A Sacred Network of Mutual Aid
Maine
Resources & Refuge
"You are not alone. Whatever has brought you here, there is help in the Pine Tree State — shelter, food, healing, and hands ready to hold yours. Begin wherever you need to."
Immediate Help in Maine
Find Help Now
Real, currently operating resources across Maine. Choose a path below — each holds verified shelters, programs, and organizations ready to help today.
The Sanctuary
Emergency shelter, warming centers, and a safe place to rest across Maine.
City of Portland Homeless Services Center
City: Portland
Services: Low-barrier emergency shelter for adults 18+, with on-site medical clinic, day space, and lockers
Notes: 208-bed facility. Call 211 for current availability and intake.
Address: 654 Riverside St, Portland, ME 04103
Website: portlandmaine.gov
Preble Street Hope House
City: Bangor
Services: Low-barrier emergency shelter with meals 7 days a week and housing navigation
Notes: The only low-barrier shelter north of Waterville. No ID, sobriety, or income required.
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter
City: Bangor
Services: Emergency shelter (38 beds), daily day program, soup kitchen, and food pantry
Notes: Dry (sober) shelter, open 365 days. Day room open 8am–4pm. Diversion Coordinator can help prevent homelessness.
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter
City: Waterville
Services: Emergency shelter and seasonal overnight warming center for central Maine
Notes: Serves the Waterville / Kennebec Valley region. Call 211 for intake and current bed availability.
Website: MaineHousing shelter directory
New Beginnings — Youth Shelter
City: Lewiston
Services: Emergency shelter, outreach, and support for youth and young adults
Notes: For young people experiencing homelessness or unsafe housing. Reach via 211 or local outreach.
Website: Find via 211 Maine
MaineHousing Statewide Shelter Directory
City: Statewide
Services: County-by-county listing of every emergency shelter in Maine
Notes: The most complete current list of shelters statewide. Dial 211 for placement help.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Website: mainehousing.org
Warming centers open seasonally (roughly November–April) in many Maine towns. For tonight's nearest open bed or warming center, dial 211 anytime.
Bread of Life
Food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and community meals across Maine.
Good Shepherd Food Bank
City: Auburn (serves statewide)
Services: Maine's statewide food bank, partnering with 500+ local pantries and meal sites
Notes: Use their online food-finder map to locate the nearest pantry to you.
Preble Street Food Programs
City: Portland
Services: Soup kitchen meals and a food pantry providing 3 days of food, every day of the year
Notes: Low-barrier — open to anyone in need. Serves youth, elders, families, and people experiencing homelessness.
Phone: (207) 775-0026
Website: preblestreet.org
Wayside Food Programs
City: Portland
Services: Community meals and a mobile food pantry across Greater Portland
Notes: Meal and mobile-pantry times vary by site — call for the current schedule.
St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen
City: Portland
Services: Hot lunch served Monday–Friday, 11:00am–12:30pm
Notes: No requirements — all are welcome.
Phone: (207) 232-1010
Address: 307 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program
City: Brunswick
Services: Soup kitchen (to-go meals) and food pantry serving the Midcoast
Notes: Pantry open Tue–Sat; soup kitchen meals several days a week.
Phone: (207) 725-2716
Address: 12 Tenney Way, Brunswick, ME 04011
Salvation Army Food Pantry
City: Bangor
Services: Food pantry, Monday–Friday mornings and afternoons (by appointment)
Notes: Call ahead to confirm hours and arrange a pickup.
Phone: (207) 941-2990
Address: 65 South Park St, Bangor, ME 04401
SNAP (food supplement) benefits stretch much further than any pantry — see The Providence to apply. For the nearest pantry on any given day, dial 211 or use the Good Shepherd food map above.
The Healing Hand
Free and low-cost clinics, behavioral health, and medical care for people without stable housing.
Greater Portland Health — Healthcare for the Homeless
City: Portland
Services: Primary care, behavioral health, dental, vision, and substance-use treatment (MOUD)
Notes: Dedicated sites at 63 Preble St, the Bayside clinic, and inside the Homeless Services Center. Sliding-scale and MaineCare accepted.
Website: greaterportlandhealth.org
Recuperative Care Program
City: Portland
Services: 15-bed medical respite — a safe place to rest and heal after a hospital stay
Notes: A partnership of Maine Medical Center, Greater Portland Health, and Preble Street. Referral is made through the hospital.
Address: 934 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102
Website: preblestreet.org
MaineCare (Medicaid)
City: Statewide
Services: Free or low-cost health coverage — doctor visits, hospital, mental health, prescriptions
Notes: Many adults qualify based on income. Apply any time through Maine DHHS (see The Providence).
Phone: 1-855-797-4357
Website: maine.gov/dhhs
Federally Qualified Health Centers
City: Statewide
Services: Sliding-scale primary, dental, and behavioral health care regardless of ability to pay
Notes: Community health centers operate in every region of Maine. Dial 211 to find the nearest one.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Website: 211maine.org
For a mental-health or substance-use crisis, call the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112 (24/7) or 988 anytime.
The Haven
Safe places to shelter from the cold, plus guidance on camping and parking in Maine.
Seasonal Overnight Warming Centers
City: Statewide (Nov–April)
Services: State-funded overnight warming centers in shelters and churches across Maine's counties
Notes: Recent winters have funded centers in Bangor, Portland, Sanford, Ellsworth, Waterville, Lewiston, Biddeford, Augusta, and Brunswick. Dial 211 for the nearest open site tonight.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Website: mainehousing.org
Bangor Warming Centers
City: Bangor
Services: Overnight and daytime warming centers operating roughly Nov 15–April 15, 7 days a week
Notes: Sites and hours are posted each season by the city. No drugs/alcohol on premises; bag checks at some sites.
Website: bangormaine.gov
Camping & Vehicle Dwelling — Know Before You Stay
City: Statewide
Services: Guidance on where it is and isn't legal to sleep outdoors or in a vehicle
Notes: Rules vary by town and change often. Some Maine cities have cleared encampments on short notice. Before settling somewhere, check with local outreach or 211, and see Rights & Laws below.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Maine winters are dangerous to sleep through unsheltered. If you have nowhere safe to go, please call 211 — they can connect you to the nearest warming center or shelter bed right now.
Living Waters
Showers, restrooms, clothing, and personal-care access through day programs and shelters.
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter — Day Program
City: Bangor
Services: Daily day room with restrooms, phone access, clothing, and personal items
Notes: Open every day 8am–4pm for any sober adult. A place to warm up, cool down, and connect to services.
City of Portland Homeless Services Center
City: Portland
Services: Day space, lockers, restrooms, and on-site facilities for guests
Notes: Consistent indoor day space — ask staff about hygiene and laundry access.
Address: 654 Riverside St, Portland, ME 04103
Website: portlandmaine.gov
Shower & Laundry Access — Find a Site
City: Statewide
Services: Shower, laundry, and hygiene access through local shelters and day centers
Notes: Availability shifts by season and location. 211 keeps the most current list of open hygiene resources near you.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Website: 211maine.org
Many shelters offer showers to guests staying the night, and some day programs welcome drop-ins. When in doubt, 211 can point you to the closest open facility.
The Guardian
Free civil legal aid — your rights around housing, eviction, benefits, and safety.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
City: Statewide
Services: Free civil legal help — eviction defense, housing, public benefits, domestic violence, safety
Notes: Maine's largest legal-aid provider, with offices in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta, Presque Isle, and Machias. Self-help guides online.
Website: ptla.org
Legal Services for Maine Elders
City: Statewide (age 60+)
Services: Free legal help for seniors — benefits, MaineCare, housing, foreclosure, elder abuse
Notes: Call the statewide Helpline to get started.
Phone: 1-800-750-5353
Website: mainelse.org
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)
City: Statewide
Services: Free and low-cost immigration legal aid for low-income new Mainers
Notes: Maine's only statewide comprehensive immigration legal-aid agency.
Website: ilapmaine.org
Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project
City: Statewide
Services: Pro bono representation and Maine Free Legal Answers — a free online legal-advice clinic
Notes: Post a civil legal question online and a volunteer attorney will answer.
Website: vlp.org
Maine Equal Justice
City: Statewide
Services: Legal help and advocacy on public benefits, health care, and economic security
Notes: Helps low-income Mainers access and keep the benefits they're entitled to.
Website: maineequaljustice.org
Facing eviction? Don't wait for the court date — contact Pine Tree Legal as soon as you receive a notice. Early help saves housing.
The Providence
Government benefits — food, health coverage, cash assistance, and emergency help.
Maine DHHS — Office for Family Independence
City: Statewide
Services: SNAP (food supplement), TANF cash assistance, MaineCare (Medicaid), and emergency aid
Notes: Apply online through My Maine Connection, by phone, or at a local DHHS office.
Phone: 1-855-797-4357
Website: maine.gov/dhhs/ofi
General Assistance (Your Town or City)
City: Every Maine municipality
Services: Emergency help with rent, housing, heat, utilities, and basic needs
Notes: Apply at your town or city office. By a 2019 law, people experiencing homelessness are presumed eligible for the first month. State GA info line: 1-800-442-6003.
Phone: 1-800-442-6003
Website: Guide: General Assistance in Maine
MaineHousing
City: Statewide
Services: Rental assistance, heating/fuel assistance (HEAP), and homeless services funding
Notes: The state housing authority — programs for renters, homeowners, and people facing homelessness.
Website: mainehousing.org
Social Security Administration
City: Statewide
Services: SSI and SSDI disability benefits, retirement, and survivor benefits
Notes: You can apply even without a permanent address. Ask about expedited SSI if you're homeless.
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Website: ssa.gov
211 Maine
City: Statewide
Services: Free, confidential help finding any benefit, program, or service in Maine
Notes: Available 24/7. Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or search online.
Phone: Dial 211
Website: 211maine.org
Applying for benefits can feel overwhelming — Maine Equal Justice and Pine Tree Legal (see The Guardian) can help you apply and appeal denials, free of charge.
The Shepherd
Faith-based and community organizations offering food, shelter, and warm support.
Catholic Charities Maine
City: Statewide
Services: Food, refugee and immigration services, counseling, and family support
Notes: Programs vary by location. Help is offered to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Website: ccmaine.org
The Salvation Army
City: Bangor, Portland & statewide
Services: Food pantries, emergency assistance, and seasonal warming and support
Notes: Bangor pantry at 65 South Park St. Find your local corps for assistance.
Phone: Bangor: (207) 941-2990
Website: salvationarmy.org
St. Vincent de Paul — Portland
City: Portland
Services: Daily soup kitchen and material assistance
Notes: Hot lunch Monday–Friday at 307 Congress St. All are welcome.
Phone: (207) 232-1010
Address: 307 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Seeds of Hope
City: Biddeford
Services: Neighborhood day center, meals, support, and seasonal warming
Notes: A welcoming gathering place and resource hub for the Biddeford–Saco area.
Website: seedsofhopebiddeford.org
Local Faith Warming Centers
City: Statewide (seasonal)
Services: Churches offering overnight or daytime warming, meals, and fellowship in winter
Notes: Sites such as Portland's State Street Church and Bangor's Brick Church open seasonally. Dial 211 for current locations.
Phone: Dial 211 (24/7)
Many Maine congregations quietly help neighbors in need beyond what's listed here. If you have a home church, ask — and 211 can connect you to faith-based aid near you.
Know Where You Stand
Maine Rights & Laws
A plain-language look at the laws that affect people experiencing homelessness in Maine.
General Assistance Is Your Right
Every Maine town and city must run a General Assistance (GA) program to help residents meet basic needs like rent, heat, and food.
Under a 2019 law, if you are experiencing homelessness, the GA administrator must presume you are eligible for your first month of benefits in that town — you don't have to prove all your expenses up front.
Apply at the town office where you live, or where you want to live if you have no home. You can reapply as your needs continue.
Camping & Public Space
In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson that cities may enforce anti-camping rules even when shelter beds are full.
Maine has no single statewide camping law — rules are set town by town, and some cities have cleared encampments on short notice. Before settling in one place, check local ordinances or ask outreach workers.
If officials clear a campsite, they generally should give notice and store belongings. If your property is taken or destroyed, contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance.
Tenant & Eviction Protections
Maine renters have important protections. A landlord generally cannot evict you without proper written notice and a court process.
- You have the right to notice and a court hearing before eviction
- "Self-help" evictions (changing locks, removing belongings) are illegal
- Protections exist for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking
- Free eviction defense is available through Pine Tree Legal
Fair Treatment & Non-Discrimination
The federal Fair Housing Act protects you from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability.
Maine shelters and housing programs cannot deny you help based on those characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a mental-health diagnosis.
If you believe you've been treated unlawfully, legal aid can advise you at no cost.
Across the Pine Tree State
Help by Region
Resources reach across Maine. Here's where to start in some of the larger communities.
Greater Portland
Cumberland County
Homeless Services Center (654 Riverside St), Preble Street food & health programs, Greater Portland Health, Wayside, and St. Vincent de Paul.
Start: Dial 211 or visit the Homeless Services Center.
Bangor & the North
Penobscot County
Preble Street Hope House, Bangor Area Homeless Shelter (day program, soup kitchen, pantry), Salvation Army, and seasonal warming centers.
Start: Bangor Area Shelter · (207) 947-0092
Lewiston–Auburn
Androscoggin County
New Beginnings youth services, Good Shepherd Food Bank (Auburn), warming centers, and General Assistance through each city office.
Start: Dial 211 or apply for GA at city hall.
Augusta & Waterville
Kennebec County
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter (Waterville), seasonal warming centers, DHHS offices, and food pantries throughout the Kennebec Valley.
Start: Dial 211 for shelter and pantry hours.
Biddeford–Saco & York County
York County
Seeds of Hope (Biddeford), Sanford warming center, food pantries, and General Assistance through local town offices.
Start: Seeds of Hope or dial 211.
Aroostook & Rural Maine
The County & beyond
Homeless Services of Aroostook, the Hope & Justice Project (DV), Catholic Charities outreach, and Pine Tree Legal (Presque Isle, Machias).
Start: Dial 211 — it covers every Maine ZIP code.
Pathways Forward
Maine Programs
Larger state initiatives that move people from crisis toward stable housing.
Emergency Housing & Rental Assistance
Through: MaineHousing & local Community Action Agencies
Helps with: Rapid re-housing, rental help, and homelessness prevention for income-qualified households.
Start: Contact MaineHousing or dial 211 to reach your regional Community Action Agency.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Through: MaineHousing & Community Action Agencies
Helps with: Heating and energy costs through Maine's cold months — vital for keeping housing.
Start: Apply through your local Community Action Agency (find it via 211).
Coordinated Entry & Statewide Homeless Councils
Through: Maine's Continuum of Care network
Helps with: A single assessment that prioritizes you for available housing and support across the region.
Start: Any shelter or 211 can connect you to coordinated entry.
Find Help Near You
Resource Map
An interactive map of Maine resources is on its way as the Network grows.
Interactive Map — Coming Soon
Soon this map will plot shelters, food, clinics, hygiene sites, and warming centers near your location across Maine.
Until then, dial 211 anytime for live, location-based help — or choose a city to be pointed in the right direction.
The Network Grows
Angel Outreach in Maine
Beyond these public resources, the Angel Network is preparing its own offerings for Mainers in need.
Angel Offerings — Gathering
As angels gather and The Chalice fills, Hope & Grace will extend direct blessings, partner outreach, and community support to souls right here in Maine.
These offerings will appear here as the Network grows. If you are in need today, please request a blessing — and lean on the verified resources above in the meantime.
You Are Not Alone
However You Arrived Here
Whether you need shelter tonight or hope to one day become an angel for someone else — there is a place for you in this Network.