Why Helm exists.
Recovery requires more than treatment.
Recovery capital refers to the personal, social, and community resources that support an individual’s ability to sustain long-term recovery.
Many people begin their recovery journey without stable housing, employment, financial resources, or a strong support system. Socioeconomic hardship, unstable living situations, and limited access to treatment can make early recovery especially difficult.
The Helm Foundation was created to reduce the barriers between early recovery and lasting sobriety. Through direct financial assistance and community-based support, we help people bridge the gap between rehab, detox, and sustainable recovery.
Housing. Employment. Financial stability. Transportation. Treatment access. Community. These resources can determine whether someone simply leaves treatment or has the foundation to keep moving forward.
How we help.
Recovery looks different for every person. The Helm Foundation helps remove practical and financial barriers so people can keep moving forward with greater stability and support.
Direct Financial Assistance
We provide financial support when cost stands between someone in recovery and the resources they need to take the next step.
Referrals & Navigation Support
Finding the right resource can be overwhelming. We help connect people with trusted recovery homes, treatment programs, and community support.
Community Collaboration
We work alongside treatment centers, sober living homes, nonprofits, and other community organizations to make recovery resources easier to access.
Peer-Led Initiatives
Helm is informed by lived experience. We support efforts that create connection, accountability, and meaningful opportunities for people rebuilding their lives.
Our Mission
Recovery capital refers to the personal, social, and community resources that support an individual’s ability to sustain long-term recovery.
Many people begin their recovery journey with low recovery capital — limited housing stability, employment, financial resources, or social support. Factors such as socioeconomic hardship, unstable living situations, or lack of access to treatment can make early recovery especially challenging if not impossible.
The Helm Foundation was created to reduce the barriers that stand between early recovery and lasting sobriety. We provide direct financial assistance and community-based support to help individuals bridge the gap between rehab, detox, and sustainable recovery.
Led by People in Recovery
We’re a foundation built and led by people who have walked the path of recovery ourselves. This lived experience shapes everything we do—from how we allocate funds to the partnerships we form. We understand the challenges that come with achieving and maintaining sobriety, and we also know that even a small amount of support, applied at the right time and in the right place, can change the course of someone’s recovery.
Community Partnerships
The Helm Foundation will collaborate with rehab and detox programs, sober living residences, and other nonprofits to create a unified network of recovery support across Southern Maine and New England.
Together, we work to fill the gaps that often determine whether someone thrives or struggles in early recovery.