History

Leading the Way to a Better Maine

Founded in 1972 with a shoestring budget and a staff of three, Avesta Housing has grown to become one of the country’s most innovative and respected leaders in affordable housing.

Known as York Cumberland Housing before changing its name in 2003, Avesta Housing originated when two Maine Community Action agencies joined to focus on affordable housing problems. With steady growth over the subsequent four decades, Avesta has assets of over $130 million, an annual operating budget of over $17.5 million and a staff of 100 employees. Avesta owns or manages 1,800 apartments and operates a 37-bed assisted living facility in Gorham.

A nonprofit organization, Avesta Housing is governed by a fifteen member Board of Directors drawn from the financial, business, public sector, community, social-service, and housing spheres. Avesta employs a staff of more than ninety employees with administrative headquarters in Portland, Maine.

Today, Avesta Housing is one of the largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing in New England. Avesta receives consistently high marks from its many state, federal and private-sector partners, and is recognized nationally for groundbreaking work in bringing together nonprofit, for-profit, private and public-sector organizations for the benefit of Maine communities.

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