An Aroostook County housing organization has received a federal boost that will help tenants find independence.
The Presque Isle Housing Authority was awarded a $249,150 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency program.
The money is a renewal of a grant the housing authority first received in 2022 to hire a special service coordinator. In that position, Tracy Ouellette connects tenants with community services that can help them age in place, find jobs and even become financially stable. The funds will carry on the work for another three years, Executive Director Jennifer Sweetser said.
“We’ll be continuing what we’re already doing,” she said. “While the end goal of the program is for families to eventually attain education and employment, this program is key to helping residents succeed at even the smallest things, like opening a bank account or finding a primary care physician.”
Though Ouellette will soon leave for a different position, the housing authority will use the money to hire another full-time coordinator, Sweetser said.
The Presque Isle grant was included in a $495,000 package awarded in Maine on March 25, announced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. The other award of $245,442 will go to the Bangor Housing Authority, also to retain a service coordinator.
“The dedicated staff at housing authorities throughout Maine work hard to link seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals and families with an array of programs to improve living conditions and achieve economic independence,” Collins said in a statement.
The Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency program helps people establish jobs, their own housing and more, according to the housing authority. The effort also helps those who are older or who have disabilities remain in their homes.
Part of the job is harnessing help from the local community to bring services to residents, Sweetser said.
For instance, Ouellette worked with Aroostook County Action Program to bring child care and education to housing authority tenants, and obtained assistance from the University of Maine at Presque Isle to bring some technology on site.
“We obtained some computers that were no longer being used at UMPI, so we have set up a computer lab for tenants at our community center,” Sweetser said.
Now residents can access email, apply for jobs, obtain training or get services online. Staff are working to set up instruction for people who want to learn to use a computer, she said.
Also new is a monthly meal at the authority’s community center, a collaboration with volunteer group County Cares, which gives residents a chance to connect with each other.
Ouellette has helped people access GED instruction, find day care, set up bank accounts and get their driver’s licenses — all of which help them become more self-sufficient, Sweetser said.
She believes more people might apply for housing, knowing they can have support to reach their goals.
“Having this grant has allowed us to provide hands-on assistance to help residents. It is also an opportunity to build community by offering workshops or events close to home,” she said. “We are thankful to be able to continue to provide this service and to work with our community partners.”
