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Leadership at Family Harbor House

David Beseda, MSW – Director

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David BasedaIn October 2025, David was hired by the MMHC Board to serve as the first Director of Family Harbor House, our transitional housing program providing lodging, food, and supportive services for local families who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness. David has decades of experience working with homeless families and shelters in Maine. Most recently he was the Development and Housing Department Director at York County Shelter Programs (YCSP). While at YCSP, he was the grant writer for the agency’s annual funding of $750,000- $1 million, and supervised programs related to substance abuse treatment, employment training, mental health treatment, and shelter services for homeless men, women, and children. David established the Housing Department staffing and procedures to provide best practice property management, with comprehensive services for homeless families relocating to affordable housing in the community.

During the 1990’s-early 2000’s, David was the founding Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine, a nonprofit organization established to develop and manage affordable housing for low-income, homeless, and special needs individuals and families. David collaborated with 20 social service agencies throughout Maine to build custom-designed supportive housing projects. As a housing developer, David secured local, state, and federal funding to engage architects and contractors to build 48 new, affordable housing sites with several hundred housing units throughout Maine – including units for Midcoast Mental Health Center and New Hope for Women in Rockland and Belfast. Prior to moving to Maine, David lived and worked for several years with homeless men and women in the New York Catholic Worker, founded by Dorothy Day. Also while in New York City, he provided case management support for homeless plaintiffs in a successful class action lawsuit, Callahan vs Carey, which permanently established the legal right to have shelter for homeless individuals and families in New York City.

David has a Master of Social Work degree from Smith College School for Social Work, and he has served as an adjunct professor in the Social Sciences Departments at the University of New England and Southern Maine Community College. David is most proud and delighted to be the father of 5 children and grandfather of 4 fabulous grandchildren. And just for fun, David plays mandolin, bass, and percussion in a local band. He also feels blessed that we live in such a great area for hiking, kayaking, and camping.

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.