Rent has become unaffordable for nearly half of all Maine tenants, according to new data from Harvard University. A study published Wednesday by the university’s Joint Center for Housing Studies indicates that 41.1 percent of tenants in the state are cost-burdened by rent, with almost 20 percent being “severely” cost-burdened. Click here to read the
The housing authority in Maine, MaineHousing, estimates that Maine is between 20,000 and 25,000 affordable units short of what we need. That estimate is based on a couple of things, including the waiting list for Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenants and an annual survey of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which does a
With affordable housing hard to come by in Maine, it’s led some to get creative. Wednesday night, Avesta Housing cut the ribbon on new affordable apartments built in an old office building. The housing project is giving nearly 100 people an affordable place to live in the heart of downtown Portland. Click here to read
Avesta Housing will host a grand opening celebration of Deering Place, a new 75-unit affordable housing development in downtown Portland, at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. The event is free and open to the public. The grand opening celebration will be held at 510 Cumberland Ave. and will feature guest speakers, refreshments, giveaways, and more.
Avesta Housing has appointed new members to the Avesta Housing Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for 75 State Street, an affiliate of Avesta: Alice Kabore, multicultural and multilingual coordinator for the South Portland School Department, has joined the Avesta Housing Board of Directors. Since 2019, Alice has been the African Gala chair
Deering Place, Avesta Housing’s newest affordable housing development in Portland, has been named one of the top real estate developments in Maine by the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA). The award was presented during MEREDA’s annual spring conference on May 24 at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland and accepted by Avesta
Bangor Savings Bank has awarded a $50,000 donation to Avesta Housing to support Avesta’s mission of providing safe, quality affordable housing in Maine and New Hampshire. As Avesta celebrates its 50th year, the need for affordable housing has never been greater. Bangor Savings Banks’ gift will help Avesta provide residents and applicants with essential support
LEWISTON — The City Council unanimously approved the first reading of a contract zone Tuesday for a 74-unit downtown housing development, the first under the ambitious Choice Neighborhoods redevelopment plan. If the second reading is approved June 7, developers will move ahead with final design work, and seek a site plan review from the Planning
On May 5, Maine lawmakers announced the $50 million Maine HomeOwner Assistance Fund to help homeowners in the state who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Avesta HomeOwnership Center (HOC) is helping to facilitate the program. The Maine HomeOwner Assistance Fund is a free federal relief program for homeowners in Maine who have
In more than two decades at the helm of Avesta Housing, Dana Totman has turned the Portland-based nonprofit into the region’s largest provider of affordable housing. It’s not quite an exit interview, but Mainebiz got his thoughts in advance of his retirement n September. Click here to read the full article
