Everyone deserves a place to call home.

Reflections on my first year at Avesta

In July, I marked one year since joining Avesta. It’s been a remarkable year of learning and change, and I greet my second year energized for what’s ahead. 

For over a half-century, Avesta has built a strong reputation for sophisticated housing development, stability and support for its residents, exceptional independent and assisted living care for older adults, and advocacy for proven approaches that improve lives and enrich communities. 

This reputation is earned by our talented staff today, and the contributions of every person who worked to build Avesta over the years. With affordable housing more needed now than ever, Avesta has the experience and ability to meet this moment for people and communities across Maine and New Hampshire.

There is no time to wait. The gap between housing costs and what people in our region can afford only continues to widen. For example, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has found the hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom home in Maine is now $32.32, approaching double the average hourly wage of renters in Maine, which is $18.29.

We are navigating economic and policy headwinds that affect construction and management of affordable housing. Yet as I’ve met with community members, elected officials, developers, funders, nonprofit partners, and business leaders in Maine and New Hampshire, every conversation has reinforced the same sentiment – we must work together to solve our housing shortage and build stronger communities. 

That is Avesta’s mission. It’s the reason I’m here, and why I’m so proud to lead this extraordinary organization. I look forward to a great year two, and many more to come creating opportunities for people to find a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. 

-- Jennifer Hawkins, President & CEO

Coming Soon: Topping Off Ceremony at The Bellwether

On Tuesday, August 25, at 10 a.m., Avesta plans to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of The Bellwether at 89 Elm Street in Portland, our largest development project to date. This topping off ceremony will mark the placement of the building's final structural component—a longstanding construction tradition that recognizes the skilled tradespeople bringing this transformative project to life.

When complete, The Bellwether will create more than 200 affordable homes in Portland's Bayside neighborhood, making it one of the largest affordable housing developments underway in Maine. We expect to be joined by project partners, elected officials, and community leaders to celebrate this exciting step forward.

Stay tuned for a full recap and photos in the next edition of News + Notes!

Pearl Place Hosts Early Childhood

Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Pre-Apprenticeship program participants and instructors at Avesta's Pearl Place

Three Avesta residents were among 10 graduates of the Early Childhood Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program hosted at Avesta’s Pearl Place in Portland this spring. Each completed 15-week training designed to prepare participants for careers in one of Maine's most in-demand fields. Offered through a partnership led by United Way of Southern Maine and supported by community organizations, the program combined professional training with practical supports to help participants with career-specific training and job training.

Graduates earned the training and certifications needed to begin working in early childhood education, including adult and child CPR/First Aid certification, while also receiving resume and interview coaching and direct connections with employers. The program removed common barriers to participation by providing free onsite childcare, transportation assistance when needed, translation services, and weekly lunches. At least one program graduate has already secured employment through the program so far!

Another session is already planned for this fall, and more residents have expressed interest in participating in the program. We are proud to participate in collaborations such as these that demonstrate how targeted workforce development programs can open doors to meaningful careers while strengthening families and communities.

Leadership to Strengthen Resident Success

As Avesta Housing's housing portfolio continues to grow, we continue to identify ways to strengthen our organizational capacity to better serve residents with complex needs while expanding the partnerships that make long-term housing stability possible. Recent leadership changes create dedicated capacity to support both our growing Home for Good communities and the broader network of supportive housing programs across our portfolio.

Tessa Metcalfe has taken on a new role focused exclusively on supportive housing, providing specialized leadership for Avesta's Home for Good communities while serving as a resource to property management and resident services teams working with residents in other supportive housing programs. At the same time, Nicholas Kjeldgaard's expanded role as Manager of Community Partnerships strengthens Avesta's ability to build relationships with service providers, collaborate with community partners, and advance data collection and impact measurement. Together, these changes reflect Avesta's continued investment in the expertise, partnerships, and organizational capacity needed to support residents and respond to the region's growing housing needs.

Avesta Executive Team Welcomes New Members

We are pleased to welcome two new members to Avesta's executive leadership this summer. Jonathan Greven, Vice President of Finance & Business Strategy and Anthony Ronzio, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, both recently assumed their new roles on the team. 

As Vice President of Finance & Business Strategy, Jonathan oversees Finance, Information Systems, Evaluation, and related business strategy functions. His role will help ensure Avesta's operational and financial resources are aligned with organizational priorities while supporting long-term planning and cross-functional collaboration.

He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Business and Finance Officer at St. Joseph's College of Maine. He brings extensive experience in finance, operations, information systems, and organizational leadership, including previous executive leadership at Casco Bay Lines.

As Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Tony leads Avesta's fundraising, marketing and communications, public affairs, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and other external relationships. He brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, public affairs, and organizational leadership.

His career includes leadership roles in Maine state government, higher education, and journalism, most recently directing communications for Governor Janet Mills. He also previously held leadership positions at Colby College and has significant experience advancing public policy initiatives, including work related to affordable housing.

HUD Officials Visit Avesta to Discuss Affordable Housing

We recently welcomed leaders from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) to Portland to learn about some active development projects and the larger affordable housing landscape in Maine.

Region 1 Administrator Michael Banks, Senior Advisor Anthony Linardos, and Maine State Director Leonora Style, and HHS Regional Director John McGough met with President and CEO Jennifer Hawkins, Vice President of Real Estate Patrick Hess, and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Anthony Ronzio to tour three of Avesta’s development sites in the Bayside neighborhood.

Stops included The Bellwether at 89 Elm Street, Dashaway Commons at 15–19 Cedar Street, and The Prime at 197 Oxford Street, and provided an opportunity to showcase how thoughtful, community-focused development is helping address Maine's housing needs while highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing affordable housing providers.

City of Portland Approves Two New Avesta Affordable Housing Developments

Avesta has reached an important milestone in the expansion of affordable housing in Portland with the city’s recent approval of plans for two new developments—The Prime (pictured) and Dashaway Commons. Together, these developments will create 76 affordable homes while strengthening the community they serve. Including these developments. Avesta now has over 1000 affordable homes in construction, or in the pipeline for construction, across Maine and New Hampshire.

Located at 197 Oxford Street, The Prime will bring 47 affordable apartments for individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income. The four-story development is designed to make the most of a compact urban site, adding much-needed housing while fitting the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Residents will enjoy welcoming community space and energy-efficient features.

Just a few blocks away, Dashaway Commons is a partnership between Avesta and the Boys & Girls Club of Maine that demonstrates the impact of mission-driven collaboration. By working together, the organizations will not only preserve and enhance vital youth programming but also create more affordable homes than the number being removed as part of the clubhouse expansion, helping meet Portland's housing replacement requirements.

The five-story development will provide 29 affordable apartments for households earning 50–60% of the area median income while supporting the expansion and modernization of the Boys & Girls Club's Cumberland Avenue clubhouse.

Both developments will include thoughtfully designed community spaces, accessible apartments, and high-performance, energy-efficient building features that support healthy, sustainable living.

Construction timelines are currently being finalized, with work on both projects anticipated to begin within the next year. We look forward to sharing more as these developments move from planning to reality.

Read more about these developments in Mainebiz.

Domus Celebrates Groundbreaking in Freeport

Avesta President and CEO Jennifer Hawkins speaks at Domus groundbreaking June 4.

Leaders, partners, and community members gathered on June 4 in Freeport to celebrate the groundbreaking of Depot Terraces, a 45-unit condominium development designed to expand attainable homeownership opportunities in Maine.

Located at 45 Depot Street, Depot Terraces is the second development by Domus Dwellings—a collaborative effort between Avesta Housing, Jack Soley, and Hebert Construction. Construction on the first Domus development, Clover Terraces in downtown Westbrook, is expected to be complete next spring.

The development will bring 45 one- and two-bedroom, energy-efficient condominiums to Freeport’s downtown core, offering future residents access to a walkable neighborhood near jobs, local businesses, services, and transit connections, including the nearby Amtrak Downeaster station.

Depot Terraces is part of a broader vision for Freeport’s future that aligns with the Town’s efforts to strengthen its downtown core through transit-oriented development, contributing housing, activity, and long-term vitality to the village center while supporting a more connected and resilient community.

When complete in 2027, Clover Terraces and Depot Terraces will help provide homeownership opportunities for Maine’s workforce while contributing to stronger and more inclusive downtown communities.

Coming This Fall: Our All-New Celebrating Home Event

This year, Avesta is thrilled to recognize three long-standing community partners whose leadership and generosity have helped make Maine and New Hampshire more vibrant, inclusive places to call home. We hope you can join us Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Halo at the Point in Portland.

For sponsorship opportunities, please email celebratinghome@avestahousing.org.