Peaks Home Start
Working to Create Affordable Housing on Peaks Island since 2006
Home Start is dedicated to increasing the supply of year-round affordable housing on Peaks Island as a means of promoting a mix of ages, incomes, and family structures for a healthy and sustainable island community. Home Start is 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Our Mission
Home Start Board Members at the 18 Central build site, from left: Irv Williams, Todd Remage-Healey, Betsey Remage-Healey and Rhonda Berg.
RENTAL APPLICATIONS FOR 18 CENTRAL ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED!
Home Start is excited to be offering three new year-round rental units (one 3-bedroom and two 2-bedroom) with projected lease start dates of July 1, 2025 at 18 Central Ave on Peaks Island, pending receipt of Certificate of Occupancy. The funding for this project comes from both our generous Home Start donors and MaineHousing. The guidelines, online application and floorplans are available below. Hard copies of the guidelines and application are available at the Peaks Island Library, 129 Island Ave.
Applications are being accepted from March 1st through April 15th, 2025. Completed applications can be e-mailed to info@peakshomestart.org or hard-copies mailed to Home Start, PO Box 174, Peaks Island, ME 04108. Please direct questions to Mark Gorski at mgorski@islandinstitute.org.
Progress on the Builds at 18 Central!
Videos courtesy of Islander, Helen Peck. Thank you, Helen!
18 Central Avenue Project
Home Start won the bid through the City of Portland to acquire the former Parish Hall building at 18 Central Avenue for the amount of back taxes. Several configurations were considered, but ultimately the decision was to place 3 pre-fabricated units on the original footprint of the hall rather than renovate the building. The team is working with Backyard ADUs out of Brunswick, Maine.
The units will include these special features :
- solar heat and electricity at no costs to tenants
- all units handicapped accessible
- private entrances
- washer/dryer in each unit
- extra storage
The central location of the build site is extremely convenient with its proximity to the Peaks Island library, stores, restaurants and ferry landing.
For more information about the planned activities and projected timeline for 18 Central, please go here.
The generous support of our donors was critical to making the 18 Central project a reality! Thank you so much to the Peaks Island community and to the friends of Home Start, far and wide!
But the work continues - even with the completion of 18 Central, affordable housing on Peaks remains at a minimum and Home Start is continuing its efforts to find Island properties suitable for our next projects.
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing generous support of Home Start!
Our Community Fundraising Goals
A young family takes ownership of the property at 18 Luther Street. A Home Start success story!