Housing for Adults with Disabilities Proposed in Maine| Housing Finance Magazine

Developers are working to bring an affordable housing complex for adults with physical disabilities to the planned Town Center at The Downs in Scarborough, Maine.

Nonprofit 3i Housing of Maine (3i HoMe) announced that it is partnering with Preservation of Affordable housing (POAH), a leading affordable housing developer and owner, on the project.

The two organization entered into a purchase and sales agreement in June and are applying for funding to finance the project.

“The Downs is the ideal location for this pilot project,” said 3i HoME founder Paul Linet, noting that proximity to public transportation, employment opportunities, and recreational amenities at The Downs are critical components of daily living to which all people can benefit

He added that “providing appropriate housing for people with disabilities will reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and improve productivity, and overall health and well-being.”

When Linet’s wife became physically disabled, he recognized the significant barriers to obtaining accessible housing that could enable people with disabilities to stay in their homes and out of hospitals and long-term care facilities. “Ever since moving to Maine with my late wife, I knew there was a gaping hole for this demographic,” Linet said.

The proposed project will include approximately 50 affordable apartments, all exceeding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Each apartment will be designed with amenities such as reachable sinks, appliances, storage spaces and roll-in showers. Additionally, it will feature individualized smart home and other assistive technologies supported by personalized training and assessments so that residents can maintain autonomy in their personal daily lives.

The 3i HoME community will designed using a “passive house” concept that achieves energy efficiency, comfort, and affordability at the same time. Rents for the one-, two-, and three-bedroom units will range from about $1,200 to $2,200 and will be set based on Maine’s affordable

“The opportunity to collaborate with 3i HoME to address a pressing housing need in a dynamic and increasingly expensive market is in keeping with our mission to create affordable, healthy homes that support economic security, racial equity, and access to opportunity for all,” said Aaron Gornstein, president and CEO of Boston-based POAH, in a statement.

Scarborough town councilors will soon decide whether to grant the necessary housing allowances for the planned mixed-use Town Center, which is included within The Downs master plan. If approved, 3i HoME will break ground in 2023 and begin accepting residents in 2024.