AUBURN – The United Way of Androscoggin County recently held its annual Day of Caring to improve the quality of life for neighbors in Androscoggin County. Area United Way agencies were encouraged to submit a project that community volunteers could do. St. Francis House at 24 Dunn St. was among those selected.

Banknorth volunteers squared off and leveled an area for a picnic table pad to keep the table out of the mud on rainy days. The home provided raw materials and fed the group lunch. The men at the extended shelter and the halfway house said they were impressed with the level of workmanship shown by the volunteers.

St. Francis House is a residential program, which includes an extended shelter and halfway house serving chemically dependent men over age 18. The shelter is open for men in the early stages of recovery.

The program provides a structured therapeutic environment to address substance abuse issues. The primary objective is to stabilize the individual in order to provide continuity of treatment. Length of stay is up to 45 days.

The halfway house stay is three to six months. The program provides a safe, sober environment for men who have found it difficult to stay clean on their own. Treatment is individualized and designed to help residents develop sober supports and skills for coping with the stresses of daily life. The goal is to build a foundation in recovery so they can continue a sober lifestyle and become productive members of a community.

The house is a program of Catholic Charities Maine.


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