Mainspring is a bold systems-changing approach to mitigating the impacts of poverty. A collaborative partnership between Fair Tide (housing) and Footprints (food security), this resource hub brings a dignified, efficient, and empowering model of care to the Seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire. Mainspring enables individuals to work with a team of social service experts to address all social determinants of health and navigate a sustainable pathway out of poverty. This model goes beyond co-location by implementing centralized intake, comprehensive care, case management, and shared success metrics and data. Mainspring aims to reduce the number of households living in poverty and build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community.
At Mainspring, partners will remain focused on their own organizational mission while playing an essential role in collectively addressing the root causes of poverty.
What is one interesting fact about your space?
On this newly developed campus, located in Kittery, Maine, Mainspring will house partners from Fair Tide (housing), Footprints (food), York County Community Action (outreach and WIC), Maine Health (health care navigation, prescription assistance, care access), Pine Tree Legal, The Triangle Club (substance recovery), Seacoast Outright (LGBTQ+), Adult Education, General Assistance (Kittery and Eliot), Volunteers of America (veteran services), Table of Plenty (weekly hot supper), Fuel and Utility Assistance, Financial Literacy Classes, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Resources, Mental and Behavioral Health, Culinary Job Training, and tax preparation services. Mainspring will also serve as a daytime warming and cooling center catering to the needs of the community.
Fair Tide and Footprints entered into a collaborative partnership to develop Mainspring and embarked on a $6.3M capital campaign jointly to bring this facility to fruition for multiple non-profit partners, the individuals supported, and the whole of the community. Fair Tide and Footprints will remain two independent agencies and co-own the facility in a truly collaborative fashion.
What are your favorite resources that you would recommend to others?
In our work to develop Mainspring, we have relied on the knowledge and strategy of each partner, the CSN network, the Maine Association of Non-Profits, and the NH Center for Non-Profits. Learning from each other has been our greatest strength.
Center Name: Mainspring: The Seacoast Social Service Collective
Center Member Type: Center in Development
Location: Kittery, ME
Center Website: www.mainspringcollective.org
Connect on Social Media: Facebook Instagram
