Although we are in the business of creating livelihoods, HOMEtogether itself is an entirely volunteer organization. Apart from our necessary legal and accounting expenses, nobody gets paid. We do what we do because we see the opportunity and the potential.
Our immediate goal is the creation of a space in which we can function as an organization. We need a space that will serve both our business and residential requirements. We need a space that will house a core group of 8 Companions.
The Companions will contribute their time, talent and energy in the creation of a space where they can live and work in an enterprise that will serve both their own needs and those of the larger community. In a word, we are looking for a, dilapidated and abandoned house, large enough to meet our needs that we can buy for little money and return to use.
This house has to be in a commercial zone, which will permit us to launch this enterprise, supported by the community at first but becoming self-supporting as it matures. The object is not private profit but community sustainability.
The enterprise we envision will utilize the soft and hard skills that were developed by working together as a team in phase one along with the equity we have developed through the improvements that we have been able to make, to buy and restore another dilapidated and abandoned house, this time for use by a low-income or very low income family who could not otherwise hope to achieve home ownership.
The hourly wages that the Companions earn will cover the expenses of the HOMEtogether household, plus a small allowance for pocket money and a savings account that will go with them when they leave, to pay the initial costs of an apartment, perhaps, or to buy a car or start a business of their own. We would like to be able to match their savings, dollar for dollar.
Although at first years we will be depending on grants and donations for our operating expenses, we estimate that we can become self-sufficient within two or three years. Then we will be looking for money to establish a second Emmaus community, perhaps in Brunswick or Lewiston – wherever there are houses standing empty and families unable to find a place to live.
Tax-exempt donations of any size, small or large, can be made to the United Church of Christ and designated “for HOMEtogether”. The UCC has agreed to act as our fiscal sponsor while we work on achieving our own independent tax-exempt status.
We will also need in-kind donations of time, talent and expertise. Do you have construction skills that you could share? Are you in a position to help us with a tax-deductible discount on building supplies? Do you just enjoy swinging a hammer, especially in a good cause?
Please contact us at 207-443-9005 or email us the form below.
