OAN’s Brooke Mallory
Friday, June 14, 2024, 5:15 p.m.
Plans are underway to build Maine’s first LGBTQ+ affordable housing complex.
advertisement
The Equality Community Center in Portland, Maine has been years in the making, spearheading a project to create the first mixed-use facility in the heart of downtown.
“To do the right thing [in] “It’s a big thing for the LGBT community to be involved in downtown Portland,” said Ed Gardner, a businessman and founding member of the ECC.
Gardner donated the land for the building, and the community center parking lot will soon be transformed into a five-story building with apartments, a large parking garage and a cafe.
There will be 54 affordable apartments for seniors age 55 and older, 11 of which will be for people with HIV/AIDS or disabilities, and in partnership with the Independence Institute and the Frannie Peabody Center, resources for these people will also be provided.
Gardener said the facility would house “vulnerable populations” and provide them with a place to access the services and accommodation they need.
“I think it will encourage them to get out and be part of the community, rather than being stuck at home and not being able to interact with anyone,” he said.
The ECC was first launched in 2021 by Gardner and a group of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to provide a “safe meeting space for community and equality organizations.” Currently, about 20 organizations are based here and host weekly programs and events.
The latest effort expands that goal even further: It will be the only mixed-use facility of its kind in New England, leaders say.
“This place is not just a positive place, a place where you can live with people who do horrible things, but it really is connected to this – it’s a place to live and a community all in one place,” said Christine Caulfield, a volunteer at the center.
The group announced last week that the project was ready after years of fundraising, and executive director Chris O’Connor has reportedly already been inundated with requests from nearby residents who want to make the new facility their home.
“We currently have about 150 on the interest list,” O’Connor said, “and it’s happening.”
The project is being funded largely through donations, with help from the city of Portland, the Maine Housing Authority and other organizations. The goal is to have it completed by spring 2026, though that date may change in the future.
Stay up to date! Receive the latest news directly in your email for free. Sign up here: https://www.oann.com/alerts
Please share this post!
