Hello Everyone,

This is the Gagne Family, and they need your help and support. They are in a scenario where becoming unhoused/homeless is imminent. The Gagne Family has suffered repeated tragedy after another in the last 12-18 months. Through no fault of their own, the Gagne family has tried diligently to work with their landlord to correct the issues making their apartment unsafe and uninhabitable.

Let's all please extend a helping hand to this wonderful family of survivors who have already overcome a lifetime of suffering and tragedy. Let's come together and lift them up in their time of need.

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the City of Biddeford, working with Biddeford Code Enforcement, affected a lockout on the Gagne Family's apartment because the landlord has created an unsafe and uninhabitable living environment for them. The lockout is an effort to force the landlord to bring the apartment up to minimum living standards.

The current landlord has been illegally renting the apartment to the Gagne family without their knowledge. The Gagne family has lived in this apartment for over 3 years. Michael has remained current or ahead on the rent during the entirety of their tenancy. In October of 2024, Michael sustained a significant spinal and back injury and has remained out of work awaiting a series of interventions, including surgeries. It was in Seeking assistance that the family learned that the apartment had never been granted a Certificate of Occupancy and was illegally rented to them.

Approximately 18-24 months ago, their landlord and his girlfriend adopted a drug problem of their own. This problem has led to unsafe and unfit living conditions, both due to the chaos of drug use and abuse, but also a lack of responsibility to the needs of the tenants. This scenario has caused the Gagne family to be without heat since sometime in January of 2025. This would have been the Gagne's' first winter with a heat source in their apartment, and the landlord hasn’t kept the heat on. During this time there have been numerous police, and 911 calls and restraining orders placed on multiple persons at this address.

Furthermore, the landlord’s girlfriend has retaliated against the Gagne's anytime she feels the least bit slighted. She has repeatedly shut off power, hot water, and internet, and stopped the commerce and trade of goods for Michael’s business on a number of occasions. She has on multiple occasions threated and harassed, not only the children, but also the adults and their guests.

If you can imagine having serious drug activity in your home and all of the drama and pitfalls that come along with it, then you can also imagine all of the drama this family has had to endure. The Gagne family is now looking at long-term homelessness and are not prepared to move with Michael needing spinal surgeries and not working currently.

Here is a list of their immediate and short-term needs:

Immediate temporary housing: Approx $250/day (Hotel, Airbnb, short-term rental) for 14-30 days ( City of Biddeford is providing some support)

Daycare: $350/week (Killian has never been in daycare)

Security deposit/move-in fee: $7,000

Storage Unit: $300/month (2 months donated by New Life Church)

Food, Fuel, Clothing (maternity/toddler): $750

Cost of moving company: $8,500

Damages and Loss from Landlord: $5,000

Automobile repair and maintenance: $1,500

Special Gift for Graduation (Message for Details)

Let me introduce to you, the Gagne family.

From left to right, this is Shane, Ashlee, Killian, Michael, and Gabrielle.

Each member of this family has their own incredible story of survival and overcoming great adversity. Both Ashlee and Michael have endured a life of constant violence/abuse, trauma, bullying, and drug abuse. Both have had their share of institutions and treatment centers. Both Ashlee and Michael are in long-term recovery and work hard to become better people each day. Despite great barriers, they have come together and found many successes together, both in creating a safe and stable environment for their children to thrive, as well as overcoming personal barriers to grow and be willing to learn. Their achievements, both personal and together, are inspiring.

This is Gabrielle.

When Ashlee and Michael first met, Gabrielle was just beginning high school. Gabrielle’s first year of high school was very tumultuous, and it was very clear that if something didn’t change, the only outcome was failure. Working closely with Gabrielle, Ashlee and Michael came up with a plan for her education. Gabrielle is now in her senior year of high school and will be graduating this year with almost honors. She’s becoming a dependable and reliable asset both to her school and to her coworkers, where she is a hostess at a local restaurant. Recently, Gabrielle has chosen to set aside most teenage things to be available to help her family. Knowing that Gabrielle has prioritized things the way she has, she is really developing into a responsible young woman. Any parent would be proud.

This is Shane.

Despite some misgivings on their part, both Ashlee and Michael worked hard with their son Shane to come up with a different plan. Due to all the tumultuous activity at their current residence and Ashlee’s transition from treatment to the community, Shane has chosen (at this time) to remain living with his Memere, where he has his own room, his own routine, and his own friends from school. Shane has made this decision on his own, and the adults in his life have worked really hard to respect his wishes, and as a result, he is thriving in school.

This is Ashlee.

Ashlee has worked hard to get where she is today. Ashlee has persevered over addiction and survived both domestic and sexual violence. Ashlee is a Layman Way Recovery Center graduate who went on to be the first graduate to later return to the program as an employee. This kicks off Ashlee’s ability and willingness to help other women and men in recovery, and she hasn’t stopped since. Ashlee’s determination to succeed and overcome all obstacles is an inspiration to everyone she knows and works with. Ashlee is currently employed at the Esther Residence for women. Ashlee’s income is currently the only meaningful income for the family, which falls far short of their weekly and monthly needs. Ashlee dreams of owning her own treatment program someday, where women can get sober and have their children on the journey with them.

This is Michael.

Michael has also persevered. Michael has spent most of his life surrounded by chaos and violence. Michael has an incredible story of survival. After years of struggling with his own addiction and severe PTSD from sexual and physical trauma, Michael has found a place in recovery and weekly therapy sessions. Michael started a business in 2021, which became incorporated in 2022. For the next 3 years, Michael built a business and started a family with Ashlee. Michael and Ashlee both met during their time in Recovery. Michael, at the age of 45, decided (accidentally) to have a child and start his dream of having a family and raising children. Now Michael is a wonderful stay at home dad(temporarily).

The team that is Michael and Ashlee has been unstoppable until recently. Let’s show this amazing family that the community can come together and help balance their scales. Let’s help them get back to being a loving family that helps others…