Photo / Courtesy Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation
An Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation grant will help Avesta Housing’s HomeOwnership Center.
Updated: January 27, 2025
M&T Bank, Atlantic FCU Foundation donate to Avesta Housing
Photo / Courtesy Avesta Housing
M&T Bank presents a check for $45,000 to Avesta for its Homeless to Housing program. From left, Amanda Gilliam, Mike Ross, Phil Cohen, Katie Rooks, Azaria Stewart and Alexis Scott.
M&T Bank and the Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation each provided grants to Avesta Housing, a Portland-based nonprofit affordable housing provider.
M&T Bank
M&T Bank donated $45,000 to Avesta Housing’s Homeless to Housing program to help formerly homeless residents maintain housing stability in their new homes.
Provided by Avesta in partnership with Maine Behavioral Healthcare, Homeless to Housing assists previously homeless residents as they transition to permanent housing across the Avesta property portfolio.
Services include connections to case managers, medical providers and mental health practitioners; referrals for obtaining furniture and essential household supplies; and regular check-ins for emotional support.
“When people have been homeless for extended periods — in some cases, months or years — they often have little to no support with their transition to permanent housing,” said Amanda Gilliam, Avesta’s housing vice president of property management and resident services. “M&T Bank’s generous gift to the Homeless to Housing program will help them make that transition successfully, leading to improved long-term outcomes.”
“The holistic approach employed by Avesta ensures that people in need are put in the best position possible for long-term and sustainable success,” said Phil Cohen, M&T’s Maine regional president.
Atlantic FCU Foundation
The Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation awarded Avesta a $15,000 grant for its HomeOwnership Center, which aims to grow homeownership and foster financial and housing stability by offering pre- and post-purchase homebuyer education, guiding individuals toward sensible mortgage choices, providing financial stability counseling and offering foreclosure prevention services.
“With immense housing challenges facing our communities, it's more important than ever to support organizations like Avesta Housing,” said Chris McGorrill, the foundation’s president. “By providing access to quality affordable housing and pairing it with financial education and support, Avesta is helping individuals and families build secure, healthy lives.”
Since the pandemic, thousands of people in Maine have had a difficult time purchasing their first homes, avoiding foreclosure or meeting day-to-day needs, said Nicole DiGeronimo, director of Avesta’s HomeOwnership Center.
“This gift from Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation will help provide much-needed counseling resources to help them navigate these challenges and set themselves on a successful financial path for the future,” DiGeronimo said.
The grant will bolster the center’s efforts, helping people vulnerable to challenges such as job and wage loss and economic fluctuations.
The foundation is the charitable arm of Atlantic Federal Credit Union, which has over $1.1 billion in assets and serves more than 49,000 members, with video banking and branches in Biddeford, Brunswick, Cumberland, Freeport, Saco, Sanford, South Sanford, Topsham, Westbrook and York. The newest location on Payne Road in Scarborough is scheduled to open this spring.
Avesta Housing is headquartered in Portland and operates more than 100 affordable properties, more than 3,100 apartments and two assisted living facilities, providing safe, affordable homes for more than 4,700 people. An additional 800 new homes are in the development pipeline.
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