, youth will have a stable place to rest, recover, and connect with the services they need to move into housing and a hopeful future.
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Staff highlight: Sarah Geores - "I'm constantly learning." |
Preble Street staff are #CompassionInAction, and we want you to get to know them! This month we’re introducing you to Sarah Geores, Caseworker at Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter Name, title, and program: Sarah, caseworker, Elena’s Way
What do you like best about your role? I enjoy connecting with people – clients, community members, colleagues, and community partners. I’m constantly learning, and my mind continues to be opened. When I am sure of something, sure of the outcome, sure of how a person will react, or whatever it may be, I am often proven wrong – which is a beautiful thing! I get to grow and evolve and see things from different views that I may never have otherwise.
What are the biggest challenges you face in that role? Keeping focused has been my main goal. It’s an obstacle in such a dynamic place as Elena’s Way. With so much going on and so many factors at play, it’s easy to try to multitask, but it’s important to stay laser-focused on one thing at a time. What aspect of Preble Street makes you proud to work here? I grew up in Portland, and Preble Street was always around. It always seemed to be the one organization that was visible, vocal, and truly helping the community. If I could tell my 12-year-old self that I would be working here as an adult, I know she’d be impressed. 😊 |
| Staff Highlight: Judith Uwimbabazi - “The human being that I am today
is because of Preble Street
and working hard.” |
Preble Street staff are #CompassionInAction, and we want you to get to know them! This month, we’re introducing you to Judith Uwimbabazi, Caseworker at Elena’s Way Wellness Shelter Name, title, and program: Judith, caseworker, Elena’s Way What do you like best about your role? Helping people and putting smiles on their faces.
What are the biggest challenges you face in that role? The big challenge is when you want to help someone get housed. You go to the landlord, and without getting to know what good human beings they are, the landlord judges them. I want to help people start a new chapter in their lives.
What aspect of Preble Street makes you proud to work here? When I first came to this country, I was homeless. I came to Preble Street, and there was a caseworker who told me to come inside. He told me not to be scared. To see Preble Street helping me without asking anything in return, I fell in love with Preble Street.
In my mind, I was in heaven and wondered what was going on here. Nobody judged me. Every time I think about Preble Street helping me, how someone can feed me or give me clothes, without asking any questions. I told myself if I get an opportunity to work here and to continue this work, I would. It’s hard for me to put into words. |
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Employment Opportunity:
Homeless Services Kitchen Team Lead |
Preble Street’s Emergency Food Services help meet the nutritional needs of unhoused and food insecure community members through our Food Security Hub, Street Outreach Collaborative, Food Pantry, and shelter-based meal service sites. We are currently looking for Homeless Services Kitchen Team Lead to join our Food Programs Team.
Under the direction of the Homeless Services Kitchen Manager, this hands-on position will provide shift leadership and coordination for a dedicated and collaborative team of staff members and volunteers in the day-to-day meal service operations at the kitchen in the City of Portland’s shelter programs. This role will also perform other kitchen and warehouse tasks in support of the Food Programs in multiple locations as needed.
This full-time position has a schedule of Sunday – Thursday, 10:30am to 6:30pm. |
| Volunteer Opportunity:
Dishwashing at the Food Security Hub |
Producing up to 2,000 meals a day means the Preble Street Food Security Hub (FSH) is helping to decrease hunger in Maine. It also means we have a lot of dishes to wash! Our Food Programs team needs more helping hands to keep the workflow running smoothly in the kitchen. Do you find happiness when things are clean and organized?
Do you enjoy working with a fun team of staff and volunteers? Do you support increasing food security for your fellow Mainers? Then please sign up for a dishwashing shift at the FSH! |
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Homelessness isn’t an individual issue; it’s an issue that impacts our entire community. With the increased attention at city, state, and federal levels and efforts to criminalize homelessness, your advocacy for the compassionate and long-term solutions that we know work is critical!
Earlier this month we sent out the second issue of our Advocating for Solutions monthly email which contained information about the upcoming ballot questions, commentary from people with lived experience, and easy actions people can take to support their community NOW! If you haven’t already signed up, now is your chance! Once you have, please share with your network and encourage them to join as well.
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Compassion in action: Preble Street at 50 |
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Put your compassion in action |
Preble Street and our community of supporters have been putting our Compassion in Action for 50 years. But sometimes, especially when the world feels confusing and as though there is more bad news everyday, it can be hard to figure out where to start.
After our Compassion in Action event earlier this year, we put together this resource page to help! Whether it's by donating, volunteering, or advocating, there are many ways you can support your fellow humans. |
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We want to hear from you! |
Pictured: Artists from the 2016 Preble Street Art Show
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 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 hear it! |
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Every day, people in Maine face hunger, homelessness, and poverty. By joining the Friends of Joe monthly giving circle, you provide consistent, reliable support that ensures no neighbor is left out in the cold. With as little as $10 a month, you can make sure our neighbors always find food, shelter, and hope — not just once, but every month. Becoming a Friend of Joe is simple, flexible, and you can change or cancel at any time. |
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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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