Our real estate development is going full throttle, with several properties expected to be completed this fall and several more in the design or construction phases. Porter Station in Portland and the first phase of River Turn in Conway, N.H., are both 80% complete and are expected to be finished in October. At Porter Station,
Avesta Housing, the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in northern New England, has named the recipients of its 2023 educational scholarships. The $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to Avesta Housing residents who are enrolling in a post-secondary education program — such as college, graduate school, trade school or certificate program — in the next 12
Standing in Monument Square among a soggy but enthusiastic crowd that was ready to march in the Pride Portland parade Saturday, Michael Patterson wore a rainbow tutu, rainbow socks and a big smile under his umbrella. Patterson took in the turnout. Despite a constant rain, there were thousands of people who attended, comparable to last
Two years ago, Shelley Williams was living at the Comfort Inn in Scarborough, which operated as a temporary homeless shelter during the pandemic. After being on a waiting list for more than a year, Williams now has an apartment at Avesta Housing’s Wessex Woods in Portland. She is a success story, said Lauren Dembski-Martin, social services navigator
The walls of Laura’s apartment at Florence House are decorated with handmade posters adorned with words of inspiration: “Embrace the day” “Give without expecting” “Some things are worth the wait” Looking at them, she smiles and shakes her head as she remembers the journey that brought her here. “It’s amazing how much I’ve grown compared
Dawn Wade knows her place is cluttered, with knickknacks, plants, food containers and artwork covering almost every square inch of her studio apartment in Portland. But it’s hers, something that seemed far out of reach when she was homeless six years ago. “This is home to me. It’s a community here. I don’t know where
John Welch was homeless for nine months before moving into Hillside at Village Square, a 27-unit subsidized apartment building in Gorham that Avesta Housing opened in January. It was a rough period. A breakup left the disabled former construction worker struggling to find an apartment in a tight housing market made worse by the COVID-19
Avesta Housing President & CEO Rebecca Hatfield is featured in the latest episode of The Boulos Beat, presented by The Boulos Company of Portland. In a nearly hour-long interview, Rebecca talks about the people who inspired her, transitioning into her current role, the housing shortage and what Avesta is doing to address it, and much
Bethany Jensen holds up a photo and asks the class to identify the object shown. “A ball,” responds one of the students. “Yes! Very good!” Bethany says. “But what kind of ball?” Mutterings from the class. No clear response. Bethany: “It’s a football!” The mutterings turn to expressions of surprise — and of confusion. “It’s
Avesta Housing recently partnered with League of Women Voters (LWV) of Maine to help Avesta residents register to vote in the upcoming midterm election. From mid-September to Oct. 18, volunteers from LWV canvassed door-to-door at Avesta properties throughout Maine, distributing nonpartisan election information and instructions on how to register. The majority of residents welcomed the canvassers
