Patients and care partners who wish to stay at Clayton’s House at no cost need to connect with their healthcare provider to begin the referral process. To qualify for a stay, you must live 30+ miles from where you will be receiving treatment. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Clayton’s House has two common rooms, four bedrooms, and a full bathroom on each of its three floors. There is a beautiful common dining area, large open kitchen, stocked pantry, and laundry room. Additionally, there is a small outside sitting area, and the Eastern Prom is just a short walk away.

Clayton’s House has completed a certification process through the Hospitality Healthcare 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 October 2025.