Find a Home-Away-From-Home
If you or your loved one needs to travel for cancer treatment, the Dempsey Center is here for you.
Find a Haven of Support at Clayton’s House
Our Certified Healthcare Hospitality Home
The Marr-Anderson Family donated their home in Portland, Maine’s picturesque East End to the Dempsey Center. Named in honor of their beloved son and brother, Clayton’s House is our first hospitality home providing a home-away-from-home for those who have to travel for cancer treatment.
Clayton’s House is open to patients and their care partners who have to travel 30+ miles for chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or other appointments related to their cancer journey.
Clayton’s House FAQs
How do I stay at Clayton’s House?
Patients and care partners who wish to stay at Clayton’s House at no cost need to connect with a member of their oncology team (Nurse Navigator, Social Worker, Nurse, etc.) to submit a request to stay during your cancer-related treatments or appointments. Once the request is received by the Dempsey Center team, a staff member will contact you to start the application process. If you are a healthcare provider interested in learning more about the house and the process for patients to request a stay, please contact our House Manager, Jen Stenberg, at jstenberg@dempseycenter.org.
How long can I stay at Clayton’s House?
Guests can stay up to four (4) consecutive nights, Monday through Thursday. Stays may vary from one night to several weeks depending on need and availability. Longer-term stays do require a check-out on Friday and guests can check back in on Monday. Clayton’s House is not staffed and is not open for stays on the weekends.
Is Clayton’s House open on the weekends?
We are unable to accommodate guests on the weekends at this time.
Where is Clayton’s House located?
Clayton’s House is located at 40 O’Brion St. in Portland, Maine. Found in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, Clayton’s House is just a few minutes from both Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital, as well as several other healthcare facilities.
Is parking available?
Yes, we have limited off-street parking available to guests who are staying at Clayton’s House. Street parking is also available where there is space.
What is Clayton’s House? Who is Clayton?
Clayton Anderson was born in Portland, an avid outdoorsman with an infectious smile who enjoyed the gifts of what Maine has to offer, including fishing, hunting, skiing, and his passion—golfing.
He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in November of 2013, and Clayton moved to Portland to be closer to where he was receiving his treatments. He was cared for by his family (mainly his sister, Becca) in this home—that we now call Clayton’s House—until he passed in September of 2014.
Clayton’s family approached the Dempsey Center about memorializing Clayton by gifting the house as a place where cancer patients, their loved ones, and care partners could stay while receiving treatments. Thanks to the generosity of the Marr-Anderson Family, Clayton’s House will offer a home away from home, and a place of comfort and solace, for folks impacted by cancer.
How are Clayton’s House and the Dempsey Center connected?
The Dempsey Center was gifted the beautiful home in Portland’s East End. As is a key part of our mission at the Dempsey Center, we are dedicated to treating each person we serve and who stays at Clayton’s House with compassion, and are devoted to meeting each client where they are in their cancer journey. Information about the unique, personalized services offered at the Dempsey Center will be made available to all guests of Clayton’s House.
What if I’m not a client of the Dempsey Center?
As one of the many no-cost services the Dempsey Center offers, guests of Clayton’s House must be a client of the Center to be able to utilize its services. People impacted by cancer who wish to stay at Clayton’s House can complete their Dempsey Center Orientation in-person, virtually with a member of our team, or via video with our On-Demand Orientation. Get started here.
Can I access Dempsey Center services while at Clayton’s House?
Yes. You can access in-person services at our Westbrook location or in the comfort of the House through our virtual Dempsey Connects programming or our virtual on-demand programs.
How much does it cost to stay at Clayton’s House?
Like with all Dempsey Center services, stays at Clayton’s House are offered at no cost.
Tell me more about the House.
Clayton’s House has four private bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a common space on each of its three floors. There is a large, fully-equipped kitchen with a pantry stocked with cooking and baking staples, as well as a beautiful common dining area. Additionally, there is a laundry room open to guests, a small outside seating area, and the Eastern Promenade is a short walk away.
What does “Certified Hospitality House” mean?
Clayton’s House has completed a certification process through the Healthcare Hospitality Network. Healthcare Hospitality Network, Inc. (HHN) is a nationwide professional member association with a mission to support homes that help and heal to be more effective in their service to patients and families. The certification process reviews seven core categories to ensure the house is operating at the highest level: Emergency Management, Facility Management, Guest Relations, Human Resources, Internal Improvements, Nonprofit Management, and Operations. Our certification is currently active through September 2026.
