AUGUSTA, Maine — MaineHousing announced Thursday its award of $16.3 million in state grant funding to go toward 17 housing and shelter projects across Maine.
The initiatives will help support housing and shelter for over 500 Mainers experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, a news release from MaineHousing said.
"These are substantial grants that will go towards creating essential new resources and shelter infrastructure in parts of the state currently lacking them," MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan said in the release. "Much of this funding is also going to communities that have long helped serve Mainers who are experiencing homelessness and will help those important partners expand their capacity as well."
MaineHousing said Thursday the grants will also support local initiatives that are currently being considered for new shelter spaces in Lewiston, as well as a new shelter capacity in Portland.
"Several will aid a growing immigrant and asylum-seeking population, while others will improve access to housing, shelter, and housing services in communities across the state," the release said. "All the funded projects are expected to be operational by autumn of 2023."
The state funding comes from Gov. Janet Mills' Winter Emergency Energy Relief Plan, the release stated. The plan was passed by the Legislature in January.
"Through my Winter Emergency Energy Relief Plan, we are delivering crucial funding to help protect our most vulnerable, both in the short-term during the cold winter months and, now, over the longer-term to provide support and stability for people and families. I am grateful for the communities and organizations who responded to this important call and applaud MaineHousing for working so quickly to award funding," Mills said in the release.
"More than 35 organizations applied for the funding and after careful consideration 17 entities were included in the final funding announcement," MaineHousing said.
According to MaineHousing, the 17 proposals that were awarded state funding include the following:
- Center for Regional Prosperity for a new 280-bed shelter in Portland: $4 million
- Lewiston Housing Authority for a new 25-bed shelter in Lewiston: $3.7 million
- Community Housing of Maine for a 12-bed supportive housing project in Portland for pregnant women experiencing homelessness: $2 million
- Healthy Acadia for up to 14 units of permanent housing in Hancock and Washington Counties: $1.2 million
- Amistad to create 12 units of permanent housing in Wiscasset: $916,000
- Mid-Maine Shelter in Waterville to create an additional 18 emergency shelter beds: $696,000
- Midcoast Community Alliance in Bath for 4 to 8 permanent supportive housing units for at-risk youth, as well as a new warming shelter with space for up to 35 people: $602,000
- Through These Doors to expand shelter space in Portland to serve up to 20 survivors of domestic violence: $571,000
- Homeless Services of Aroostook County to add 9 family shelter beds and provide permanent space for 20 warming shelter beds in Presque Isle: $555,000
- York County Shelter Programs for a 20-bed shelter in Sanford: $436,000
- South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta for facility upgrades to allow the Augusta warming shelter to continue future winter operations: $393,000
- First Parish Church in Gorham to create new shelter space for four families with up to 16 total people: $376,000
- Preble Street to create transitional housing units in Biddeford for up to 12 at-risk youth: $348,000
- Greater Portland Peer Services to provide outreach and housing guidance to unsheltered individuals in Portland: $145,000
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter to add seven new beds in Bangor for individuals in recovery: $100,000
- Bridging the Gap in Augusta to create additional day shelter space for people accessing the overnight warming shelter: $76,000
- Freeport Community Services to provide housing navigation and stability services to 75 families: $60,000
For more information about MaineHousing, click here.