Preble Street

Preble Street, a Portland, Maine-based tax-exempt nonprofit organization, operates as a prime recipient of federal grants in homelessness services, youth outreach, veteran family support, and human trafficking victim services, with a secondary role as a sub-recipient under state and local pass-through entities. The organization competes for and receives federal grants without set-aside restrictions, working across HUD, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.

Preble Street's capability portfolio centers on direct service delivery to vulnerable populations. The organization operates permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs, transitional housing for youth and families, street outreach and drop-in services, case management, emergency food assistance, and trauma-informed support for trafficking survivors. Representative work includes a $4.383 million Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (CFDA 64.033) awarded September 2025 for one year, funding outreach, case management, VA benefits assistance, and temporary financial support (rent, utilities, security deposits, transportation, childcare) to very low-income veteran families in Maine. Preble Street also holds a $1.050 million Transitional Living for Homeless Youth grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (CFDA 93.550) awarded September 2025, delivering a Maternity Group Home serving pregnant and parenting youth ages 16 to under 22 for up to 18 months, including parenting skills, child development, and family budgeting services across two Maine counties. The Continuum of Care Program (CFDA 14.267) from HUD's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development anchors the bulk of Preble Street's prime grant work, with multiple annual awards funding permanent housing, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, supportive services, and Homeless Management Information Systems across three-year and one-year cycles.

Customer concentration is dominated by HUD. The Department of Housing and Urban Development accounts for 47 awards (75% coverage), funding COC and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) grants. The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration awarded 13 grants, the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families 11 grants, and the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime 5 grants, primarily for integrated services to minor trafficking victims (PRISM project, awarded October 2024 for three years). Preble Street also received a $250 thousand food-security grant from USDA's Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition (November 2022) for a Food Security Hub.

Preble Street's award activity has remained steady at 12 to 15 grants per year over the past five years, with 112 total awards in the source data (70% prime, 30% sub-recipient). Combined dollars obligated across all awards total $115.2 million. Nine awards reach ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, representing the near-term recompete exposure. As a sub-recipient, Preble Street frequently partners with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services as the pass-through entity for COC and Youth Homelessness Statewide Continuum of Care awards, delivering services in designated regions and program components. The organization also receives sub-awards from MaineHealth for rapid re-housing casework and from other local funders for shelter operations, emergency food, and youth services.

Preble Street operates without federal contracting vehicles or IDIQs; it pursues grants through direct federal agency NOFOs and state-administered pass-throughs, competing in full-and-open grant competitions. The organization's $115.2 million federal footprint reflects a twenty-year history as a Continuum of Care and SSVF recipient, with consistent annual funding cycles and predictable recompete windows aligned to HUD and VA grant terms.