Partners for Peace, Penquis among REALTORS Foundation grant recipients
AUGUSTA – The Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation, the charitable arm of Maine Association of REALTORS, has awarded $185,000 through its 2026 Competitive Grant Program to 20 non-profit organizations to address a variety of housing needs of low-income individuals and households across Maine.
Among the organizations receiving $10,000 grants are Partners for Peace to help survivors of domestic violence attain housing by providing money for security deposits and Penquis to provide emergency repairs to central heating systems for 8-15 households .
Other honorees are Bangor Area Homeless Shelter to support their Diversion Program; Caring Unlimited (Sanford) to sustain expanded emergency domestic violence shelter capacity; CHIP (New Harbor) to make essential home repairs; Families First Community Center (Ellsworth) to provide rental arrears and fuel assistance and help sustain seven-unit transitional housing; Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine (Bath) to cover materials and job site costs under their Critical Home Repair Program; Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor (Bangor) to assist with home repairs and aging in place modifications;
Hancock County Habitat for Humanity (Ellsworth) to provide home safety repairs for low-income seniors; Homeworthy (Rockland) to support maintenance costs associated with their Firefly Field/Talbot Avenue Community Housing Project; Midcoast Habitat for Humanity (Rockport) to support construction costs for the Compass Point Pocket Neighborhood in Rockland; New Beginnings (Lewiston) to provide rental assistance and case management to help homeless youth transition to stable housing;
New Hope Midcoast (Rockland) to provide housing and heating assistance for midcoast Maine victims of domestic abuse and their families; Rural Community Action Ministry (Leeds) to provide support services for rural families including homeless prevention, financial counseling, Rent Smart and housing repairs; The Opportunity Alliance (South Portland) to help prevent homelessness and secure housing stability for Lake Region residents; and United Way of Aroostook (Presque Isle) to provide emergency utility assistance to Aroostook County households.
The following organizations each received a grant ranging from $5,000 to $7,000: Friends in Action (Ellsworth) $7,000 to provide home repairs and emergency heating assistance to older adults and adults with disabilities; Midcoast Youth Center (Bath) $7,000 to support maintenance/repairs to two Transitional Housing apartments; Neighborhood Housing Trust (Kennebunkport) $6,000 to offset the cost of replacing the windows of an eight-unit apartment building in Kennebunkport; and The WindowDressers (Rockland) $5,000 to pay for insulating window inserts for low-income Maine residents.
According to Andrea Page, 2026 chair of the Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation and co-team leader, Keller Williams Realty in Portland, “As REALTORS, we are committed to being part of the solution — supporting the local organizations who are building stronger communities, expanding access to housing and creating pathways to a safer, more stable future for all Mainers.”
The REALTORS Affordable Housing Fund was established in 1989 and derives its revenue from interest earnings paid by financial institutions on real estate trust accounts administered by REALTOR® offices across Maine. Since 1991, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.9 million in competitive grants to address affordable housing needs.
The Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation’s mission is “To provide financial resources to groups and organizations for the purpose of funding activities, programs and services which directly or indirectly expand, create, maintain or encourage development of decent, suitable shelter and housing opportunities in Maine, including heating assistance, for individuals and families with low, very low or no income.” Visit its website marfoundation.org for more.