In face of ongoing crisis, nonprofit Preble Street has found homes for 277 veterans in one year
PHOTO / Courtesy, Preble Street
Preble Street Veterans Housing Services works with over 250 landlords, who play a key role in connecting veterans to housing. In recent months, the program has housed about one veteran each day.
Preble Street, a social service nonprofit headquartered in Portland, has made progress this year in its statewide effort to find homes for military veterans.
The organization's Veterans Housing Services program has housed 277 veterans and provided other critical support for 594 veterans experiencing homelessness since October 2023, according to a news release.
“We’ve had a lot of success over the past few months and have been housing about one veteran each day,” said Laura Clark, the program’s director. “To reach the goal of ‘functional zero’ for veteran homelessness, essentially, we need to be able to house more veterans every month than are becoming homeless. I think it’s in reach.”
The program — with offices in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor and helping veterans in all 16 Maine counties — provides services and support needed to overcome barriers in finding a home and staying housed. The help includes case management, intensive housing counseling and direct financial assistance for security deposits, first month’s rent and utility fees.
The goal is to end veteran homelessness by June 2025. There are about 130 homeless veterans in Maine, down from over 200 during the pandemic.
Landlords play a key role in connecting veterans to housing, said Clark.
The program has more than 250 landlord partners and recently formed a new partnership with the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine to forge more partnerships with landlords who have available units for veterans, according to a separate news release.
Preble Street works closely with landlords to identify and maintain stable housing for clients.
“Preble Street staff support veterans with case management and a solid financial plan and help them reach their personal goals,” Clark said. “Landlords have access to financial benefits and security, but also share with us that when they help a veteran that they are a part of something that's bigger than themselves.”
Veterans Housing Services is a partnership between Preble Street and Pine Tree Legal Assistance that is funded by the U.S. Veterans Administration.
“The success that we are seeing housing veterans is something that can be extended to the homelessness crisis in Maine and beyond,” said Dan Hodgkins, Preble Street’s senior social work director. “There are simply more resources and funding available for veterans to help them secure housing and maintain that stability.”
Preble Street Veterans Housing Services is also part of a statewide initiative called No Homeless Veterans. More than 20 organizations across Maine are partnering to provide accessible services and resources to veteran households. It also provides their landlords with support in an effort to create long-lasting relationships.
Together, the 20 organizations have housed 304 veterans since Oct. 1, 2023, and have a 96% housing placement success rate.
Established in 1975, Preble Street provides the largest direct service emergency food program in northern New England and operates low-barrier programs throughout Maine, providing around-the-clock services for individuals, families and homeless youth, women, veterans and survivors of human trafficking. Preble Street also advocates for solutions to homelessness, hunger and poverty.
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