Since 2006, Home Start, a volunteer-driven, 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has been dedicated to increasing the supply of year-round affordable housing on Peaks as a means of promoting a mix of ages, incomes, and family structures for a healthy and sustainable island community

Affordable housing guidelines are set statewide based on the average median income (AMI) of a local area. Peaks falls under the guidelines for the greater Portland area. Rents are then set based on paying no more than 30% of that income for housing.

Home Start will charge rents at no more than 80% of the median rent for Portland. In 2023, this equates to $2460 for the 3 bedroom unit and $2128 for one of the 2 bedroom units. Our goal is to charge only 60% for the other 2 bedroom unit, or $1597, with the help of strong local support.

Peaks has always been a vibrant mix of year round islanders as well as vacationers. To maintain that vibrancy takes teachers, kids, shop keepers, care givers and creative artists and musicians, to name a few. Affordable year round housing lets people who are the glue of our community continue to live on Peaks, sharing their skills and talents.

Two one-family homes (22 and 26 Luther Street) were constructed and have been turned over to Volunteers of America for administration as affordable rental housing.

In 2018, changes in Portland City Ordinance allowed Home Start to build an ADU onto the house it owned at 18 Luther Street as well as to upgrade the existing house. The construction of the ADU was completed in 2021, made possible by a $36,000 grant from the Portland Housing Trust Fund and $36,000 in matching contributions from the community. In 2021, Home Start affordably sold the 18 Luther Street property to a first-time home buyer, with the requirement that the added ADU continue to be rented at an affordable rent. Proceeds from the sale are enabling Home Start to develop new projects on Peaks.

The Home Start board spent many months carefully considering the pros and cons of renovation vs. new construction. Ultimately, the new build option was deemed more economical, had more design advantages for tenants and could be done more quickly. The new construction will, however, make use of the existing foundation.

Some hazardous materials such as asbestos in floor and ceiling tiles, typical of buildings built in the 1960s, have been identified. Such materials must be properly transported off the island. The exterior bricks will be professionally dismantled with the goal of most of them being used as clean fill on the island. Home Start plans to keep enough bricks with which to build walkways to each unit with donor names inscribed as appropriate.

The current Portland Zoning Ordinance will only permit three units at the 18 Central Avenue site. However, Home Start would very much like to create an additional one bedroom unit on a lot it owns at 143 Pleasant Ave. The lot is small and will therefore requires special zoning approval. Home Start is pursuing this fourth option and hopes to know more in the near future.

Volunteers and donations are welcome. For more information about how you can participate, please click HERE.