News from 2025
Ribbon-Cutting Gets Family Harbor House One Step Closer to Opening to Families in Need December 11, 2025 Photo: Board Member Cathy Gray cuts the ribbon, held by Belfast Mayor Eric Sanders and City Councilor Mary Mortier
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Family Harbor House at 4pm on December 9. The full video is above. Speakers are Board Member Mary Sullivan, Board Chair Kathy Muzzy, Rev. Bob Johansen, and Belfast Mayor Eric Sanders. Board Member Cathy Gray cuts the ribbon. Among the local officials in attendance are City Manager Erin Herbig, and City Councilor Mary Mortier. From the Belfast Planning Department: Bub Fournier, Jennifer Cormier, Andrea Sykes, and Steve Wilson. Dann Waldron represented his company, Whitecap Builders, which donated the reconstruction work on the facility.
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WABI-TV (Channel 5) covered the ribbon-cutting event. This is the report from Jack McGuire. December 10, 2025 Photo: Mary Mortier, Belfast City Councilor
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Open House December 9 at Family Harbor House December 3, 2025
On November 15, an Open House was held at the Family Harbor House, a transitional housing program being developed by the Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition (MMHC). It was enthusiastically received. It is the result of over 3 years of planning to assist local families experiencing homelessness. Its purpose is to provide lodging, food, connections to supportive services, and a welcoming place to stay until they can obtain permanent housing. The MMHC was established over 3 years ago, thanks to Rev. Bob Johansen and Rev. Amy McCormick who were part of the founding board. Now a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, space was found at Belfast United Methodist Church (BUMC). But there was much that needed to be done. Showers and walls needed to be added, the kitchen remodeled and painting. So, we say thank you to those who have helped us achieve what we have today.
First, we thank the Belfast City Council and Planning Board for all they did in assisting us in the process of re-zoning and requirements. We especially thank Mary Mortier for all her guidance and direction. We thank Dann Waldron and Whitecap Builders for assisting with the design and donation of labor in remodeling. We thank Viking Lumber for their donations of materials, the electricians and plumbers and all the volunteers who came and helped clean and paint, and all who have donated beds and furniture. Thanks to Rev. Seongmoon Ahn and the members of BUMC who offered this space, and to the Greater Bay Area Ministerium and the many faith and civic organizations who are organizing and planning to volunteer time and energy to provide food and coverage for our neighbors who find themselves in challenging times.
Successful Open House November 16, 2025 Photo: One of the Four Sleeping Rooms at Family Harbor House
On Saturday, November 15, the new Family Harbor House facility was opened for all to visit and see. More than 60 people showed up to tour the common room, the four family sleeping rooms, the kitchen/laundry, the office, and the new bathrooms. The Board of Directors hosted the event along with our new Program Director, David Beseda.
New Director for Family Harbor House November 8, 2025 Photo: David Beseda, New Director of Family Harbor House
We are so pleased to announce that we have hired a part-time director for Family Harbor House – David Beseda. David comes to us as a social worker with an extensive and varied background. He was a founding Executive Director for Community Housing of Maine, a Board member of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, and served as a guardian ad litem, among many other endeavors that qualify him for this new position. He is currently an adjunct professor at Southern Maine Community College. David jumped into helping at Family Harbor House immediately, showing up to join the painting crew multiple times. We are so fortunate to have David joining our team!
MMHC Receives $15,000 UMC Grant September 17, 2025
At an awards breakfast at the Samoset Resort, MMHC board vice-chair Cathy Gray (left) and board chair Kathy Muzzy (right) accept a donation of $15,000 from Jay Foster of United Midcoast Charities.
United Midcoast Charities Website
Now Taking Applications for the Part-time Program Director for Family Harbor House Transitional Housing September 1, 2025
The Part-Time Program Director will provide day-to-day supervision of all operations at Family Harbor House, a transitional housing facility for 3-4 families and up to fifteen people. This is a 25 hour-per-week position, working onsite at Family Harbor House. This position reports to the Board of Directors of Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition (MMHC), with day-to-day supervision by the Chair of the Board of Directors. Salary range: $35,000 to $40,000 on an annual basis. For more info, email Cathy Gray.