After a week of intense weather across Maine, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson shared good news for many rural Maine residents. On Dec. 11, 2023, she announced that USDA is awarding two Maine nonprofits Housing Preservation Grants to provide home repairs and weatherization for eligible low- and very low-income residents. Bangor-based Penquis and Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) in East Wilton each secured a grant of $84,829. The community organizations will use the funds to rehabilitate homes in Franklin, Knox, Penobscot, and Piscataquis counties.

“At USDA Rural Development, we know how important home ownership is to rural Mainers,” said Director Hampson, in a news release. “But paying for maintenance and even for urgent repairs can be out of reach for many people, particularly older residents. That is why we are so glad to award Housing Preservation Grants to Western Maine Community Action and Penquis. They know their communities and can put these dollars to work where they are needed the most, ensuring more low- and very-low-income Mainers can live in warm, safe homes.”

USDA’s Housing Preservation program provides grants to sponsoring organizations to repair or rehabilitate housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens. Maine’s 2023 grant recipients will work with eligible homeowners across four counties:

-Penquis (www.penquis.org) is a Bangor-based nonprofit organization incorporated in 1967 to alleviate and eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. It will use the funds to help low- and very low-income homeowners in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties make necessary repairs to their homes. The program will focus on repair work that addresses accessibility, health, or safety issues associated with extremely substandard housing. Interested applicants can learn more by calling the Penquis home repair program (207-973-3665).

-Western Maine Community Action (www.wmca.org) is a nonprofit based in East Wilton that provides services to Franklin County residents. WMCA will use the Rural Development funds to rehabilitate eligible owner-occupied homes. The program will focus on immediate health and safety issues and energy conservation repairs for low- and very low-income homeowners. Interested applicants can call the agency (207 645-3764) or email the WMCA Housing Director, William Crandall (wcrandall@wmca.org). 

“Penquis is very pleased to receive this grant,” said Jennifer Giosia, director of Housing and Energy Service at Penquis. “The funding we receive will be used to help 21 households with home repairs. We will also use some funds to help in the replacement of one home. These funds will be leveraged with additional funds to keep families warm, safe and dry. Maine has a large percentage of homeowners who live in houses that need repairs to keep them safe. Our waiting list is extensive for home repair and the need for assistance is ever growing. We thank USDA Rural Development for being part of keeping Maine families in their homes.” 

USDA continues to invest in programs specifically designed to bring federal funding and resources to people and communities in underserved rural areas. Today’s Maine awards were part of a group of 208 announced nationwide. They are evidence of the Biden-Harris Administration’s continuing commitment to advancing equity for all, including those who have been historically affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

The Housing Preservation Program accepts applications from eligible state and local governments, nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes. Applications are accepted annually through a notice published in the Federal Register. The next anticipated application period will be in mid-2024. Interested Maine organizations may contact Bonnie Hayes at the USDA Rural Development State Office in Bangor (207-990-9164 or bonnie.hayes@usda.gov) for more information.