Back in July, the City of Portland invited Preble Street, Milestone Recovery, and Hope Squad Maine to participate in a new “Food Distribution Pilot” designed to create a consistent, city-sanctioned location for daily meal support. The site chosen was Cotton Street — a small dead-end between Spring and Fore Streets downtown.
When we agreed to join the pilot, we did so in solidarity with our partners. We had been serving from Preble & Oxford Street for nearly two years and knew how accessible it was for the most vulnerable unsheltered. The move to Cotton Street came with concerns, and the first couple of months confirmed that it would take some adjustment. Fewer people were able to reach us, and nearby businesses expressed worry, which increased police presence and anxiety for our unhoused friends.
But over time — with patience, communication, and teamwork — things began to improve.
Today, four months in, we are confident we’re serving as many people as before, if not more. Hope Squad Maine volunteers now provide the Friday meals at the Cotton Street site, while our community partners continue covering the other days of the week. One of the most meaningful improvements is that our neighbors can be certain that there will always be two warm meals for them at the same time and location every day of the week.
The city has also become more helpful when issues arise, and our partnership with the City street outreach team has strengthened significantly.
The cold months ahead will bring new challenges — freezing temperatures, snow, and the constant balancing act of serving outdoors. Though there’s still a lack of a nightly warming space & a dedicated adequate day space to escape from the weather, we remain encouraged. Our unsheltered neighbors are being seen, and that visibility matters.
Looking back, we’re grateful we agreed to participate in the Pilot. While it requires more coordination and effort, the strengthened partnerships and the ability to serve predictable warm meals has made it worthwhile. There is still much to do, but we’re moving forward with gratitude, collaboration, and hope. The city has extended the Pilot thru April 2026.
