Programs available throughout the state for financing rental or single-family housing. Most of these organizations are also great resources for housing information.

Maine State Housing Authority. MSHA’s mission is to assist Maine people to obtain and maintain decent, safe, affordable housing and services suitable to their unique housing needs. They administer a variety of programs to address these needs, a few of which are summarized below. Visit their website at http://www.mainehousing.org/ to find out about all of the services and programs they provide.

• Supportive Housing Program - MSHA provides reduced interest rate mortgage financing and subsidy funding to eligible nonprofit sponsors to create housing for persons with special needs. The program may be used for the purchase, purchase and rehab, or new construction of facilities such as transitional housing, group homes, emergency shelters, and supported or independent apartments. For more information on this program, contact Cindy Namer at 207-626-4632, e-mail or Bill Olsen at 207-626-4633, e-mail
• Rental Housing Program - MSHA’s rental housing program administers several loan programs meant to encourage the development of rental housing with varying numbers of units. They also administer the Preservation Financing Program, which is meant to preserve the future affordability of MSHA-financed Section 8 projects. MSHA also partners with Community Action Programs to carry out the LIHEAP program to help Maine renters and owners with low incomes pay their heating bills. Contact Jo-Ann Choate at MSHA’s Energy and Housing Services division at 207-624-5708, e-mail at , with questions on LIHEAP.
• Housing Tax Credit - The Housing Tax Credits are a federal resource allocated in Maine by MSHA. The credits are allocated to developers, who sell (syndicate) them to corporate investors. Money raised from the sale is used as equity in the developer’s rental housing project, as part of MSHA’s Rental Loan Program. For information about RLP, call MSHA at 207-626-4600, and ask to speak to the Development division’s Rick Churchill, ext. 694, e-mail ; or Todd Marlowe, ext. 791, e-mail
• Tax Increment Financing - Under this MSHA program, municipalities can use tax increment financing (TIF) to assist affordable housing projects and support related infrastructure, including local schools. Municipalities using TIF also benefit from a tax shelter because increased property value within a TIF District is excluded from a municipality's total assessed value. As a result, improvements within an affordable housing TIF District will not result in decreases in State revenue sharing and education subsidies or increases in County taxes. To assist municipalities in using TIF for affordable housing, MSHA has developed the Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing Program Guide, now available on MSHA's website at www.mainehousing.org . The Program Guide discusses statutory requirements, suggests options for compliance, and defines the process for obtaining MSHA approval. For more information on the TIF program, contact Julie Hashem or Mike Martin at MSHA: phone: 207-626-4600; fax: 624-5702; e-mail: or

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development/ Community Development Block Grant Program. The Office of Community Development (OCD) provides funding and technical support to communities for programs that achieve local community and economic development objectives. The primary resource for these activities is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Orman Whitcomb, CDBG Program Director; phone: 207-624-9819; fax: 207-287-8070; e-mail: ; website: www.econdevmaine.com

Maine State Planning Office. The State Planning Office (SPO) offers a Community Planning and Investment Grant Program, which includes Comprehensive Planning Grants, Implementation Grants, Comprehensive Plan Update Grants, and non-competitive Regional Challenge Grants. For more information on these SPO funding opportunities, visit their website at http://www.state.me.us/spo/landuse/finassist/grants.php or contact Fred Landa at 207-287-3860 or

Maine Association of Realtors Foundation. The purpose of the REALTORS® Affordable Housing Fund is "to provide financial resources to groups and organizations for the purpose of funding activities, programs and services which directly or indirectly expand, create, maintain or encourage development of decent, suitable shelter and housing opportunities in Maine, including heating assistance for individuals and families with low, very low or no income." ; website: http://marfoundation.org/

Maine Housing Technical Assistance Consortium. This program provides resources and training to groups developing affordable housing in the State of Maine. Cyndy Carney, TA Coordinator, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., 36 Water Street, P.O. Box 268, Wiscasset, Maine 04578; 207-882-7552; fax: 207-882-7308; e-mail: ; website: http://www.mainehousing.org/metac.html

USDA Rural Development (Formerly Known as the Farmers’ Housing Administration). This office administers a variety of loan and grant programs in rural areas for development of rental housing, as well as assistance for individuals to own or repair a house. They have offices around the state in:

• Presque Isle:

• Bangor Area: 28 Gilman Plaza, Suite 3 Bangor, Maine 04401-3550; phone: 207-990-3676; fax: 207-990-5092; TDD/TTY: 207-942-7331; or e-mail Raymond S. Roberts III, Rural Development Manager, at

• Lewiston Area:

• Scarborough Area: 306 U.S. Route 1, Suite B-1 Scarborough, Maine 04074-9774; phone: 207-883-0159; fax: 207-883-2740/3460; TDD/TTY: 207-942-7331; or e-mail William F. Bailey, Jr., Rural Development Manager, at

US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (HUD) HUD provides funding to both individuals in need of housing, and organizations that serve them. Funds are available for subsidizing rents, developing housing, home repair, and more. Maine’s HUD Field Office Director in Bangor is Loren Cole, 207-945-0467,

Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Banks are an essential source of stable, low-cost funds to financial institutions for home mortgage, small business, rural and agricultural loans. With their members, the FHLBanks represent the largest source of home mortgage and community credit. FHL Bank of Boston: ; website: http://www.fhlbanks.com

Fannie Mae. Through the development of mortgage products, services, investments, national partnerships, and local initiatives, Fannie Mae works to expand the dream of homeownership and affordable rental housing. Fannie Mae Northern New England Office, http://www.fanniemae.com

The Housing Assistance Council focuses on helping to create housing opportunities in rural areas for people with low incomes. HAC provides low-interest loans to finance affordable and mixed-income housing projects in rural communities nationwide. National Office: ; website: http://ruralhome.org/index.htm

• Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments: 125 Manley Road, Auburn, ME 04210;
  phone: 207-783-9186; fax: 207-783-5211.

• Greater Portland Council of Governments: 68 Marginal Way, Portland, ME 04101;
  phone: 207-774-9891 or 1-800-649-1304; fax: 207-774-7149.

• Hancock County Planning Commission: 395 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605;
  phone: 207-667-7131; fax: 207-667-2099.

• Kennebec Valley Council of Governments: 17 Main Street, Fairfield, ME 04937;
  phone: 207-453-4258 or 1-800-731-5019; fax: 207-453-4264.

• Lincoln County: High Street P.O. Box 249, Wiscasset, ME 04578 or 183 Main Street Lewiston, ME 04240; phone: 207-784-2617; fax: 207-784-6118.

• MidCoast Council for Business Development and Planning: 49 Pleasant Street,
  Brunswick, ME 04011; phone: 207-729-0144; fax: 207-729-0989.

• Mid-Coast Regional Planning Commission: 166 South Main Street, Suite 201,
  Rockland, ME 04841; phone: 207-594-2299 or 1-800-339-6389; fax: 207-594-4272.

• Northern Maine Development Commission: 302 Main Street, PO Box 779, Caribou, ME 04736; phone: 207-498-8736 or 1-800-427-8736; fax: 207-493-3108.

• Penobscot Valley Council of Governments: 1 Cumberland Place, Suite 300 P.O. Box 2579, Bangor, Maine 04402-2579; phone: 207-942-6389 or 1-800-339-6389; fax: 207-942-3548.

• Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission: 21 Bradeen Street, Suite 304, Springvale, ME 04083; phone: 207-324-2952; fax: 207-324-2958.

• Washington County Council of Governments: 11 Church Street, PO Box 631, Calais, ME 04619; phone: 207-454-0465; fax: 207-454-2568.

• Portland: 88 Federal Street, P.O. Box 547, Portland ME 04112; phone: 207-774-8211; TTY: 207-828-2308; fax: 207-828-2300.

• 
  Presque Isle: 373 Main Street Presque Isle ME 04769; phone: 207-764-4349 TTY: 764-2453 fax: 207-764-2455.
  

• Bangor: 61 Main Street Bangor ME 04401. Wheelchair access: 50 Colombia Street (please call so we can help you though the maze of lifts); phone: 207-942-8241 TTY: 942-1060; fax: 207-942-8323.
  

• Augusta: 39 Green Street, P.O. Box 2429, Augusta ME 04338-2429; phone: 207-622-4731 or 207-623-7777; TTY: 623-7770; fax: 207-623-7774.
  

• Machias: 1 School Street, Machias, Maine 04654-1417; phone: 207-255-8656; TTY: 255-6179; fax:: 207-255-8657.
  

• Lewiston: 145 Lisbon Street, 7th floor, Lewiston, ME 04240; phone: 207-784-1558; fax: 207-255-8657.
  

• Rockland: Limerock Street, Suite 143, Rockland ME 04841; phone: 207-594-8300; fax: 207-594-8300.
  

Area Agencies on Aging are central resources

for elder services for a specified geographic area.

• Aroostook Agency on Aging (Aroostook County)
  33 Davis Street, PO Box 1288, Presque Isle, Maine 04769; V/TTY: 207-764-3396 or 800-439-1789.

• Eastern Agency on Aging (Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Washington Counties, 450 Essex Street Bangor, Maine 04401-3937; V/TTY: 207-941-2865 or -800-432-7812.

• SeniorsPlus (formerly Western Area Agency on Aging, Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties), 465 Main Street, PO Box 659, Lewiston, Maine 04243-0659; phone: 207--795-4010 or 800-427-1241; TTY: 207--795-7232.

• Senior Spectrum (Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Somerset and Waldo Counties) One Weston Court, PO Box 2589, Augusta, Maine 04338-2589; phone: 207-622-9212 or 800-639-1553; Toll Free TTY: -464-8703 or TTY: 207-623-0809.

• Southern Maine Agency on Aging (Cumberland and York Counties), 307 Cumberland Avenue, PO Box 10480, Portland, Maine 04104; V/TTY: 207-775-6503 or 800-427-7411.

General Assistance Programs. Each town has a General Assistance Program to help people in emergencies. People may be eligible even if they work or receive other benefits such as food stamps, veterans' benefits, or Social Security. To request General Assistance, contact your town office or First Selectman. Applications must be accepted for review. If you have problems concerning General Assistance, contact: Bureau of Family Independence, Department of Human Services at 207-287-2826 or 800-442-6003; local/out-of-state TTY at 207-287-6948.

Community Action Programs. These agencies people with transportation, energy assistance, and home weatherization, among other things. Contact list: http://www.state.me.us/dhs/beas/resource/cap.htm

• Aroostook County Action Program, Inc.: P.O. Box 1116, 444 Main Street, Presque Isle, Maine 04769; tel: 764-3721 or 800-432-7881.

• Coastal Economic Development: 39 Andrews Road, Bath, Maine 04530; tel: 442-7963 or 800-221-2221.

• Community Concepts: P.O. Box 278, Market Square, South Paris, Maine 04281; tel: 207-743-7716.

• Kennebec Valley Community Action Program: P.O. Box 1529, 101 Water Street, Waterville,
  Maine 04901; tel: 873-2122;
  also at RR#2, Box 1103, 219 Cony Road, Augusta, Maine 04330; tel: 622-4761
  also at RFD #1, Box 4747, Mary Street, Skowhegan, Maine 04976; tel: 474-8487 or 800-542-8227.

• Coastal Community Action Program: P.O. Box 808, 43 Park Street Rockland, Maine 04841; phone: 596-0361.

• Penquis Community Action Program: P.O. Box 1162, 262 Harlow Street Bangor, Maine 04401; phone: 941-2830.

• Peoples Regional Opportunity Program: 510 Cumberland Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101; phone: 874-1140.

• Waldo County Committee for Social Action: P.O. Box 130, 175 High Street, Belfast, Maine 04915; phone: 338-6809.

• Washington-Hancock Community Agency: P.O. Box 280, Corner of Main and Maple Streets, Milbridge, Maine 04658; phone: 546-7544.

• Western Maine Community Action, Inc., www.wmca.org, P.O. Box 200, Church Street, East Wilton, Maine 04234; phone: 645-3764.

• York County Community Action Corporation: P.O. Box 72, 11 Cottage Street, Sanford, Maine 04073; phone: 324-5762.
  

THE FACTS