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Our Program at Family Harbor House

Our Transitional Housing program provides:,

• Lodging
• Food
• Support Services

The space is designed for three or four families, a maximum of fifteen individuals at any time, experiencing homelessness. The intent of the program is to provide these families with interim stability and support in order to successfully find, move into, and maintain permanent housing.

Please note, this is not an emergency shelter. The program follows federal HUD guidelines for transitional housing programs. All families are screened before entering the program and are required to sign a service and occupancy agreement that includes case management provided by Waldo County Community Partners (WCAP).

Support services may include:

  • mental health and/or substance abuse counseling
  • employment counseling and/or training
  • financial and budgeting assistance
  • parenting skills

All families are provided with housing search assistance through WCAP. As appropriate, children will be enrolled in local Head Start programs or supported in continuing with the Belfast School System in compliance with the Federal McKinney-Vento program for homeless students. Most parents will be working or engaged in training programs.

Following the national model developed by the Family Promise organization, most families are expected to achieve their housing goals within four to five months, in turn, freeing up space for additional families.

The facility has round-the-clock supervision provided either by staff or volunteers. MMHC works with local GBAM (Greater Belfast Area Ministries) churches to engage their support in addressing the homelessness problem here in Waldo County, and to recruit potential volunteers.

These churches include the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, the First Church (UCC) of Belfast, the United Methodist Church of Belfast, the Sandy Point Congregational Church, First Baptist Church, and the Christian Church of Lincolnville (UCC). We expect additional support and/or volunteers from other local churches and, based on preliminary conversations, Volunteers of America, the Belfast Soup Kitchen, and the GBAM Food Cupboard.

About Volunteering at Family Harbor House

Family Harbor House (FHH) is a transitional housing project helping local families who are experiencing homelessness. The building’s large private family rooms, full kitchen, shared bathrooms, and dining/recreation area can accommodate 3 to 4 families. FHH offers a place of respite and renewal for parents and children who have been living through times of crisis.

Management of the project is overseen by the Board of Directors and hired staff, but Family Harbor House depends upon compassionate people, like you, and volunteers are the heart of this project – providing homeless families with safety, comfort, and the opportunity for a better life.

Anyone can volunteer if they are willing to support the mission of Family Harbor House – “to help families stabilize their lives so they can then relocate to affordable permanent housing in the community.”

To volunteer with Family Harbor House, please complete this application form, plus an additional form which authorizes a standard criminal background check. Family Harbor House serves vulnerable populations, including children living in the program’s residential setting, and background reviews protect both the families and the volunteers.

After an initial screening process, you will be contacted to join with other new volunteers in a training session to learn about the Family Harbor House operational policies and procedures.