Photo / Courtesy Preble Street
Hailey Virusso, Preble Street's director of Preble Street Teen Housing and Outreach Services.
Updated: June 30, 2023
Preble Street Teen Services expands housing program to Biddeford
Portland-based nonprofit social services organization Preble Street said it will use a $348,000 MaineHousing grant to create transitional housing for up to a dozen homeless teens in Biddeford.
The nonprofit estimates that there are around 15,000 young people experiencing homelessness in Maine and that in 2022, more than 30% of Maine’s homeless population was under the age of 24.
Over the last six years, Preble Street’s First Place Transitional Living Program, part of its Teen Housing Services programming, has provided low-barrier housing for youth experiencing homelessness in southern Maine with high levels of success.
Youth in the program receive rental assistance and casework support as they learn the skills needed to live independently.
The new funds from MaineHousing will be used to expand the First Place program to a multi-unit building in Biddeford and owned by Biddeford Housing Authority. The building is 100 years old and undergoing renovation.
The three-unit, six-bedroom building will provide safe, low-barrier transitional housing for 10 to 12 homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 24 over the next two years.
“It’s been a true gift to walk alongside the young people in our First Place program and support them as they reach towards their goals of stability, safety and independence,” said Hailey Virusso, director of Preble Street Teen Housing and Outreach Services. “We’re excited to continue growing this program and expand our abilities to serve youth outside of Cumberland County. This is the step up that these youth need to thrive.”
Guy Gagnon, Biddeford Housing Authority’s executive director, said his agency is “very fortunate to be partnering with Preble to help house and mentor the many local young adults who often slip through the cracks.”
In conjunction with the expansion of First Place, Preble Street Teen Services launched a Street Outreach program earlier this month to connect unhoused youth in Cumberland and York counties with support services.
Preble Street is a nonprofit founded in 1975.
Besides operating Northern New England's largest direct service emergency food program, the organization operates low-barrier programs throughout Maine providing 24/365 services for individuals and families, including homeless youth, women, veteran, and survivors of human trafficking.
Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann was honored as Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year in 2022.
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