Affordable housing complex for Mainers with disabilities proposed in Scarborough

Courtesy / The Downs The 3i HoME building, shown in rendering at left, would be an affordable housing complex for physically disabled adults within the planned Town Center at The Downs in Scarborough.

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By Staff

An affordable housing complex is being proposed for physically disabled adults within the planned Town Center at the Downs in Scarborough.

A Maine-based nonprofit, 3i Housing of Maine or 3i HoME, said Thursday it will partner with a nonprofit developer and The Downs developer to build the complex.

3i HoME builds independent and affordable living options for adults with disabilities.

“The Downs is the ideal location for this pilot project,” Paul Linet, 3i HoME’s founder, said in a news release.

Linet said proximity to public transportation, employment opportunities and recreational amenities at The Downs “are critical components of daily living to which all people can benefit.

“Providing appropriate housing for people with disabilities will reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and improve productivity, and overall health and well-being.”

Adults with disabilities are an underserved population in the housing market, particularly with the closure of many shared living communities and nursing home facilities since the pandemic, he said.

Linet cited Bureau of Labor statistics that show 8% of Maine residents ages 18-64 have a mobility disability that impacts their daily life.

“This project in Scarborough will address an urgent need for accessible and affordable housing in Greater Portland that can, and should be replicated in other parts of Maine,” said Jill Johanning of Alpha One, Maine’s largest organization run by and for people with disabilities.

3i HoME’s partner, Preservation of Affordable Housing, is a Boston-based nonprofit known for building communities of equity and affordability. POAH owns 4,800 low- and moderate-income apartments in New England, including 264 in New Hampshire. POAH and 3i HoME entered into a purchase and sale agreement with The Downs in June and are applying for funding to finance the project.

“The opportunity to collaborate with 3i HoME to address a pressing housing need in a dynamic and increasingly expensive market is in keeping with our mission to create affordable, healthy homes that support economic security, racial equity and access to opportunity for all,” said Aaron Gornstein, president and CEO of POAH.

The proposal includes approximately 50 individual, affordable apartments, all exceeding Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Each apartment would be designed with reachable sinks, appliances, storage spaces and roll-in showers. There would also be individualized “smart-home” and other assistive technologies, supported by training, so that residents can maintain autonomy in their personal daily lives.

Rents for the one-, two- and three-bedroom units would range from $1,200 to $2,200 and would be set based on Maine’s affordable housing requirements.

Linet said it was when his wife became physically disabled that he recognized how difficult it can be for people with disabilities to obtain accessible housing. Without it, many people face stays in and out of hospitals and long-term care facilities.

“Ever since moving to Maine with my late wife, I knew there was a gaping hole for this demographic,” he said.

“We are pleased to welcome 3i HoME to this community and we remain committed to building solutions for the state’s housing shortage,” said Roccy Risbara, managing partner at the Downs.

The Downs has built just under 400 residential units; 57% meet Maine’s workforce definition and 37% meet the state’s affordable definition.

It’s expected that Scarborough town councilors will soon decide whether to grant the necessary housing allowances for the planned mixed-use Town Center that is included within The Downs master plan. If approved, 3i HoME would break ground in 2023 with the goal of beginning to accept residents in 2024.