Affordable Housing

Client Service Center
510 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, Maine 04101
800-698-4959
207-553-5800
Fax: 207-874-1155
TTY: 207-874-1013

Affordable Housing

PROP has long been concerned about the inadequate supply of affordable housing in Cumberland County and Greater Portland, in particular. It was our concern that led us to enter the field of housing development, and we have created many newrental units in Portland and Westbrook since that time. Now, with the most critical need ever for additional urban housing and family-sized apartments, we are involved in developing several innovative, low-impact projects. Our efforts have resulted in 83 new units of mixed income rental housing in Portland and Westbrook. We have also created 13 homeownership units for low to moderate income first time homebuyers. The projects we have completed or in the process of developing include:


Scattered site in-fill housing

In partnership with the City of Portland, we are developing small lots within existing neighborhoods -- 1 to 4 buildings, depending on size of lot -- on the peninsula. We have added twelve 3-bedroom apartments since 2002 and all are rented at this time.


St. Dominic’s Affordable Housing, Portland

We have created 12 units of mixed income family rental housing in the former girls’ school adjacent to historic St. Dominic’s church on State Street in Portland. All units are rented at this time. The Irish Heritage Center has preserved the church sanctuary as a community building and cultural center.


Parkside Neighborhood Center & Housing, Portland

We opened this ambitious project at the corner of Mellen & Grant Streets in June, 2005. The housing portion consists of 16 units of 2 and 3 bedroom rental housing in Maine's most densely populated neighborhood. The project includes a Neighborhood Center which houses many important programs including Head Start, Portland Adult Education, Parkside Community Policing, USM, and Parkside Community Arts.
Affordable owner occupied/rental housing, Westbrook: We have sold twelve Westbrook condominiums to first-time homeowners. We are currently creating ten more units in the neighborhood.


The Need for Housing


  • Maine has the seventh oldest housing stock in the country. 31% was built before 1939. We are last in the nation in apartment production.
  • 48% of renters in Cumberland County live in Portland; the city has 17, 121 rental households. An estimated additional 4,500 to 6,500 units are needed in the Portland area.
  • Greater Portland created 23,000 new jobs during the 1990s, yet only 3,000 new rentals.
  • A family earning $35,000 a year can afford a home priced at around $100,000. The average selling price of a home in Portland is $147,321.
  • Portland pays up to $25,000 per month to area motels to house the overflow of families for whom there is no room at city shelters.


Source: CITE Housing Committee