With Fanfare and Collaboration, Mano en Mano Opens Maine’s First Affordable Housing Project for Farmworkers

MILBRIDGE, Maine — On a beautiful day in Downeast Maine, nearly 100 guests gathered at the site of Hand in Hand Apartments to open Maine’s first affordable housing project for farmworkers.  Originally conceived in 2006, this 6-unit apartment building is a place where “truly weary workers will come to rest,” said Commissioner Walt Whitcomb of the Maine Department of Agriculture.  In his remarks, Commissioner Whitcomb spoke of the economic importance of families that work the sea, the fields, the farms, and the barrens.

USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel echoed those sentiments in her earlier remarks, saying “The hard work provided by the farm labor workforce is essential to driving the local agricultural and aquaculture industries in the area. Having a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home for these workers and their families is essential, and I am pleased USDA Rural Development could play a key funding role by providing nearly $1.2 million in loan and grant funds for construction as well as continued support through rental assistance to make this project a reality.”

In his welcoming remarks, Mano en Mano Executive Director Ian Yaffe talked about the remarkable history of this project and the many collaborations that made it possible.  “These apartments represent the vision of an entire community and long over-due support for some of the families who embody the character and tradition of Downeast Maine,” Yaffe continued, urging guests to also remember “that the families benefiting from this project are working families.  Like so many of us, they are hard-working folks who want nothing more than to put in a full day’s work and be able to afford to feed, shelter, and educate their children.”  Click here to read the full remarks.

Click below to start a slideshow of images from the event or access full-size images here.

Ron Phillips, President of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) also encouraged members of the audience to challenge their assumptions about this project and Washington County: “Washington County is often thought of as the poorest of counties but you also have riches of people and place, and great potential here.”

Other speakers included John Pearson (Office of Senator Susan M. Collins), Morgan Urquhart (Office of Congressman Michael H. Michaud), Daniel Brennan (MaineHousing), and Lewis Pinkham (Town of Milbridge).

This project is a small, yet important step toward achieving the goal of affordable and decent housing at the local level. Washington Hancock Community Agency’s 2008 Needs Assessment reported that affordable rental housing was in high demand throughout Washington County, including the town of Milbridge. According to a 2009 report by the MaineHousing, 71% of Milbridge households are unable to afford the cost of a basic two-bedroom rental without using more than 30% of their gross income.

Jamie Thompson-Ostorga is one of those people.  Her family works both the fisheries (lobster) and fields (blueberry), but doesn’t make enough to live in a place on their own.  Janie, her daughter, her 7-year-old son Alexander and her husband, Reynaldo Ostorga, have been living with her grandparents in Milbridge for years.  With that house about to be foreclosed on, she was about to be without a home.  Instead, her family will be the first of six families to move into Hand in Hand Apartments.  Janie joined Ian Yaffe and distinguished guests to cut the ribbon surrounding the entrance and formally open the building.

After remarks, artist Kaitlyn Metcalf of Moss Keep Studio unveiled her commissioned building portrait.  The first eleven copies of the portrait were given to key project partners including: HUD, Anais Tomezsko, PathStone Corporation, Coastal Enterprises, Fickett Property Management, Town of Milbridge, WBRC Architect/Engineers, USDA Rural Development, MaineHousing, Ed Bearor of Rudman and Winchell, and E.W. Littlefield, Inc.

Hand in Hand Apartments is open to permanent residents or U.S. citizens who earn a substantial portion of their annual income from agriculture or aquaculture work. Detailed qualifications and applications are available from Fickett Property Management in Cherryfield.  Rent is subsidized at 30% of income which includes utilities and an electricity allowance.  Major funding is through a $1,005,722 USDA Rural Development Farm Labor Housing Grant and $176,778 Farm Labor Housing Loan, as well as a $220,000 loan from CEI of Wiscasset.

Several media outlets have covered this event.  For related press, please visit:

• Bangor Daily News: “Hand in Hand Apartments Open Doors in Milbridge“
• WABI TV5 Bangor: “Maine’s First Affordable Housing Project for Farmworkers Unveiled in Milbridge” (with video)
• WLBZ TV2 Bangor: “Affordable Housing Complex Opens for Washington County Farmworkers” (with video)
• Related imagery (Flickr)
• Previous coverage and project history