ROCKLAND - On Nov. 21, the Knox County Homeless Coalition/Hospitality House held a fundraising supper at the St. Bernard Church on Broadway in Rockland. The purpose was to raise awareness and educate people about how they could help the homeless in the community.

The Knox County Homeless Coalition/Hospitality House is the only dedicated homeless organization serving clients from Waldoboro to Belfast. Its mission is to help homeless families reach sustainable, productive independence, strengthening families, future and our communities as a result.

Stephanie Primm, executive director for the Hospitality House, said they are trying to reach out to as many people as they can.

“We want people to know the magnitude of our work,” she said. “And the need here in the Midcoast. We’re trying to educate people as to who we are. We’re not just a shelter. We move families into sustainable independence and productive lives, so it’s not just an overnight place to sleep.”

The coalition has made several accomplishments since their opening two and a half years ago.

“Since we opened, we have helped over 1,500 people,” she said. “Fifty-percent of those people were children under the age of 12. We’ve achieved a 95 percent sustainability rating within our independently housed people. We stick with people and give them the support they need.”

Primm said that when people are stable, they are more inclined to accept the learning, like budgeting and basic education that leads to better earning potential.

The Hospitality House, located on Old County Road in Rockport, has undergone growth and expansion over the past year.

“Habitat for Humanity is just finishing up renovating our garage into two emergency intake rooms,” she said. “We’ll have more room to help emergencies who show up. It will change our lives and allow us to do more for those emergencies that show up at the shelter.”

The focus is on improving the quality of life and the future with opportunities to learn, earn, and grow into a hopeful future.

There is always a need for money, but there is also a need for food, clothing and furniture. Volunteers can help in many ways.

“One of the most loved activities for volunteers is to read to children, or just simply play with them” said Primm. “Another program we have that people love is the mentorship program. A person who is really interested in getting to know a family can be a friend or an adult mentor for them to help them move into independence.”

The Hospitality House only holds 10 percent of the coalition’s total client base. Primm urges people to call and email to learn more because it is so much more than just the house.

Richard Norman, board chair for the Knox County Homeless Coalition/Hospitality House, said there are nine people who serve on the board.

“We oversee everything,” he said. “We oversee the finances and the day-to-day operation and the case workers who help our clients. I like the direction the house is going in. We’re doing well. We have a lot more work to do, but we’re doing very well.”

Norman said just maintaining is a top goal for right now.

“We have some plans for the coming year, but for now we just need to maintain. We need to be on firm financial footing before we can expand into other things. Especially now with the holiday and over the winter, working with people is more important than ever for people that need our help.”

Primm said there is uncertainty in the air no matter where you sit on the world affairs with things that are happening.

“Doing something that makes an absolute concrete difference in the lives of people we live among is a pretty cool way of kind of anchoring ourselves,” she said.

She said that now more than ever, during the holidays, the community can participate in helping others in need by adopting a family in need. It means shopping for, wrapping and delivering items from a wish list to the family of your choice.

For more information, email info@homehelphope.org or visit them online at: homehelphope.org

Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com.