MaineHousing Awards $13.2 Million For Affordable Housing In Kittery, Farmington, And Bangor

AUGUSTA – MaineHousing is pleased to announce it has awarded $13.2 million in federal aid for three developments that are aimed at helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Maine.

  The developments in Kittery, Farmington and Bangor will create 74 new units of supportive housing, as well as a new non-congregate shelter space in Farmington.

  The funding for the developments comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $13.3 million to Maine from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the law passed in 2021.

  The law provides developers with funding for the new construction, adaptive reuse, or acquisition and rehabilitation of housing for persons experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The three developments were among 13 that competed for the funding under a competitive process.

  “These funds will do much to help three distinct regions of Maine, all of which face unique challenges in providing adequate help to Mainers who may be facing homelessness,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “The agencies and organizations receiving these funds put forward the best and most innovative proposals that will help make sure these valuable federal resources are used as they are intended to help shelter and support vulnerable Maine residents. We all know that putting a stable roof over people’s heads is a key step towards all other wellbeing.”

  The three developments include:

  -The redevelopment of two motels on Route 2 in Farmington into 34 apartment units that will include efficiency units, as well as one, two and three bedroom apartments.  That development is being headed by Western Maine Community Action, a non-profit agency that serves Franklin County. WMCA was awarded $7.25 million.

-The redevelopment of a property in Bangor that once served as a long-term stay hotel by Penquis Community Action Agency, a non-profit serving Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. The development will create 36 new units of housing including 18 efficiency and 18 one bedroom apartments in Bangor. Penquis received an award of $4.25 million.

-The construction of six new units of housing in Kittery developed by Fair Tide and Community Housing of Maine, a pair of southern Maine non-profits that work to end homelessness. The development received an award of $1.77 million.

  All three of the proposals met strict program guidelines, which require the housing being developed be aimed at helping four categories of people, including domestic violence abuse survivors, those recently released from a correctional or secure mental health facility, those experiencing homelessness or those at the risk of experiencing homelessness.

  All three developments will also receive support and additional funding from other entities, including private donations. 

MaineHousing has helped Maine people own, rent, repair, and heat their homes since 1969. MaineHousing is an independent state authority created to address the problems of unsafe, unsuitable, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing. MaineHousing is a $2.1 billion financial institution with a staff of 190 people. MaineHousing assists more than 90,000 Maine households and invests more than $300 million in the Maine economy each year.