New Independent Living Program for Young Adults

Community Care is excited to announce a new program that began in September.  This Pilot Project is a partnership between Maine State Housing, DHHS, and Community Care.   The Shaw House was also involved in the development of this new program.

The Independent Living Program will serve young adults who are 18-24 and who are currently homeless.  To be eligible for this service, youth must have formerly lived as a youth in the foster care system, and left the system after age 18.  

Homeless young adults who are former foster children have significant barriers to obtaining, and more importantly, successfully maintaining safe and stable housing, employment, and life satisfaction.  Most of these individuals have not had consistent, stable, and healthy families; housing; safe relationships; mentoring; or the opportunity to learn independent or life skills.   Many of these former youth in care want to have a good life as an adult but, for multiple reasons and obstacles as a youth, they do not have the skills, experiences, behavioral repertoires, and consistent helping relationships necessary to achieve this goal.  

Community Care’s new Independent Living Program will offer a small number of young adults in the Bangor area the opportunity to obtain a housing voucher, assistance finding safe housing, assistance finding and maintaining employment, assistance finding solid health care, transportation options, and other necessary supports for successful living, including support to develop positive peer relationships and friendships.