As Hope Acts prepares to celebrate a major milestone and leadership transition, retiring Executive Director Martha Stein is reflecting on eight years of service supporting asylum seekers and immigrants across Maine.
In an exclusive interview with Amjambo Africa, Stein discussed the organization’s growth, the increasing challenges facing immigrant families, and her hopes for the future as she hands leadership to Madeleine Saucier, who officially stepped into the role on March 1, 2026.
The conversation came ahead of Hope Acts’ annual “Celebrating Home” event, scheduled for July 23 at 5 p.m. at the Jewish Community Alliance. The gathering will mark the near-completion of a year-long renovation of Hope House, Hope Acts’ flagship housing program for asylum seekers, while also honoring Stein’s retirement and welcoming a new leadership chapter.
For Stein, the message of the event extends beyond the physical renovation. “All immigrants are welcome here,” she said. “This is your home as well as our home.”
The theme “Celebrating Home” reflects both the transformation of Hope House and the broader mission of helping newcomers find safety, stability, and belonging in Maine.
A legacy built on welcoming newcomers
Founded 14 years ago, Hope Acts began with a simple but ambitious goal: to help asylum seekers establish new lives in Maine through housing, support services, and community connection.
Under Stein’s leadership, the organization became one of Maine’s key immigrant support networks. Today, Hope Acts provides housing assistance, immigration guidance, English language instruction, work permit support, referrals, and emergency services to approximately 3,000 individuals annually.
Stein said it was fitting that her final major public event centers on Hope House, where the organization’s journey began.
“Hope Acts started with a home,” she said. “We didn’t have all of these other services. We had Hope House, and that was our beginning. Now we’re rebuilding that home and preparing to welcome new residents.”
The renovated facility will soon welcome 13 additional residents, addressing urgent housing needs for asylum seekers in a state where affordable housing remains a major barrier. For Stein, however, “home” is not only a building.
“Home is where you put your head down at night, where you feel safe and comfortable,” she said. “It’s really about the people and the community around you.”
Eight years of growth
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During Stein’s tenure, Hope Acts significantly broadened its programming while maintaining its original mission. Among the achievements she highlighted is the organization’s English Language Program, which recently marked its tenth anniversary.
“Our teachers are all volunteers,” she said. “They teach because they love welcoming immigrants and helping people feel at home.” She also emphasized the transformative journeys of former asylum seekers who have become staff and board members within the organization. Many others, she added, have gone on to become nurses, entrepreneurs, students, homeowners, and community leaders. “There are just so many success stories,” she said.
Growing challenges for immigrant families
Despite these achievements, Stein described a growing difficulty for immigrant families. Housing instability and immigration-related issues now account for a large share of requests for assistance. “We spend a lot of time helping people understand paperwork, check cases, update addresses, and get to hearings,” she said.
She described families facing sudden crises, including detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), compounded by housing insecurity and financial strain. In one case, she recalled, a detained father left behind a wife with a newborn and two children. “We made sure they had food, clothing, rent assistance, and support with everything they needed,” she said.
Living with fear
Stein said fear has become a daily reality for many immigrants. “It’s having to feel like you always need to look over your shoulder,” she said. “That’s a horrible way to live.” She said uncertainty about enforcement and immigration procedures has led some families to avoid work, school, and community life.
Stein also criticized systemic delays in immigration processing. “If leaders truly wanted to improve the system, they would invest in immigration judges, asylum officers, and legal processing,” she said.
Barriers to self-sufficiency
Asylum seekers, she noted, often struggle to achieve independence due to long work authorization delays and rising fees. “How is someone who isn’t allowed to work supposed to come up with hundreds of dollars for an application?” she asked.
These delays, she said, force many families to remain dependent on community support despite their desire to work.
Maine needs immigrants
Despite challenges, Stein remains firm that immigrants are essential to Maine’s future.
“We need you,” she said. “We need your brains, your energy, and your hard work.” She pointed to workforce shortages and an aging population as key reasons immigration is vital to the state’s economy. But she also emphasized cultural enrichment.
“We need the music, the food, the different perspectives,” she said. She also rejected negative stereotypes about immigrants. “The facts don’t support those claims.”
Stein said Maine continues to demonstrate strong community support for immigrants, especially through volunteer and faith-based networks. She noted that churches, synagogues, and other religious communities have played a central role in supporting newcomers. “We see faith leaders speaking out and standing with immigrant communities,” she said. “That gives people hope.”
She encouraged residents to build personal connections. “Invite someone to dinner,” she said. “Get to know people.”
Passing the torch
As Stein retires, Hope Acts transitions to new leadership under Madeleine Saucier. Stein expressed confidence in the organization’s future. “This is my chance to say thank you,” she said. “I don’t want to say goodbye because I’m not really going anywhere.”
Looking five years into the future, Stein hopes for expanded housing, stronger immigrant communities, and a more humane immigration system. “We all have much more in common than the divisions people try to create,” she said.
She said her greatest source of hope remains the people themselves. “The immigrants give me hope,” she said. “And so do the volunteers and community members who stand up for kindness.”
As Hope Acts prepares for its “Celebrating Home” event on July 23 at 5 p.m. at the Jewish Community Alliance, 1342 Congress St., Portland, Stein leaves behind a legacy grounded in dignity, service, and belonging.
Her final message to immigrant families is simple: “You are not alone. There are people who will stand with you, walk with you, and help you however they can.”
In her final reflection during the interview, Stein shifted away from policy discussions and organizational work to offer a deeply personal message about the state of the world. “Oh, my goodness,” she said. “Stop fighting. I think many don’t even know what they’re fighting about anymore. Too many people are being harmed unnecessarily.”
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the early July 2026 print edition of Amjambo Africa.
