A Maine resource guide

Help is here,
close to home.

Free food, heat, housing, and crisis support across Maine. Real places, real phone numbers, checked by hand.

Start with Food 102 Housing 65 Heating 39 Mental Health 64 See all 19 categories ›

Volunteers handing out free groceries at a Maine community food program
Free meals and groceries are open to anyone across Maine. Every one of 766 listings is checked by hand and updated each month.

Browse by need

Every listing is free and open to all Maine residents.

  1. 01 Food & Nutrition Food banks, pantries, free meals, SNAP assistance 102
  2. 02 Housing & Shelter Emergency shelters, rental help, transitional housing 65
  3. 03 Heating & Energy LIHEAP, fuel assistance, weatherization programs 39
  4. 04 Mental Health & Recovery Counseling, crisis lines, substance use recovery 64
  5. 05 Animal Welfare Shelters, adoption, pet food banks, low-cost vet care 34
  6. 06 Crisis Resources Hotlines, emergency help, domestic violence support 32
  7. 07 Healthcare Free clinics, dental, prescriptions, sliding-scale care 71
  8. 08 Legal Aid Free legal help, eviction defense, immigration services 21
  9. 09 Employment & Training Job training, career centers, resume help, GED programs 45
  10. 10 Childcare & Family Head Start, childcare assistance, parenting support 49
  11. 11 Foster Care & Adoption Foster parenting, adoption agencies, kinship care, youth support 21
  12. 12 Transportation Bus passes, medical rides, vehicle assistance 33
  13. 13 Clothing & Basic Needs Clothing closets, diapers, hygiene, furniture 44
  14. 14 Veterans Services VA healthcare, veteran housing, benefits assistance, vet centers 29
  15. 15 Senior Services Area Agencies on Aging, Meals on Wheels, Medicare help, elder care 26
  16. 16 Domestic Violence Support Shelters, hotlines, safety planning, legal advocacy 15
  17. 17 Disability Services Independent living, vocational rehab, assistive technology, advocacy 25
  18. 18 Financial Assistance TANF cash assistance, free tax prep, budgeting help, benefits advocacy 19
  19. 19 Education & Adult Learning GED/HiSET, adult education, literacy, college programs, Head Start 32

Resources people use most

Real organizations helping Mainers every day. Call to get started.

01

Preble Street Resource Center

Portland ·Daily 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM ·Verified Mar 2026 ·Free, Walk-in, No ID needed

Serves hot meals daily, no questions asked. One of the largest meal programs in Maine. Clothing closet, case management, and on-site healthcare also available.

View program ›
(207) 775-0026
02

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

Bangor ·Day program 8 AM - 4 PM; Lunch at noon; Call for intake ·Verified Mar 2026 ·Free

Emergency shelter for sober adults in greater Bangor. 38+ beds, free daily lunch at noon, food pantry, day program, and connections to housing and employment resources.

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(207) 947-0092
03

LIHEAP - Fuel Assistance

Portland ·Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ·Verified Mar 2026 ·Free, By appointment

Federal fuel assistance program (HEAP) for Cumberland County. One-time seasonal payment to your heating fuel vendor. Covers oil, gas, electric, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal. Benefit amount based on household size and income.

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(207) 523-5049
04

NAMI Maine

Statewide ·Helpline: 1-800-464-5767; Office Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM ·Verified Mar 2026 ·Free, No ID needed

Statewide mental health education, support groups, and advocacy. Free peer-led programs for individuals living with mental health conditions and their families. Helpline available for information and referrals.

View program ›
1-800-464-5767
A volunteer sorts boxes of free food and bottled water at a Maine community aid center
Free food and groceries are open to anyone, no questions asked.
A white New England church and homes among autumn trees in a small Maine town
Help is here in towns big and small, all across Maine.

Help finding help

A free, independent directory of community resources across Maine. We check every listing by hand so phone numbers work, hours are right, and doors are still open.

766 verified resources 79 Maine towns 19 kinds of help Monthly checks