Housing authorities across Maine to share $2.45 million for pandemic relief

A row of two and three story apartment houses in a Maine city

Photo / Maureen Milliken Housing authorities across the state will share $2.45 million in federal CARES Act money to help prepare for, prevent and respond to a COVID-19 outbreak.

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By Staff

Housing authorites across Maine will share $2.45 million from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to help prevent, prepare and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in public housing.

Some 19 housing authorities will split the money, which was allocated through the supplemental appropriations bill as part of the Phase 3 CARES Act coronavirus emergency response package,

Awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Operating Fund, the money will go to:

Portland Housing Authority, $737,368;
Bangor Housing Authority, $437,364;
Lewiston Housing Authority, $219,538;
Waterville Housing Authority, $131,226;
Brewer Housing Authority, $121,346;
Presque Isle Housing Authority, $116,767;
South Portland Housing Authority, $109,169;
Van Buren Housing Authority, $100,437;
Brunswick Housing Authority, $97,118;
Auburn Housing Authority, $96,119;
Sanford Housing Authority, $79,302;
Fort Fairfield Housing Authority, $46,480;
Bar Harbor Housing Authority, $44,537;
Old Town Housing Authority, $40,733;
Bath Housing Authority, $26,847;
Southwest Harbor Housing Authority, $19,916;
Ellsworth Housing Authority, $16,544.
Tremont Housing Authority, $10,641;
Mount Desert Housing Authority, $7,332.

The money is for “expenses related to preventing, preparing for and responding to coronavirus, including activities to support or maintain the health and safety of assisted individuals and families, and activities to support education and child care for impacted families.”

HUD said the money can be used before a local outbreak to develop processes and procedures, and take actions designed to help keep people healthy, reduce exposure and slow the spread of the disease.

It can also be used during an outbreak to prevent the spread of the virus to staff and residents of housing authority properties, and once the coronavirus has spread to staff or residents, the money can be used to care for those who have become infected and limit exposure and spread.

The money may continue to be used after a local outbreak for any continuing expenses incurred because of the spread of coronavirus.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced the funding on Wednesday.

“The dedicated staff at housing authorities throughout Maine work hard to provide seniors, individuals with disabilities and low-income families with access to an array of programs that help them improve their living conditions and achieve economic independence," she said in a news release. "The coronavirus is taking an unprecedented toll on communities across the country. This investment will help ensure that our state continues to be able to provide critical assistance during this difficult time.”