Program Description

The Strafford Ave. Family Center, a program operated by the Rumford Group Homes, Inc. is located in Rumford, Maine. The family center serves homeless families in crisis by providing emergency shelter and essential services to help them resolve their crisis situation and secure safe and affordable housing. 

RGH, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) non-profit agency serving neglected, troubled, and homeless children and low income citizens since 1974. As part of our continuum of care, we provide outreach services, emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing homeless individuals and families in Oxford County, Maine.

The Strafford Ave. Family Center is located in a four bedroom home in a residential neighborhood. It is open 24 hours per day and is handicap accessible. It offers a safe, secure environment, emergency food and supplies and laundry facilities.  It meets the state of Maine minimum shelter standards.  The length of stay is adjusted to meet each family’s circumstances and needs, however it is expected to average approximately thirty days.  The Strafford Ave. Family Center is unstaffed, which means that staff are not available on site and that families must be able to live independently and be able to provide supervision to their child(ren). 
Families will receive assistance through our Homeless Youth Outreach (HYO) Program.  Our HYO Coordinator is available to meet with families as needed.  The HYO Coordinator is available daily Monday-Friday and should be contacted for any emergencies that arise and/or maintenance issues.

Through individual case management, families receive supportive services including housing assistance, referrals for employment, financial assistance, transportation and necessary social services. Referrals to physical and mental health care professionals are made as appropriate.  Each family is assisted in developing a self-sufficiency plan which outlines goals they will work on to help them secure an income and obtain housing.

The major goals of the program are 1) to help families/individuals maintain and sustain safe and affordable housing 2) to secure a stable income and 3) to work on issues that may have led to homelessness.  Children will attend the local school district. 

Families will receive comprehensive follow-up and outreach assistance upon exit from the Strafford Ave. Family Center. Telephone advocacy, home visits, and office appointments are available to families as they develop long-term plans for security and independence and to help them prevent future episodes of homelessness.

Referrals: Referrals come from other social service agencies, schools, medical staff, police departments, parents, civic and/or religious organizations, concerned citizens and self-referrals.  Access to the shelter is through our HYO Program. To make a referral please call 369-9439 or 357-5579.