Everyone deserves a place to call home.

New Avesta President & CEO brings visionary leadership to role

Avesta Housing is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Hawkins, a longtime advocate and leader in affordable housing, community development, and health equity, as its new President & Chief Executive Officer.

Jennifer brings more than 20 years of visionary leadership and deep expertise to Avesta. She most recently served as president and CEO of One Neighborhood Builders in Providence, R.I., where she led transformative growth, pioneered innovative housing developments, and aligned housing policy with health and economic outcomes. Her tenure was also marked by the successful cultivation of high-impact philanthropic partnerships.

“Jennifer’s leadership is defined by innovation, strategic vision, and a powerful dedication to meeting community needs through affordable housing and housing stability programs,” said Renee Fay-LeBlanc, chair of the Avesta Housing Board of Directors. “The Avesta Board is confident that she will guide Avesta into its next chapter with clarity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.”

“I am deeply honored to join Avesta Housing and to partner with the talented team, dedicated board, and vibrant communities that make this organization so exceptional,” said Jennifer. “Avesta is a highly respected affordable housing powerhouse. I’m eager to build upon its incredible track record and lead the organization to realize new heights because everyone deserves a place to call home.”

Click here to read Renee’s full statement announcing Jennifer’s hire.

Avesta celebrates Snow School with residents and partners

Avesta Housing staff at the celebration of Snow School Apartments (L-R): Office Manager Jen Shumaker, Maintenance Technician Ted Day, Vice President of Resident Services & Property Management Amanda Gilliam, Senior Property Manager Misty Tuell, Regional Property Manager Ashley Reitan, Property Manager Lisa Eastwood, and Office Support Specialist Jessi Turner

On May 22, Avesta hosted a celebration of Snow School Apartments in Fryeburg, Maine, to thank development partners and funders and to show our appreciation for the residents and staff who make it such a warm, tight-knit community for older adults.

Guests enjoyed food and camaraderie, and many residents shared their stories about how Avesta provided them with a safe, quality home when they thought all hope was lost. As it turns out, a few residents who are living at Snow School used to attend the building’s namesake as students! (See related story below.)

Many thanks to the residents and staff at Snow School, and to the partners who helped make it a reality, including the Town of Fryeburg, Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission, MaineHousing, WNC, Norway Savings Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, The Betterment Fund, ReVision Energy, CWS Architecture & Interior Design, Optimum Construction, Strauss Company, HEB Engineers, Ripcord Engineering, Swiftcurrent Engineering Services, Otis Atwell, Clark Insurance, and Curtis Thaxter.

Former Snow School students return to begin new chapter

Charles and his sister Katherine with Katherine's dog Noah share a moment at Katherine's new home in Snow School Apartments in Fryeburg, Maine.

For Katherine and her brother Charles, living at Snow School Apartments is truly like going home again: They attended the building’s namesake, the Charles A. Snow School, in the 1960s. After the school was closed in 2017, the site was sold to Avesta Housing for the purpose of building safe, quality, affordable homes for older adults.

“I am SO VERY thankful that I was able to find a home here in my hometown of Fryeburg and that my brother was able to as well so that we can check on one another daily,” Katherine said. “What has struck me as so moving is how 27 strangers came together under one roof and that we’re all different but yet all so very much alike! Our stories are unique to us, but we’ve become like a big family helping one another.

“It may sound corny, but being here, I feel daily like I can knock on a door and that a new friend will be there if I need one.”

Click below to read Katherine’s story in her own words.

Firehouse Village wins MEREDA Notable Project Award

L-R: Shannon Richards and Shelly Clark, MEREDA; Olivia Bogert and Selomi Nganga, Kaplan Thompson Architects; Sam Lebel, Acorn Engineering; Matt Early, Maine Community Bank; Patrick Hess, Avesta Housing; and Will Savage, Acorn Engineering (Photo courtesy MEREDA)

We are proud to announce that Firehouse Village in Scarborough has won a 2024 Notable Project Award from the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA)! Firehouse Village is a 2.6-acre, mixed-use development that includes Village Commons (pictured), a 31-unit Avesta property that provides safe, quality, affordable homes for older adults.

The Notable Project Award honors developments that “distinguished themselves in design, construction, sustainability, land-use, and added benefit to their communities." Many thanks to MEREDA for this award, and to our development and funding partners who helped make Firehouse Village and Village Commons a reality.

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