PORTLAND, Maine — The former Oxford Street shelter is set to become Maine’s fourth site-based Housing First property, according to Avesta Housing.
The non-profit’s CEO, Rebecca Hatfield, said Monday that Avesta is under contract to purchase the City of Portland’s former homeless shelter. She said the plan is to demolish it and construct 30 new units for people who are chronically homeless and suffering from substance use disorder.
They are targeting singles who have been experiencing homelessness and co-occurring substance use for years, similar to the other three site-based Housing First properties in Maine, all of which are in Portland: Logan Place, Florence House, and Huston Commons.
Hatfield said as long as the approval and funding processes go smoothly, construction will start in 2025, with a goal of completing the project in 16 to 18 months.
Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann said the property will have at least two social workers on site at all times to help residents when they need it.
