A Group of Homeless People Living on Cedar Street Near the Corner of Oxford Street – Within Sight of the Oxford Street Shelter.

This Young Woman Used to be Homeless and Now Has an Apartment. She Used to work at a Retail Store on St. John Street. It Closed Down Because of the Pandemic, and She Plans on Applying for Another Retail Job Soon.

A Separate Group of Homeless on Cedar Street, Within View of the Oxford Street Shelter.

Preble Street, a nonprofit human service agency with programs throughout Maine, announced today The Campaign for Preble Street, has raised more than $14 million from 650 donors to fund  initiatives that will meet critical needs and empower people and communities, including:

a Healing Center, opened in September 2021, to support survivors of human trafficking; a new 40-bed Wellness Shelter to provide services to people experiencing homelessness and complex health/behavorial issues; consolidation of 24/365 services and helter for homeless and runaway youth; expanded women’s shelter capacity; investment in high impact advocacy work to advance public policy; and a fund to support emergency services in the face of increasing demand according to a press release issued by Preble Street today.

The Campaign allows Preble Street to build capacity ad develop solutions-oriented responses to the complex challenges faced by people experiencing homlessness and poverty in Maine.  Preble Street board members and campaign co-chairs Elaine Rosen and Yemaya St. Clair, provided exceptional leadership for this  historic and innovative initiative.  “Our community stepped up to help Preble Street carry forward its mission, which is ore essential today than ever before.  It  has been a huge honor to be a part of the effort,” said St. Clair.

“I am beyond proud of the intensely human work that Preble Street does so well,” adds Rosen.  “To be in a community that understands Preble Street’s impact is most gratifying.”

Preble Street received critical support for The Campaign through Leadership gifts from UNUM, LL Bean and Sara Gideon, as well as The Leon & Lisa Gorman Fund, Hawk Rock Foundation, Deborah Hart and Bill Goodykoontz, Norton-Kelly Charitable Trust and the Sam L. Cohen Foundation.

During the Campaign’s quiet phase in 2019, the entire Preble Street board contributed generous gifts setting the stage for participation from a wide variety of individual, corporate and foundation donors.  Preble Street volunteers and longtime supporters also contributed several extraordinary gifts anonymously.

“What defines the Preble Street mission, above all, is removing the barriers people face when trying to access services in their fight against poverty.  Our staff has worked harder than ever over the past 19 months.  They’re adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and have continued to help Maine’s most vulnerable people,” said Executive Director Mark Swann.”  “Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Campaign, Preble Street will be able to continue to provide opportunity and hope.  This is an incredible investment in our mission.”