Community Outreach: FFCC’s Helping Hours

Exciting news! Families First Community Center (FFCC) and the City of Ellsworth have received a Community Development Block Grant (Public Service Grant)! 🎉 This funding will help us support individuals and families on their journey to stability and self-sufficiency.

How We’ll Make a Difference:
💼 Rental Assistance – Preventing eviction & securing housing for 48 individuals
🔥 Fuel Assistance – Keeping 150 individuals warm this winter
📚 Workshops & Education – Up to 4 workshops/month on job skills, budgeting & more
🎁 Incentives – Encouraging 250 individuals to engage in onsite programming
🏠 Tangible Support – Providing essentials like bedding, dishes & cribs

What Sets FFCC Apart?
FFCC provides more than assistance—we empower individuals to plan for self-sufficiency through:
✅ Case management & life planning
✅ Housing, job applications & financial skills
✅ Accountability – Recipients must engage in workshops, classes, or volunteering

Other ways that we offer a “hand-up” are…

  • Staying up to date on resources that other organizations have to offer and referring people  to other organizations depending on their needs
  • Staying up to date on the nearest warming centers
  • Providing tangible items for families in need or families moving into housing
  •  Referring/assisting people in need with with housing applications and Section 8 Applications
  • Offering up to four on-site programs to the public free of charge that include but are not limited to the following:
    • Cooking classes (Cooking Matters with Healthy Acadia)
    • Parenting classes
    • Group work (navigating difficult situations, communication skills, etc.)
    • Employability skills and training
    • Financial literacy
    • Goal Setting
    • Tai Chi
    • Landlord Expectations
Our outreach program and efforts are expanding as our organization continues to grow.

In 2023 we served 114 families via our outreach program. In 2024, we served 250. In 2025, with help from the Community Development Block Grant, we will serve up to 500 families in Hancock who are experiencing or facing homelessness, or struggling with other life factors.