Preble Street urges one-year bridge funding as federal anti‑trafficking grant is delayed

Senator Tim Nangle introduced LD 2136 to provide a one-year state bridge to support survivors of human trafficking after an unexpected delay in federal OVC funding forced providers to scale back services. He said the proposal responds to a lapse that left Preble Street, Maine's largest anti‑trafficking program, with a waitlist at a time when survivors need immediate help.

Haley Veruso, director of Preble Street's anti‑trafficking program, testified that Preble Street served 157 survivors during its most recent three‑year OVC grant cycle but has since lost access to roughly $950,000 in federal funding, which has driven an average waitlist of about 20 survivors since October 2025. Veruso described tight service needs — such as relocation, rental assistance, transportation and mental health supports — that cannot be met without short-term funding and asked the committee to pass the targeted one‑time measure so services are not interrupted while federal processes resolve.

Committee members asked whether other organizations receive similar federal funding and whether Preble Street receives state funds; witnesses said Preble Street receives HUD and private foundation support but no regular state funding and that OVC funds were critical to case management and direct supports. The committee concluded the hearing and, without a recorded vote in the excerpt, asked no additional analyst follow-up in the transcript segment provided.