Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services

08/07/2026

Yesterday, our CEO, Dr. Katie Spencer White, shared an important perspective in the Morning Sentinel about homelessness in Maine—and why we must do better.

The latest Point-in-Time Count tells only part of the story. To create meaningful change, we need to look beyond the numbers and invest in solutions that address the full picture: housing, behavioral health, addiction treatment, and effective emergency shelter.

At Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services, we believe that following the data, embracing innovation, and meeting people where they are can create healthier individuals and stronger communities.

We invite you to read Katie’s full opinion piece and join us in thinking about how Maine can build a more effective response to homelessness.

Following the data will prevent us from getting the same old mediocre results.

08/07/2026

📣 WE’RE HIRING!

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services is looking for a Full-Time Targeted Case Manager to join our team!

💰 $21–$25/hour based on experience
🎉 $1,500 Sign-On Bonus
📅 Monday–Friday
💙 Excellent benefits, generous PTO & 13 paid holidays
🎓 PSLF eligible employer

Help individuals experiencing homelessness overcome barriers, connect with resources, and move toward safe, stable housing.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field OR current MHRT-C certification required.

If you’re passionate about helping people build pathways to housing, recovery, and hope, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Apply today: https://shelterme.bamboohr.com/careers/65

Please share and help us spread the word!

08/05/2026

☀️ Cooling Center Open Thursday and Friday ☀️
Our Cooling Center will be open on Thursday and Friday, August 6th and 7th, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Cooling Center is open to adults ages 18 and older, and well-behaved pets are welcome. Please share this information with anyone who may need a safe, cool place to escape the heat.

07/28/2026

The 2026 annual Point In Time Count (PIT) has been released in . The data was collected on a single night in January as dictated by and it leaves me with three key takeaways:

1. Housing is the solution to homelessness

2. Treatment is the solution to and poor mental health

3. Effective emergency response must do both

For far too long, national, state, and local emergency response to homelessness has been focused primarily on housing. Permanent housing is the fastest way to get someone off the street, because community tensions are at their highest when people are forced to camp in public spaces like parks and sidewalks. So we focused on getting people into housing, and for 15 years, that "worked".

Why the air quotes? Most people don't think that anything done to end homelessness has been successful over the last decade and a half. In fact, the data shows there are more people outside than ever before, and our parks, trails, and community spaces feel transformed by discarded needles, trash, and the abandoned detritus of a life lived on the edge of existence.

The good news is that since 2024, Maine's numbers have declined 21%. This is progress and demonstrates that our emergency response system is making progress.

But we aren't seeing the improvement on our streets. Why? When we look at our emergency response system, we also see a loss of 17% of our emergency shelter beds since 2025 due to a hotel closure in S**o, and a significant reduction in the number of people staying in transitional housing or receiving vouchers. This loss of interim housing and rent subsidy means people stay in shelter much longer than they did pre-pandemic, leaving more people trapped outside without access to resources of any kind.

System leaders and providers must respond, not with more of the same but with new ideas. Let's not talk about meeting people where they're at, let's actually do it. This past May, MMHSS became a state licensed Behavioral Health and Substance Use Agency which allows us to offer onsite behavioral health and addiction treatment to our clients and guests. We are the first shelter provider in the state to co-locate these services, dramatically increasing participation and helping people move from crisis to wellness.

The 76% reduction in overdose reversals on our campus and far fewer mental health emergencies prove this model works.

We followed the data and the results have been remarkable.

System leaders and providers need to get much better at using data to drive change. For far too long we've collected data we never use to it's fullest potential. We don't use it to assess the quality of services, interpret what we observe, or spark new ideas and innovation.

Unless we take data seriously, we'll continue doing the same things with the same tepid results.

Let this be the start of something better - for our communities and the people in desperate need of the best we have to give.

Katie Spencer White
President & CEO
MMHSS

07/17/2026

We are proud to stand with these amazing organizations.

Everyone we serve is a father, mother, so , daughter, brother, sister, or friend to people in our community. Our goal is to make sure everyone gets the help they need to make it home.

As Maine gathers for the Governor’s Opioid Recovery Summit, one message matters: low-barrier shelters are part of Maine’s recovery infrastructure.

For many people living with homelessness, substance use disorder, mental illness, and trauma, a low-barrier shelter is often the first safe door to recovery and support services.

These shelters provide immediate safety, overdose prevention and response, crisis support, and connection to detox, treatment, housing, health care, and long-term recovery.

But this safety net is fragile. One-time funding helps, but sustained investment is what keeps doors open, staff in place, and people connected to care.

Low-barrier shelter is not separate from opioid response. It is opioid response. Preble Street

07/13/2026

☀️ Cooling Center Open Tuesday ☀️

Our Cooling Center will be open on Tuesday, July 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Cooling Center is open to adults ages 18 and older, and well-behaved pets are welcome. Please share this information with anyone who may need a safe, cool place to escape the heat.

06/24/2026

Our Amazon Wish List has been updated!

Right now, our greatest needs include deodorant, plastic cups and bowls, and coffee mugs. These everyday items help us provide comfort, dignity, and a welcoming space for our shelter guests.

Thank you for helping us keep these essentials on hand for our neighbors in need. Please visit our Amazon Wish List to see the full list of current needs.

https://a.co/0bsNuaU2

06/23/2026

Today, during this stretch of rainy weather, we received a package in the mail filled with rain ponchos—no name, no note, just a thoughtful gift arriving at exactly the right time.

To the person who sent them: thank you. We wish we knew who you were so we could thank you personally. Please know that your generosity will help our guests stay a little drier, safer, and more comfortable as they move through the community in the rain.

These quiet acts of kindness mean more than you know. 💙

(Image is of a rain puddle with the quote, "Sometimes the greatest kindness is the one given quietly, just when it is needed most.")

06/03/2026

Monday night, we were honored to host our very first Community Read & Discussion at Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services centered around Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of thoughtful conversation, shared perspectives, and community connection. Discussions like these help deepen understanding around homelessness, addiction, mental health, and the importance of compassion-centered care.

We are incredibly grateful for the openness, honesty, and engagement from everyone who attended. A special thank you as well to Smitty’s Book Seller for supporting this event and helping make this community conversation possible.

We look forward to continuing these important conversations and creating more opportunities for our community to come together, learn from one another, and be part of the solution. ❤️

05/28/2026

We’re excited to be part of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Business 2 Business event happening today at Thomas College from 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM!

Stop by the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter & Services booth to say hello, learn more about our work in the community, enjoy some delicious popcorn with fun mix-ins, and enter for a chance to win TWO tickets to see Hearts of Pine take on the New York Cosmos on July 11 at Fitzpatrick Stadium! ⚽🎉

We’d love to connect with you—come see us!