Community Resources
A few community resources/service organizations which may be able to provide you with assistance are listed below (scroll down), but calling or going to 211 will give you many more options both within Hancock County and throughout the entire state of Maine.
2-1-1 Maine, Inc. — Providing information and referrals to other service organizations — If you are looking for help or support, you can dial 211 on your phone or visit 2-1-1 Maine online. You will reach places that can help you with health and human service concerns or questions that you have. For example, there are places that can help you with counseling, energy assistance and basic needs like shelter, food and clothing.
Covenant Community Land Trust • Orland • (207) 619-2246 • MaineCCLT@gmail.com • www.mainecclt.org — CCLT is a nonprofit organization building cooperative community through affordable housing and land conservation. (associated with H.O.M.E.)
Emmaus Shelter • Ellsworth • (207) 667-3962 — Provides a safe and comfortable environment for homeless men, women and families in need of temporary shelter who are willing to work towards ending their homelessness. (associated with H.O.M.E.)
H.O.M.E. • Orland • (207) 469-7961 — Dedicated to keeping and enhancing the quality of life for low-income and homeless families. HOME operates six shelters throughout Hancock County. The shelter and learning center staff work closely together with those staying in the shelters to help them get what they need to become independent.
Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (see also additional services offered by the Washington Hancock Community Agency below) – Emergency heating assistance of kerosene, oil, propane, wood, or wood pellets for emergency situations available on a 1 time benefit within a program year.
248 Bucksport Road
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone: (207) 664-2424
TDD Phone: (207) 546-7607
Fax: (207) 664-2430
Email: energy@whcacap.org
www.whcacap.org
Families First • Ellsworth • (207) 460-3711 • familiesfirstellsworth@gmail.com • www.familiesfirstellsworth.org — “Teaching Life Skills Needed for Success” – FFCC is a medium-term Housing Program that will help residents with everything that they will need to live an independent, stable and fulfilling life.
Maine State Housing Authority
353 Water Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 626-4600
or (800) 452-4668
Fax: (207) 626-4678
www.mainehousing.org/
Brewer Housing Authority
15 Colonial Circle
Suite 1
Brewer, ME 04412
Phone: (207) 989-7551
V/TDD: (207) 989-9810
Fax: (207) 989-7554
www.brewerhousing.com
MDI & Ellsworth Housing Authorities
PO Box 28
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-4770
www.emdiha.org
Click here for a list of area affordable options produced by MaineHousing.
Pine Tree Legal (Machias) — Non-criminal legal assistance with housing, welfare benefits, DHHS, domestic violence, tax problems with IRS, foreclosure/predatory lending, Medicaid and access to health care, special education, consumer problems, property tax abatement for low-income homeowners, job training, and ASPIRE/Parents as Scholars; accept referrals for Maine Attorneys Saving Homes foreclosure assistance.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 278
Machias, ME 04654
Physical Address:
13 Cooper Street
Machias, ME 04654
Phone: (207) 255-8656
TDD Phone: 711
Fax: (207) 255-8657
www.ptla.org
USDA Rural Development
967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4
Bangor, ME 04401-2767
Phone: (207) 990-9160
Fax: (207) 990-9165
www.rurdev.usda.gov/ME_Home.html
Washington Hancock Community Agency
The Washington Hancock Community Agency is a non-profit, non-governmental, private corporation, and community action program. WHCA brings community resources together to help people in Washington and Hancock counties to achieve self -sufficiency and a better quality of life — providing services including business assistance, financial services, transportation, house & home (heating & utility assistance, repairs, etc.) and assistance to veterans and the elderly.
Ellsworth Office – Mailing & Physical Address:
248 Bucksport Road
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone: (207) 664-2424
Fax: (207) 664-2430
Email: gro.pacachw@noitartsinimda
Machias Office – Mailing & Physical Address:
7 VIP Drive
Machias, ME 04654
Phone: (207) 259-5015
TDD: (207) 546-7607
Fax: (207) 546-3216
Email: gro.pacachw@noitartsinimda
www.whcacap.org
SEPTICSMART WEEK–Annually in September: From https://www.epa.gov/septic/septicsmart-homeowners: “One in five U.S. homes have septic systems. Yours may be one of them. If your septic system is not properly maintained you may be risking your family’s health, hurting the environment, and flushing thousands of dollars down the drain. EPA’s SepticSmart initiative is a nation-wide public education effort with resources for homeowners, local organizations, and government leaders. Learn how septic systems work and get simple, everyday tips on how to properly maintain them.”
You can also find great additional information about your septic system by visiting: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/plumb/faq.htm This site includes information (scroll to the bottom of the linked pg.) and resources about community based loan and grant programs as well as other assistance in the case of a septic failure.
And here are a few links to homeowners’ manuals — educational resources. Septic Systems: How they work and how to keep them working and SepticSmart Homeowners’ Guide
Our thanks to the members of the Maine Association of Site Evaluators [MASE] for bringing this information to our attention.