Program overview

The Knox County Homeless Coalition offers comprehensive programs and services to adults, families, and youth in Midcoast Maine. Our focus is to support clients to achieve sustainable independence and a hopeful future. We carefully build relationships by:

  • Embracing a client-centered approach and maintain support for as long as it takes for a client to rebuild confidence and achieve their goals.

  • Practicing honest and forthright communication, slowly earning trust.

  • Working to maximize individual strengths and minimize barriers.

  • Supporting clients to find shelter, housing, childcare, physical and mental healthcare, transportation, education, job-skills training, gain financial literacy and life-skills learning.

  • Offering emergency services, food, clothing, and supplies.

  • Collaborating with community partner organizations centered around basic human needs.

As a result, more than 95% of housed clients remain housed more than a year later. Nearly 2500 people have found help since we opened our doors in 2014, and more than 1140 people have found a home.

Urgent Needs Coordination

In response to the growing waitlist and acute housing crisis, this service provides emergency supplies, such as blankets, camping gear, clothing, food, toiletries and diversion support for people experiencing homelessness prior to entering our comprehensive case management services. Our Urgent Needs Coordinator actively connects with individuals, families, and youth waiting for case management and offers housing search facilitation as possible. 

 

  • Client care is offered to all who participate in our program regardless of whether they stay in one of our shelters. Every person who enters our program is unique, and so each plan for care and support is tailored to evaluate and address their most urgent needs on an economic, physical, emotional and psychological level. Our professional case managers assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transition from crisis to stability, with help locating housing, accessing services, and maintaining long term independence. With so many clients suffering from debilitating trauma, the support of a relationship that builds trust is critical to the ability of our clients to believe in their own worthiness and take responsibility for their future success. It is a process that takes time, but it is fundamental to the lasting change that prevents the cycle of poverty and homelessness from repeating. We have three case managers specifically dedicated to the unique needs of young adults 18-24 and emancipated minors. 

  • A team of three housing navigators, help clients on their journey to secure subsidized housing or qualify to programs that make rents more manageable. They also liaise with local landlords and facilitate the State’s Rapid Rehousing program allowing renting clients to qualify for the specific units. This team also administers Rent Smart education that helps clients learn how to advocate for themselves in a rental agreement, understand the roles of landlord and tenant, and maintain their home among other things.

  • A form of client care that extends to individuals and families after they are housed. It is often after finding housing that some of the most difficult work begins. During this tender transition from instability to stability, clients work with their case managers on the skills needed for sustainability such as budgeting, furthering education, addressing employment, childcare and transportation needs.

 

Hospitality House

The Hospitality House family shelter is an extended-stay facility designed to provide shelter for for single-parent or two-parent families until they can secure permanent housing. Located in a renovated Rockport farmhouse, Hospitality House can accommodate up to 22 individuals at a time, more than half of whom are typically school aged or younger. We offer a caring, supportive and safe environment, with a dedicated case manager and peer support to prepare residents for a return to independent living. 

 

Transitional Living Program

This temporary housing for young adults 18-21 and emancipated minors is the only shelter solution for young adults in the area. While enrolled in the program, residents work with a case manager on goals to transition to sustainable living situations. Youth are expected to be either employed or enrolled in school while they are in the program. An equity-building component teaches participants to save while enrolled in the program. Read more about the Transitional Living Program.

 

The Landing Place

Our youth programming offers low-barrier access to support and stability for resilient youth. In cooperation with schools, we are working to mitigate the impact of multi-generational poverty and bolster social-emotional health, academic success, and build confidence and skills for success in adulthood. The Landing Place youth center offers free food and supplies as well as connections to caring adults and peers through mentoring, community service, and creative exploration. Our free therapy program provides low-barrier mental health services to youth who wouldn’t otherwise have access. 

 

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