MaineStay

MaineStay is an innovative and collaborative program designed to provide transitional housing, comprehensive substance abuse and mental health treatment, and supportive services to homeless youth and young adults with serious emotional disorders or mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse. It was created specifically to address the large gap in appropriate services for individuals 16 through 20 years old.

The MaineStay residence offers a transitional living program of approximately one year that gives individuals the opportunity to address issues impacting their well being and develop the necessary skills for independent living. Staffed 24/7, the program provides individual and group skill building activities, individual and group mental health and substance abuse treatment, family counseling, vocational/educational counseling, health care, nutrition, and social and recreational activities.

In addition to the 12-bed transitional residence, the MaineStay collaborative addresses the complex and conflicting needs of homeless and at-risk youth with a range of specialized programming—including outreach, substance abuse counseling, health care, and community support services—to ensure that each individual, through age 20, has a community-based system to support them in attaining their goals.

Particular attention is given to empowering youth as well as providing structured clinical interventions, guidance, and support.

MaineStay opened in 1996.