Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that Preble Street in Portland is getting a $1.7 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help serve homeless veterans in Maine. 

"It's shameful that so many men and women who served our country end up homeless," Pingree said. "There are a lot of causes for homelessness, but for veterans the reality of repeated combat deployments and then the difficulty of transitioning back to civilian life sometimes results in veterans finding themselves on the streets or in jeopardy of becoming homeless.  Preble Street has done a great job in tackling this problem and this funding is going to helpthem continue to do that work statewide."
 
Preble Street first started a program for homeless veterans four years ago, and two years ago expanded it statewide.  The VA funding will allow Preble Street to continue  Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF), a program to combat veteran homelessness.  Preble Street works with veterans who already are homeless, as well as intervening with those who are most at risk at becoming homeless.  The program provides a wide variety of services, from temporary financial assistance to coordinating services that can help veterans get off the street and into permanent housing.