a need for day shelter

The Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services has provided day shelter to our guests during the winter months for many years.  It has become evident that shelter is needed and warranted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Explaining to our shelter guests that they must leave for the day and on weekends feels like an additional burden placed upon people already struggling to pull their lives back together.  A mother of three or an elderly guest having to leave the shelter under any and all-weather conditions, without transportation, and without resources for the day appears to be a contradiction to our mission and philosophy.  

The following is a list of reasons why we believe that offering day shelter year round is necessary:
  • ​We believe staying open is supportive and humane to the guests we serve.
  • More Case Management and Navigation appointments are missed when day shelter is closed.  
  • An increase in attendance to programs such as Career Development, Rent Smart, Double Trouble, and soon to include an Educare group which are held on site are better attended.
  • Local businesses such as Burger King are not inundated by our guests who need shelter, particularly when it is raining.
  • The guests can eat three healthy meals a day.
  • Children have a place to come directly after school as opposed to parents meeting their children at the shelter and having to leave for an hour or two.
  • Guests do not fall back on unhealthy environments for shelter.

Would you consider joining us in our goal to provide day shelter to our guests 365 days a year? Your support is needed in order to keep the Day Shelter open year round!