In March 2023, Kayla and her 4-year-old son became unhoused. They couched surfed for a bit before moving into her sister’s home in Waterboro. Kayla took a job at Starbuck’s in Windham – the 5 a.m. shift, the only one available – and spent most of her free time commuting, with little left for her
When Pedro and Alice first came to Portland with their family, they stayed at the city’s family shelter and spent much of their free time walking around the Bayside neighborhood. “We would say to each other, ‘This is a great neighborhood. Hopefully one day, we can live here,’” Pedro said. The couple arrived in Maine
When Alain was told he and his family had a new home with Avesta Housing, he was so excited, he couldn’t wait to move in. So he called a friend and asked him to take him to Walmart so he could buy an inflatable mattress and sleep there that very night. “I told my wife,
2023 was a year of expanding and accelerating the development of much-needed housing for the people of Maine and New Hampshire. Through our dedication to developing, managing, and advocating for affordable homes, Avesta is helping individuals and families build better lives right now. Housing is the single best investment every community can make to secure
Homeless to Housing caseworker Lorrie Ferrari helps Richard, a resident at Thomas Heights in Portland, transport donated bed frames to his apartment. Richard had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor. One of the many services Avesta Housing provides its residents is helping those who were homeless transition to permanent housing. Along with Housing
At Foxwell in Kittery, Maine, a group of residents have formed a gardening cooperative to transform their outdoor living spaces into beautiful displays featuring flowers, greenery, lawn ornaments, bird houses, and more. It started with simple landscaping maintenance — raking leaves, picking up fallen branches, painting the wooden fence behind the property — and mushroomed
We are pleased to announce that Avesta Housing has been named Best Property Management Company in the Portland, Maine Best of 2023 Awards, presented by Bangor Savings Bank. This award is based on online public votes, and further exemplifies the hard work and dedication of our property management teams throughout the organization and their commitment
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
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
