Noah Nelson sits in the living room of New Beginnings’ Marian’s House in Lewiston. The house provides 24-hour emergency housing and support for youths ages 10 to 19 years old who are runaway, homeless, or facing intense family conflict. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
Many organizations help support homeless children, teenagers and families in central and western Maine.
New Beginnings’ 24-hour emergency shelter, as well as its supportive housing and outreach team, help youth throughout Maine find safety off the streets. The organization has transitional housing programs in Lewiston, Farmington and Augusta. For more information, go to newbeginmaine.org or call 207-795-4077.
The Store Next Door Project at Lewiston High School provides basic tangible goods, academic support, emotional support and service referrals for homeless Lewiston students and their families. For more information, visit facebook.com/SNDLHS or contact Jamie Caouette at 207-755-7252 or by email at jcaouette@lewistonpublicschools.org.
Rumford Group Homes offers emergency shelter and social services for families experiencing homelessness. The organization operates shelters in Rumford, Norway and Leeds. For more information, visit rumfordgrouphomes.org, call 207-364-3551, or email Melissa McEntee at mmcentee@rumfordgrouphomes.org.
Rural Community Action Ministry provides housing services and emergency shelter to residents in 14 Androscoggin, Kennebec and Oxford county towns. The organization also helps rural at-risk teens build life skills to transition into adult life. For more information, go to rcam.net or call 207-524-5095.
Western Maine Community Action offers a range of community services in the Farmington area, including support for families facing homelessness. For more information, visit wmca.org, call 207-645-3764 or email info@wmca.org.
Bread of Life Ministries runs a soup kitchen and family shelter in Augusta, additionally offering social services to shelter residents. For more information, go to mainebreadoflife.org, call 207-626-3434 opt. 1, or email receptionist@mainebreadoflife.org.
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services operates a shelter that serves homeless families in Waterville. The organization offers specific programming to empower teens and young adults. For more information, visit shelterme.org, call 207-872-8082, or email shelter@shelterme.org.
Additionally, many school districts and parishes have programs that provide food, clothes and other necessities to children, teens and families in need.
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