Looking For Help?

The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter is open 365 days a year. We are a dry shelter for people 18 or older.

The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter does not discrimination based on race, color, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity, national origin, disability, or mental health diagnosis.

If you need emergency housing, please call the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at (207) 947-0092 to complete an intake with our staff. Beds are not reserved over the phone, and we act on a first come first served basis. We can only accept people 18 years of age or older. Guests at BAHS must be clean and sober from drugs, medical marijuana, and alcohol for at least 24 hours. BAHS has 38 beds year-round, and in the winter, we will open “overflow” beds. Each length of stay is different. Individuals are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Our Diversion Program: In special cases, our Diversion Coordinator works with a person experiencing homelessness or in immediate danger of becoming homeless to find a solution that will allow them to stay in their home, become rapidly re-housed, or relocate to a place where they have housing options to avoid becoming homeless or avoid having to enter an emergency shelter. Call (207) 947-0092 and ask for the Diversion Coordinator.

Day Program: Our doors are open to any sober adults to come into our day room every day from 8 am to 4 pm. Guests are welcome to use our phone, bathroom, get information about other resources in the Bangor Area, ask for any clothing or personal items they need, get warm or cool off, and meet with different organizations that work with the shelter.

Free Lunch Every Day: Please arrive at 11:45 AM. Adults who are not living at our shelter are welcome to come eat a hot lunch at noon every day.

Food Pantry: Open every Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm to 4pm. Individuals are allowed access to our pantry once a month.

Warming Center: Opens December 4, 2024 closes March 21, 2025, our day room is open to unhoused people to come in out of the cold during the night to get a hot meal at 7 PM and get dry warm clothing. The Warming Center hours are 6 PM to 5:30 AM. From 5:30 AM to 8 AM our day room isn’t open to people who don’t have a bed in our shelter. From 4 PM to 6 PM our day room also isn’t open to people who don’t have a bed in our shelter.

Search for Other Community Resources:

211 -Help hotline

Search for Community Resorces (A website by Northern Light Healthcare)

Findhelp.com – Resources for food, housing, health, money, care, education, work, and legal services

Bangor General Assistance

Penquis Heating assistance, transportation, and many other services

Bangor Public Library has a Social Worker

To apply for free or discounted mattresses contact Sleep Dr.

Your trusted guide to mental health & wellness Click here for Help Guide

Housing Resources:

Maine Sate Housing Authority helps people with mortgage programs, fuel assistance, eviction prevention program, and rental programs. Click the link to contact them. Maine Housing -Maine State Housing Authority

Community Housing of Maine (CHOM)

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Supports:

Maine Domestic Violence Helpline 1-866-834-4357

Maine Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line 1-800-871-7741

Rape Response Services – Also has a housing navigator

Next Step

Partners for Peace – Domestic Violence Support

HelpGuide.com Domestic Violence Resources

Human Trafficking Resources:

National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733

Human Trafficking Resources in Maine

CourageLIVES -home for women who had experienced human trafficking or exploitation

Food Resources:

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

List of other food pantries

Brewer Area Food Pantry

List of Free Meal Providers

Looking for a Job?

Maine Department of Labor Disability Resources

Career Center

Job Fairs at the Career Center: List of Job Fairs

Maine JobLink

Education Resources:

Literacy Volunteers of Bangor

Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) Program is committed to helping parents and specified relatives reach their educational and career goals by helping cover costs related to school. HOPE Website

Workshops and Training at the Career Center: List of Workshops

CareerOneStop lets you research careers, find training, and search for jobs: CareerOneStop website

Elder Services:

Federal and state financial assistance for seniors. Click here: Paying For Senior Care

Caring.com -Emergency Housing and other Assistance for the Elderly

Penquis Senior Services

Eastern Area Agency on Aging -offers many services

Meals-On-Wheels -for people over 60

Veteran Supports:

Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services

Caring.com -Emergency Housing Resources for Veterans

HelpGuide.com Veterans PTSD Supports

Bangor VA Medical Clinic

VA Resources

Career Center -Veteran’s Services

Veterans exposed to asbestos can submit a claim to the VA. Contact the Veterans Outreach Department of The Mesothelioma Advocacy Center. Mesothelioma & Veterans Website

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Mesothelioma Symptoms

Substance Use Support:

Overdose Prevention Helpline (serving Maine) at 1-(800) 972-0590

Help Quitting Smoking

A Time to Rise -Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Trauma Therapy Services

HelpGuide.com Addiction Resources

Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS) Syringe service program, Naloxone, overdose response team, medical outreach, and assistance getting into detox programs. OPTIONS website

SaVida Health’s – Drug Or Alcohol Rehabilitation

The Together Place -Peer Support Groups

Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN)

Substance Use Prevention Resources

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness