Penquis receives REALTORS Foundation grant for emergency heating repairs
BANGOR — Penquis has received a $10,000 grant from the Maine Association of REALTORS® Foundation to fund emergency heating system repairs for income-eligible households across Penobscot, Piscataquis and Knox counties.
Penquis is one of 20 nonprofit organizations selected through the foundation’s 2026 Competitive Grant Program, which is investing a total of $185,000 in housing-related initiatives across Maine.
The funding will support repairs to central heating systems for up to 15 households. By addressing dangerous or inoperable systems, the program will help ensure families can remain safely in their homes during Maine’s winter months.
PENQUIS GRANT — Penquis has received a $10,000 grant from the Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation to fund emergency heating system repairs for income-eligible households. From left, Benjamin Dunham, division manager for housing and energy services at Penquis; Ashlee Simpson Black, Maine Association of REALTORS board member; and Penquis President and Chief Executive Officer Kara Hay.
“This funding allows us to address urgent heating system failures that can pose immediate health and safety risks,” Jennifer Giosia, director of housing and energy services at Penquis, said. “For many households, a broken heating system isn’t just an inconvenience; it can make a home uninhabitable. We’re grateful to the Maine REALTORS® Foundation for helping us respond quickly to these critical needs.”
The grant will leverage an additional $20,000 in federal funding, bringing the total investment in the project to $30,000.
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.”
Penquis works with individuals and families to strengthen financial stability and improve quality of life through services that support housing, transportation, education and well-being.