A new Preble Street report identified more than 100 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in a single section of Portland, raising questions about whether government counts are capturing the full scope of the city’s continuing homelessness crisis.

Preble Street Health Services and the Preble Street Outreach Collaborative identified 104 people living outside during an informal count conducted between Nov. 10 and Nov. 28, 2025. Of those, 82 completed surveys, while another 22 were observed but declined or did not complete the questionnaire.

The number far exceeded the approximately 20 unsheltered people recorded throughout Cumberland County in Maine’s federally required 2025 Point-in-Time count.

Portland’s unhoused dashboard also reported 33 tents in the city on Nov. 10, the first day of Preble Street’s survey. The organization said each method has limitations and likely fails to capture everyone sleeping outside.

The annual Point-in-Time count is conducted on a single night in January and is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to estimate sheltered and unsheltered homelessness nationwide.

Preble Street argued that the one-night count provides only a limited snapshot and may significantly understate how many people are living outdoors. Its workers instead conducted outreach over nearly three weeks, allowing them to locate people who may move frequently or remain hidden from public view.

The organization’s survey, however, was not a scientific or comprehensive citywide census. Outreach was concentrated in one part of Portland, primarily around downtown and Bayside, meaning the 104 people identified do not represent a complete count of everyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the city.

https://www.preblestreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Unsheltered-survey-published-062526.pdf

Chronic Homelessness Dominates Survey

The report found that nearly all of those surveyed had been homeless for extended periods.

Approximately 83 percent said they had experienced homelessness continuously for at least 12 months. Another 9 percent reported at least four separate periods of homelessness during the previous three years that totaled a year or more.

Combined, 92 percent, or 75 of the 82 respondents, met the federal definition of chronic homelessness. By comparison, Maine’s 2025 Point-in-Time count classified approximately 23 percent of the state’s homeless population as chronically homeless.

The findings suggest that Portland’s unsheltered population is not primarily made up of people facing temporary housing disruptions. Instead, the survey describes a population that has remained outside or moved through shelters and temporary accommodations for months or years.

Preble Street cited those numbers in calling for additional permanent supportive housing, including properties offering continuous staffing, intensive case management and services for people who may be unable to maintain conventional housing without ongoing support.

Nearly 86 Percent Reported Substance Use

Substance use was also widespread among those surveyed.

Nearly 86 percent of respondents said they used some type of substance, while about 15 percent reported no substance use. The report did not identify the substances involved, how frequently they were used or how many respondents had a formally diagnosed substance-use disorder.

Preble Street said substance use may prevent some people from entering shelters, while the stress and trauma associated with living outdoors can also contribute to addiction, misuse and relapse.

The findings come as Portland and other Maine communities continue to struggle with the overlapping effects of homelessness, addiction, untreated mental illness and limited access to long-term residential treatment.

Most Respondents Reported Having No Income

Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said they had no income.

Preble Street said the figure raises concerns about whether people living outside can access Social Security, disability payments, employment and other public benefits.

The group identified several potential barriers, including a lack of identification documents, no permanent mailing address, stolen belongings, unreliable telephone service, poor health and the daily demands of finding food and a safe place to sleep.

Men accounted for 69 percent of respondents, while women made up 31 percent. Roughly two-thirds were between the ages of 35 and 54.

Seventy-four percent identified as white, 13 percent as Black or African American, 8 percent identified as multiple races or another category, and 2 percent identified as American Indian or Alaska Native.

Many Had Used Shelters Before

The survey also challenged the assumption that most people living outside have simply refused all available shelter.

Only 9 percent of respondents said they had never stayed in a shelter. Twenty-six percent had stayed in one during the previous month, while 34 percent said they had not used a shelter in more than a year.

When respondents were asked why they were not using shelters, the most frequently cited reason was feeling unsafe, reported by 39 people.

Twenty-five respondents cited shelter staff approaches, training or policies. Twenty-four cited crowding, 22 said beds were unavailable and 20 reported transportation problems.

Portland’s Homeless Services Center is located approximately five miles from the peninsula. Although the city offers a free shuttle, respondents said the distance can still make it difficult to reach the shelter, move personal belongings or return to downtown services.

Some respondents also cited theft, interpersonal conflict, restrictions, pests and difficulties remaining in shelters with a partner.

Preble Street concluded that current shelter models frequently do not meet the needs of chronically homeless people and called for more beds, smaller settings, less crowding and additional trauma-informed services.

Most Were Sleeping on the Ground, Not in Tents

Despite public attention often focusing on large homeless encampments, most respondents said they were not living in tents.

Seventy-three percent reported sleeping directly on the ground, on sidewalks, in doorways or in other outdoor locations. Only 25 percent said they were sleeping in tents.

Preble Street suggested Portland’s restrictions on encampments may have pushed some people away from large, visible camps and into less noticeable locations.

The report said no survey participants reported sleeping in vehicles, although outreach workers observed two people living in cars who did not complete the survey. The organization said that finding indicates another group of homeless residents may not be reflected in conventional counts.

Survey Details Severe Food Insecurity

Respondents also reported serious difficulty obtaining food.

Thirty-eight people said they sometimes went without eating for between one and three days per week. Another 22 said they frequently went without food for four to six days, while five reported going without food every day.

Seventeen respondents said they had consistent daily food access. Elsewhere, however, the report states that only 6 percent had regular access to food, an apparent inconsistency within the document that is not clearly explained.

The most commonly reported food sources were a distribution program on Cotton Street and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Fourteen respondents said they had no consistent source of food. Some reported eating from garbage containers or relying on theft, according to the report.

Preble Street recommended increasing food distribution and improving access to regular meals for people who remain outside.

Nearly Eight in 10 Had No Bathroom Access

The survey found that 64 respondents, or 78 percent, had no reliable bathroom access.

Some said they were forced to relieve themselves outdoors, soil themselves or delay using a bathroom for prolonged periods. Respondents reported urinary tract infections, bladder problems and concerns about being arrested or cited for using the bathroom in public.

Only 28 percent said they had access to a shower. Those who did commonly relied on friends’ apartments or service providers.

Preble Street warned that the lack of basic sanitation creates individual health risks and broader public-health concerns. The organization cited Portland’s 2023 hepatitis A outbreak as an example of the dangers created when vulnerable populations lack access to bathrooms and handwashing facilities.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they had consistent access to basic supplies such as socks, underwear and hygiene products, primarily through outreach organizations and service providers.

Respondents Say Belongings Were Not Returned

The survey also addressed property removed during city encampment cleanups.

Of the 70 people to whom the question applied, 74 percent said they had been unable to recover belongings taken by Portland officials. Twenty percent said they had successfully retrieved property, while approximately 6 percent said they had sometimes been able to recover items.

Preble Street said belongings removed during encampment sweeps may include clothing, food, medication, identification, housing paperwork and phones.

The organization urged Portland to make it easier for people to recover property and recommended tracking how much the city spends clearing encampments.

Preble Street Calls for Expanded Housing and Services

The report makes five primary recommendations: creating more permanent supportive housing, adding shelter beds and trauma-informed shelter options, improving food access, expanding bathrooms and showers, and developing more accurate homelessness data.

Preble Street characterized unsheltered homelessness as both a public-health crisis and a matter of human dignity.

The survey nevertheless leaves unresolved questions about how much Portland and Maine taxpayers are already spending on homelessness programs, how effectively existing services are working and why so many people remain disconnected from housing despite years of expanding government and nonprofit intervention.

What the report makes clear is that the number of people living on Portland’s streets may be considerably larger than official annual counts suggest and that many of those individuals face chronic homelessness, addiction, hunger and a near-total lack of access to basic sanitation.