$16.5M MaineHousing award will help shelter 500 people

Courtesy / MaineHousing MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan

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By Ann Fisher

A $16 million award from MaineHousing is projected to impact more than 500 people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity through 17 different housing and shelter projects across the state.

The grants support local proposals under consideration for a new shelter space in Lewiston, as well as adding new shelter capacity in Portland, according to a March 23 announcement. Several will help Maine's growing immigrant and asylum-seeking population, while other projects will improve access to housing, shelter and services related to housing. Money for the awardees was distributed across eight of nine Regional Hubs, which are being established as part of the ongoing effort to redesign Maine’s Homelessness Response System. All the initiatives are expected to be operational by fall 2023.

“These are substantial grants that will go towards creating essential new resources and shelter infrastructure in parts of the state currently lacking them,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “Much of this funding is also going to communities that have long helped serve Mainers who are experiencing homelessness and will help those important partners expand their capacity as well.”

The following proposals were approved:

$4 million to the Center for Regional Prosperity for a new 280-bed shelter in Portland
$3.7 million to the Lewiston Housing Authority for a new 25-bed shelter in Lewiston
$2 million to Community Housing of Maine for a 12-bed supportive housing project in Portland for pregnant women experiencing homelessness
$1.2 million to Healthy Acadia for up to 14 units of permanent housing in Hancock and Washington counties
$916,000 to Amistad to create 12 units of permanent housing in Wiscasset
$696,000 to the Mid-Maine Shelter in Waterville to add 18 emergency shelter beds
$602,000 to the Midcoast Community Alliance in Bath for four to eight permanent supportive housing units for at-risk youth, and a new warming shelter with space for up to 35 people.
$571,000 to Through These Doors to expand shelter space in Portland to serve up to 20 survivors of domestic violence.
$555,000 to Homeless Services of Aroostook County to add nine family shelter beds and provide permanent space for 20 warming shelter beds in Presque Isle
$436,000 to York County Shelter Programs for a 20-bed shelter in Sanford
$393,000 to South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta for upgrades to allow the Augusta warming shelter to continue operations during the winter
$376,000 to the First Parish Church in Gorham to create new shelter space for four families with up to 16 total people
$348,000 to Preble Street to create transitional housing units in Biddeford for up to 12 at-risk youth
$145,000 to Greater Portland Peer Services to provide outreach and housing guidance to unsheltered people in Portland
$100,000 to the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter to add seven new beds in Bangor for those in recovery
$76,000 to Bridging the Gap in Augusta to create additional day shelter space for people accessing the overnight warming shelter
$60,000 to Freeport Community Services to provide housing navigation and stability services to 75 families

MaineHousing received applications from more than 35 organizations, and “there were many good ideas put on the table," said Brennan. "While we were not able to fund all of them we are continuing to hold ongoing discussions with those who were unsuccessful in this round of funding.”

The funding was included in Gov. Janet Mills' Winter Emergency Energy Relief Plan, approved by the Maine Legislature in January. In addition to the most recent funding, $1 million for short-term overnight warming shelters was awarded in February.

"Addressing Maine's shortage of available, accessible housing and reducing burdens on communities to ensure safe, stable housing are priorities of my Administration," Mills said, "and we will continue to work with MaineHousing, the Legislature, municipalities and others to further address this serious need."

MaineHousing is an independent state authority created to address the problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing and has helped Maine people own, rent, repair and heat their homes since 1969.