Genesis Fund lends $600,000 to Avesta Housing to assist chronically homeless

Florence House in Portland will provide apartments and emergency shelter for women

 

In April the Genesis Fund board of directors approved $600,000 acquisition loan to Avesta Housing, Inc. of Portland to assist with the purchase of a parcel of land on Valley Street . The project, Florence House, will provide 25 efficiency apartments, permanent supportive living space for 15, and 25 emergency shelter beds, for chronically homeless women.

 

Construction of the facility will be funded by TD Banknorth, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston , and with Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity through the Northern New England Housing Investment Fund, MaineHousing subsidy and Federal earmark. The Genesis Fund was originally approached for a loan of $300,000 with other funding supplied by the Maine State Housing Authority's Land Acquisition Program. However, as a result of the determination that Avesta Housing's status and use of tax-credits was not compatible with the requirements of the program, Avesta Housing turned to the Genesis Fund for an additional $300,000. Upon the closing of a construction loan with TD Banknorth, the Genesis Fund will be repaid.

The need for permanent and supportive housing for women living in shelters in Portland has been identified as an extremely high priority need by all key shelter providers currently serving that population. The most successful projects have resulted from partnerships between nonprofit organizations.

The Florence House project, which has been in development for more than two years, is a partnership between Avesta Housing and Preble Street Resource Center , and is the second such effort under the Home for Good initiative. The first, Logan Place , provides 30 efficiency apartments for chronically homeless people for whom current services and housing options have not been successful. Logan Place has been operating successfully – and at capacity – since April 2005 and maintains a long waiting list.

The Florence House model is based on current evidence-based approaches to homelessness and chronic mental illness that have emerged nationally as key strategies for ending homelessness, as well as Preble Street 's experience at its Day Shelter and in developing Logan Place . Florence House will provide 24-hour staffing by a minimum of three trained Life Skills Workers at all times. An important innovation in Florence House is the continuum of living arrangements all available under one roof to meet the changing and varied needs of homeless women.

The components included in the Florence House program include:

First, a Safe Haven will provide permanent private living space for up to 15 chronically homeless women who are not yet ready to maintain their own apartment. Shared areas and supports will help women begin to develop trust, self-assurance and skills to become more independent.

Second, 25 efficiency apartments will provide supported housing for women who are ready to manage more independently.

Third, up to 25 emergency beds will provide immediate, short-term housing for women who are temporarily homeless because of an economic or situational crisis.

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