Permanent Affordable Housing

THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

Our group has been working to provide permanent affordable housing and a means for creating community since its inception in 1970. HOME is located in an area where housing and land, especially waterfront property, has been slowly moving towards gentrification over the past few generations. It is now becoming very difficult for working class families to find decent living conditions in this part of Maine, especially permanent housing. Land is becoming a commodity rather than a community asset, with many people owning summer homes and cottages which see use for only a few weeks out of the year. This pushes the lower class into rentals or other sub-par and difficult living situations. Many families are forced to dislocate from the State where they have lived for generation after generation.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

Since HOME has begun working on this project, our group has been able to build over 50 houses, engaging volunteers from wealthy communities in order to educate them about the need for affordable housing and community. The construction of these houses has also traditionally provided employment to local tradesmen, laborers, and others of the working classes.

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

We have a standing construction crew of about 3 to 4 people who work together with groups of volunteers from local churches, schools, and any others interested. Many of the houses have also been built with the help of the prospective buyer, with the family receiving a form of sweat equity towards the purchase price.

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

FUTURE PROSPECTS

The cost of building the home was mitigated by the use of volunteer labor along with donations of materials to support the project. As part of our mission to provide employment, HOME employs a small crew of workers in the construction field. Our workers come from various backgrounds and many have come to HOME through desperate situations. In 2016, HOME brought together this construction crew with groups of volunteers, many of whom are external to the community, to build the home. At this point the house is expected to be finished by summer 2017.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

We need to concentrate on educating and engaging future generations on the issue of substandard housing.