SCARBOROUGH — Avesta Housing celebrated the opening of its Southgate Farm residence Oct. 23, completing a five-year effort to add 38 affordable living units to the town’s tight housing market.

“We know from our work here in southern Maine that there is a desperate need for housing, and we’re having a hard time filling the need at this current rate,” Avesta Development Officer Tyler Norod said in an interview Oct. 28. “There is a lack of workforce housing in Scarborough, so it made sense to be looking in this area.”

The 214-year-old farmhouse, located on U.S. Route 1, was purchased by the nonprofit affordable housing provider in 2014, and project plans were submitted to the town in 2015.

The celebration included an opening ceremony, speakers and apartment tours.