Melissa LeBrun has spent most of her adult life helping others. She began fostering children in her 20s, four of whom she adopted. During the Great Recession, she launched a soup kitchen with her mother in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. She is a former medical social worker with a master’s degree in human services
With thousands of people on Avesta Housing’s wait list for affordable dwellings, the head of the Portland-based nonprofit has a lot on her plate for 2023 and well beyond. “We are working diligently to provide more homes for people in need,” says Rebecca Hatfield, president and CEO. “Avesta has 700-plus units in various stages of
Charlene knows what it’s like to need a helping hand. She raised six children by herself when her husband died at a young age. As a nurse’s aide for York County Health Services, she oftentimes cared for lower-income older adults in their homes. “I even washed their feet,” she said, proudly. At 90, Charlene is
Pictured above, left to right: NBT Bank Maine Regional President Kimberly Twitchell, Avesta HomeOwnership Center Director Nicole DiGeronimo, Avesta Housing President & CEO Rebecca Hatfield, Avesta Housing Vice President of Advancement Sara Olson, and NBT Bank Vice President and Senior Banking Relationship Manager Mark Schaub NBT Bank has donated $5,000 to Avesta Housing to help provide affordable
At Avesta, we know there’s a big difference between “four walls and a roof” and having a place to call home. That’s why we’re committed to providing services that transform our properties from being mere rental units to being homes in which community members can thrive. Whether it’s communities for older adults, apartments for young
Inflation hits lower-income populations the hardest. When the price of groceries increases dramatically, people who are already struggling to buy basic necessities are in danger of going hungry. Avesta Housing has formed partnerships with numerous food banks to help ensure that residents who are food insecure receive the help they need. One of the oldest
Two Portland-based nonprofits this week announced plans to address affordable housing challenges in neighboring New Hampshire. Evernorth, a nonprofit with dual headquarters in Portland and Burlington, Vt., said it will oversee a workforce housing loan fund for the Upper Connecticut River Valley, which includes parts of New Hampshire and Vermont. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
CONWAY, NH — Avesta Housing celebrated its first affordable housing development in Mount Washington Valley on Sept. 23 with a groundbreaking ceremony featuring development, legislative, and financial partners. When completed, River Turn Woods will provide 156 new homes to the Conway area. The first phase, consisting of 40 new homes, is expected to be completed
One of the unique aspects of Deering Place, Avesta Housing’s new affordable housing development in downtown Portland, is the use of art to decorate interior and exterior space. Several local artists provided work to bring Deering closer to the pulse of the community and make it a warm, welcoming home to residents. Among the more
Our development team has closed on the land acquisition and construction financing for the first phase of River Turn Woods in Conway, N.H., and construction is underway. A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for September. When completed, River Turn Woods will provide 40 new homes (30 affordable and 10 market rate) to the Conway community.
