Our History, Our Mission, Our Commitment to Aroostook County
In 1984, a woman named Sister Mary O’Donnell saw a need that could not be ignored.
Alongside the St. Mary’s Social Action Committee, she helped create a place for neighbors who had nowhere else to go. What began as the Temporary Shelter for the Homeless, Inc. was built on a simple but powerful belief: every person deserves safety, dignity, and compassion — especially in their hardest season.
After Sister Mary O’Donnell’s passing in 1998, the shelter was renamed in her honor. Today, the Sister Mary O’Donnell Emergency Homeless Shelter stands as a living legacy of her selfless service to the people of Aroostook County.
For nearly four decades, that original mission has remained steady, even as the needs of the community have evolved.
Rooted in Presque Isle. Serving the Entire County.
From a single facility in Presque Isle, we serve individuals and families from across a county of roughly 66,000 residents. In rural Maine, distance matters. Transportation can be limited. Winter conditions can be severe. That makes access to emergency shelter not just important, but essential.
When someone in Aroostook County becomes homeless, there is one place they can turn.
That responsibility shapes everything we do.
Homeless Services of Aroostook remains the only emergency homeless shelter for the general public in Aroostook County, Maine — geographically the largest county east of the Mississippi and approximately the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
The Shelter Program — More Than a Place to Sleep
Our shelter opened with the belief that emergency housing must be both practical and purposeful. Today, the Sister Mary O’Donnell Emergency Homeless Shelter operates with a 46-bed capacity in the Sister Mary O'Donnell program, 21 beds in Aroostook Bridge, for a total of 57 year-round beds. We serve both families and individuals who need immediate shelter.
Residents receive three meals a day, access to hot showers, laundry facilities, and a warm, secure place to rest. But the heart of the program is case management.
Every individual and every family is paired with a Case Manager or Navigator who works collaboratively to create a plan — a clear roadmap toward independent living. That plan may include securing employment, reconnecting with benefits, addressing health needs, finding permanent housing, or strengthening financial stability. Case Managers and Navigators advocate for residents, coordinate with partner agencies, and monitor progress to ensure goals are not only set, but achieved.
While residents work toward stability, shelter staff manage daily operations with professionalism and care. New clients are welcomed respectfully. Rules and policies are reviewed thoughtfully. Confidentiality is maintained at all times. The aim is simple: reduce the stress of homelessness while creating forward momentum.
Because emergency shelter is not the destination. It is the beginning of rebuilding.
A Private Nonprofit Powered by Community Generosity
Homeless Services of Aroostook is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our doors remain open because of the generosity of individuals, churches, businesses, civic groups, and grant partners who believe in our mission.
We are deeply grateful for the strong working relationships we maintain throughout the region. We collaborate with agencies including the Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC), Northern Light AR Gould, and many others.
Ending homelessness in a rural county requires coordination. It requires shared responsibility. It requires trust.
For nearly forty years, this community has shown up — and that partnership continues to strengthen our impact.
Mission and Values
Our mission is to end homelessness in Aroostook County by providing emergency shelter, feeding the hungry, and helping individuals and families pursue a self-sustaining life.
We believe in dignity.
We believe in accountability.
We believe in opportunity.
Every person who walks through our doors is treated with respect. Every plan is built with intention. Every partnership is grounded in service to our neighbors.
Leadership and Accountability
Homeless Services of Aroostook is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors and supported by professional staff committed to compassionate service and operational integrity.
As a registered 501(c)(3), we maintain transparency in our financial reporting and operations. We understand that donors, grantors, and community members place trust in us — and we honor that trust through responsible stewardship of every dollar and every donation entrusted to our care.
Generosity here does not disappear into abstraction. It provides beds, meals, case management, housing support, and daily operational stability for people rebuilding their lives.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
Homeless Services of Aroostook prohibits discrimination of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.
We are firmly committed to equal opportunity for residents of the Sister Mary O’Donnell Emergency Homeless Shelter, tenants of our Transitional Housing program, and all employees of the organization in every aspect of employment and service delivery.
Compassion without fairness is incomplete. We are committed to both.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
What began in 1984 as a community response to visible need has become a cornerstone institution in Aroostook County.
From Sister Mary O’Donnell’s original vision to today’s structured shelter and housing programs, the mission has remained constant: provide safety in crisis and a pathway toward independence.
Rooted in Aroostook.
Evolving for Aroostook.
Serving our neighbors with steadiness, dignity, and hope.
A Fresh Chapter for Homeless Services of Aroostook
Our administrative office is located at 160 Airport Drive in Presque Isle, and our shelter remains open 24/7 for those in need.
We remain grounded in our mission to provide hope and encouragement to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Aroostook County.
In a region known for resilience — where even winter winds are simply part of life — we continue to stand steady.
If you need help, reach out.
If you want to help, step forward.
Together, we ensure that no one in Aroostook County faces homelessness alone.