Welcome to h.o.m.e.

Emmaus Principles and BASIC NEEDS Development at h.o.m.e.

When the original crafters met in 1970 to open a craft store, they discovered that some among them couldn't read. They decided to build a school at the same time as they built their craft store. To enable young mothers to attend classes, they realized they must provide child care. The h.o.m.e. Learning Center started the first Adult Education and the first Alternative High School in the district, and the only one ever with child care. They now have a Rural Education Program which combines basic liberal arts with training in non-profit management.

People were hungry, so they opened a food pantry, a produce cooperative, and a soup kitchen. But they also developed a vegetable garden, an orchard and community gardens. They began workshops to teach people how to farm using natural resources that are free or low cost. They opened a farmers' market and started a revolving loan fund. They brought Heifer Project International to Maine to help people get stock.

The problem of homelessness became acute. They opened shelters. There are now five shelters as well as two transitional housing complexes; another complex is under construction. They ran a weekend seminar and bussed in people from shelters to attend. They wrote legislation to provide housing for low and very low-income people through Community Land Trusts. The legislation passed. Organizing began in other communities. The community land trust movement in Maine is responsible for a steady development of housing affordable in perpetuity for the poorest people in Maine.

H.o.m.e builds homes in the Covenant Community Land Trust with members and volunteers from around the world. They harvest trees from Land Trust land, process the lumber in h.o.m.e.'s mills, produce furniture, doors and cabinets in the woodworking shop. In this way mortgage money is kept in the community and many people are employed.

People unable to pay for a doctor's visit put off going until it was too late. Staff got together and organized a free health clinic. There is now a free dental clinic also.

They opened a Bargain Barn where the discards of the well-off are sold for very little to those who have very little. The Barn employs two people.

There are craft studios where people can learn a craft and a retail store where they can sell what they make. The more the needs of low income people have grown, the greater has been the response of h.o.m.e., making the case that meeting people's basic needs is the way communities regain their strength and flourish.

h.o.m.e., Inc. was organized in 1970 by low-income local people looking for a way to augment meager earnings. It has grown into a multi-faceted community development corporation based on meeting people's basic needs for shelter, food, and health care. This approach has become the new wisdom among CDCs worldwide.

h.o.m.e.is also a part of the world Emmaus Movement. By combining the Emmaus philosophy with its own practice, h.o.m.e. is perhaps unique in the way it meets the needs of people in regions like "The Other Maine." These are places that have become under-developed, where people have been pushed off the land, where employment is for the most part seasonal and poorly paid.

The FOUR principles of Emmaus are:

1. help those in need
2. help people help themselves
3. help communities not just individuals
4. overcome oppression

h.o.me.'s income comes mostly from sales and fees for services.
We also help people market their products, like wreathes at Christmas.

If you would like to help here are some ways:

1. Send for a craft catalog
2. Come visit, volunteer
3. Order a balsam Christmas wreath
4. Send a tax deductable donation

OR Join one of our trips to San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala, to our sister community.  Learn Spanish and learn about Maya culture and history.   Check out scenes from our recent trip on our Guatemala Slide Show page.
 
 

h.o.m.e., Inc.
P.O. Box 10
Orland ME 04472
H.O.M.E. Inc., Orland..."First Serve Those Who Suffer Most"