Lewiston, ME – Avangrid Foundation in partnership with Central Maine Power has gifted $10,000 in grant funding to New Beginnings, Inc., a Lewiston-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth.
Avangrid Foundation funding is helping New Beginnings promote the safety, connections, and growth that runaway and homeless youth need to thrive in 2021-22, especially as they continue to face challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power are proud to support the great work being done at New Beginnings with this grant,” said CMP President and CEO, Joe Purington. “We are living through some tough times right now. I am hopeful that this partnership will help Maine youth who may be struggling with homelessness connect to services that can help.
New Beginnings operates Marian’s Place – the only youth shelter in Maine licensed for 24-hour care – along with a full spectrum of supportive housing, counseling, educational support, prevention, and outreach services for teens and young adults in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Kennebec counties.
“New Beginnings is grateful to have received continued support from the Avangrid Foundation for our work to address youth homelessness in Maine,” said Executive Director Chris Bicknell. “Avangrid’s ongoing assistance and generosity is helping meet the basic needs of Maine’s vulnerable youth living on the streets or facing food and housing insecurity. Young people need our help more than ever to find safety, stay healthy, connect to caring adults, and increase stability as they transition to adulthood.”
New Beginnings’ workers reach out to youth on the streets and at schools, libraries, corner stores, and parks to offer emergency supplies, a listening ear, and information about how to get food and shelter. Staff welcome and build trust with youth, encouraging them to engage in services when they are ready. Family mediation helps youth return home or reunify with relatives; when that isn’t possible, New Beginnings provides Transitional Living apartments where older youth can learn the skills they need to live independently.
Youth and young adults up to age 21 come to New Beginnings’ Youth Outreach Drop-in Center in Lewiston for help finding housing, emergency food and supplies, or simply a safe place to get warm off the streets and eat a much-needed meal. All of New Beginnings’ residential and outreach programs offer comprehensive case management to help young people pursue their goals and access and maintain stable housing.
Avangrid Foundation has identified youth homelessness as a top priority for their philanthropy and is partnering with multiple organizations working to end youth homelessness in Maine.
ABOUT
Since 1980, New Beginnings, Inc. has partnered with youth to create lasting change so all youth have a safe place to live and opportunities to grow. New Beginnings works with young people, their families, and other providers to ensure that vulnerable youth in Maine have access to the safe housing, supportive services, and positive relationships that they need to become healthy and stable adults. For more information, please see www.newbeginmaine.org or contact 207-795-4077. 24-HOUR HELPLINE for youth shelter & referrals: 207-795-4070.
The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where AVANGRID, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2002, the Avangrid Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $24 million in partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving people’s lives. The Avangrid Foundation is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the United States. For more information, please visit www.avangridfoundation.org.