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A Story about Our First Family
March 14, 2026
by Mary Sullivan
Mary Sullivan, a member of the board of MMHC,  met with the mother of our first guest family to hear the story of how they arrived at Family Harbor House, and their first weeks  there. Mary shares their story:

Family Harbor House (FHH) opened its doors to our first guest family on January 3, 2026. Our second guest family arrived at the end of February. Our first guest family includes a mother and her three children. Mom told me that they had been living in a mobile home. She was given only six days to vacate herself and the children. The family moved into a nearby motel.

During the process of moving, Mom found out about Family Harbor House through a liaison from the Belfast Police Department. The news of the Family Harbor House Open House in November encouraged her to connect with David Beseda, our Program Director. With David's guidance, she was able to meet the requirements of the program. She and her family moved in on January 3, which was our opening day.

Mom loved FHH the moment she saw it. She told me, "The benefit of this program is it helps you get back on your feet. You get to rebuild." Her three kids have settled into their routine at the house. Mom says they look forward to coming back to FHH each day. They have gotten to know many of the volunteers and love to teach everyone how to play the game Taco/Burrito.

Now that they are settled in at FHH, Mom has been able to get a case manager at Waldo CAP who, along with David, is guiding her to programs she didn't know were out there. Mom's goal is to save enough for a down payment on her own house, through the first-time home buyer's program. When the kids get a little older, she hopes to pursue training as a hair stylist.

Quotes from Volunteers
March 14, 2026
      "I am right off a shift at Family Harbor House, so this is a perfect moment to speak of a wonderful experience. Today I had brief conversations with all of the members of one resident family. They were in the middle of their day and going in and out of the house. The father had been snow plowing half the night. A high point for me was with the mother and their youngest. Thanks to the generosity of a parishioner, I had brought two Dr. Seuss books for the child. At one point, the mother called me to come into the common room where there's a small library of books. The young child had found the new Dr. Seuss books on the lower shelf and was looking at them! And that is the magic of being present at Family Harbor House." 

      "I'll be starting a shift at midnight tonight and going until 8 AM--what I call the graveyard shift. Quiet, peaceful, lovely. This isn't my first midnight-to-8 shift, and what I love most about it is knowing that simply by being present, I'm helping provide a safe, warm, dry place for a family.
       I've also served on other shifts where I've had the chance to meet the family staying at Family Harbor House, which has been a gift. And I've come to deeply appreciate the volunteers I've served alongside--truly wonderful people. Volunteering at Family Harbor House feels like holy work to me. Thanks to the Board, we're given the opportunity to take part in something that truly matters."

Invitation to Volunteering
March 14, 2026
Family Harbor House needs compassionate people like you to volunteer and join our team, helping to provide lodging, food and supportive services for local families who are experiencing housing instability and homelessness. Our transitional housing facility, located on Mill Lane in Belfast, can accommodate four families, with the goal of helping them stabilize their lives and relocate to affordable permanent housing in the community. Volunteers help provide a caring and supportive presence, assist with meals, play games with children or offer homework help, and join in the cleaning and upkeep of the program. To inquire about volunteering, use the link below or call 207-218-1001.
      Volunteer Info and Form
Part-Time Position Open: Overnight Family Housing Support at Family Harbor House
March 1, 2026

Responsibilities: This is a part-time position working 24 hours a week in three 8-hour shifts from Midnight to 8 a.m. The shifts will include Saturday, Sunday, and one other day to be determined. Duties will include:

·      Be available to support the families as needed.
·      Maintaining safety and orderliness at FHH, which will involve remaining awake during the night as needed.
·      Light housekeeping duties, including laundry.
·      Some assistance with meal preparation in the morning.
·      Performing various record keeping duties.

Qualifications:

·      High school diploma/GED required. 
·      Course work, training, or experience in supportive roles, such as social work, caregiving, teaching, medicine, and non-profit organizations are helpful.
·      Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds.
·      Experience working with children and/or families preferred.
·      Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills.
·      Ability to implement and utilize limit setting techniques and appropriate boundaries.
·      Comprehensive criminal background check is required.

Compensation:

This is a part-time, hourly position paying $18.00 per hour. Currently, the position does not include any paid time off or employee benefits. For further information, contact Cathy Gray, VP of Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition at:  cmoretongray@gmail.com