Welcome Home Downeast: Investing in Affordable Family Housing

Mano en Mano is excited to partner with Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) for a new initiative: the Welcome Home Downeast project to enable families new to the area to rent quality, affordable housing and begin the pathway to home ownership in Downeast Maine. 

This project was born from a community need for affordable housing, to grow the year-round workforce in Washington County and enable seasonal workers who come and go each year to settle in Downeast Maine. While populations in rural Maine have shrunk and people move away, the barrier which keeps workers from settling in this region is the lack of good affordable family housing and pathways to homeownership. 

We have heard from seasonal workers that they are attracted to this community and view the region as a place of opportunity. In fact, it is many workers' first choice of places to live. The Welcome Initiative will support workers’ dreams of settling Downeast, local businesses staffing needs and community revitalization as a whole. 

The Welcome Home Downeast Initiative will purchase, renovate or build 6-8 homes in either Milbridge, Cherryfield, Harrington, Gouldsboro or the surrounding area. Families that have been part of the seasonal workforce will be able to rent these single family properties. While renting, the families will have the option to purchase the home they are living in. 

This initiative is intended specifically for workers in the agricultural, aquaculture and fishing industries who do not currently live in Downeast Maine but have a seasonal connection to our area. 

Please stay tuned for more information about how to apply! 

If you are interested in learning more about investing in Welcome Home Downeast, LLC please contact Ian Yaffe at iy@manomaine.org.

Disclosure Regarding Securities

This article does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy securities of Welcome Home Downeast, LLC. Such offers and sales, if any, will be made only to “Accredited Investors,” as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to separate agreements to be negotiated by the parties.