Overview of Housing Options in Greater Portland

Looking for housing takes a lot of time. It's hard work. Being focused and organized will make your search productive and not exhausting. When searching for housing become aware of the different opportunities that will help you find the housing you need. This list of options will allow you to broaden your choices for housing and focus your investigation for your future home. Many of these organizations can be found on our Housing - General Information page.

People with disabilities and/or long-term illnesses have diverse housing needs. Fortunately, the Greater Portland area has a variety of housing choices to meet these needs. Below is a brief overview of some housing options and other services available in Greater Portland. We have included some guidance to help direct your attention to the housing you are looking for.

If you are out of money and out of a place to stay, there are shelters available to help.

• The Oxford Street Shelter is located at 203 Oxford Street in Portland, Maine. It is one of several shelters in the Greater Portland area.
• The Preble Street Resource Center is just up the street at 252 Oxford Street. The Preble Street Resource center is where individuals can get plenty of services, including food, health care, housing assistance, day shelter and support, as well as breakfast every day.
• The St. Luke's Cathedral Soup Kitchen is also located at 252 Oxford Street. It is in the same building as the Preble Street Resource Center. Breakfast and supper are served there Monday through Friday and brunch is served on the weekends.
• Wayside Soup Kitchen is also located at 252 Oxford Street. It is in the same building as the Preble Street Resource Center. Dinner is served there every night of the year, and lunch is served on the weekdays.

There are outreach workers at these places that provide assistance in helping people connect with the community to get personal and long-term goals met. These goals may vary from helping someone to get a winter coat to giving people directions and referrals to local services to help them meet goals of independence.

General Assistance is a program that helps individuals purchase basic necessities that they don't have means to pay for. The City of Portland's General Assistance, Westbrook's General Assistance, and South Portland's General Assistance are places that provide housing assistance in the form of vouchers to help those in crisis find adequate housing.

There are rules and requirements that must be obeyed and respected in order to receive General Assistance. You must be prepared to document your situation and/or sign releases if needed.

Ingraham, Inc. provides housing for homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 23 that have serious emotional disorders or severe mental illness who need mental health and substance abuse treatment. Ingraham, Inc. also offers residential programs and case management for adults with severe mental illness and substance abuse issues.

The YMCA has a teen transitional housing program to help teenage parents develop maturely.

Shalom House, Inc. offers a variety of housing options for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

There are a variety of residential treatment facilities in the Greater Portland area that provide short-term and longer stay housing. These residential treatment facilities provide support and structure for people who are homeless and who have substance abuse problems and/or mental illness. Some of these facilities house just males and some house just females and some of them house both sexes.

Subsidized housing is available through different sources. Subsidized housing enables participants to pay a manageable portion of their income for rent. Through Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook Housing Authorities Section 8 housing vouchers are available. With Section 8 subsidies, participants pay between 10% and 50% of their income for rent and the government pays the remaining amount.

Shelter+Care is a program for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities. There are also limited Shelter+Care subsidies to individuals with substance abuse disabilities or HIV-related disabilities. With Shelter+Care subsidies, participants pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent.

The Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) is a housing program to enhance consumer housing choices for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. With BRAP subsidies, participants pay 51% of their income for rent.

The Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offer a wide range of housing complexes for people with disabilities. These housing sections are subsidized and residents pay a manageable portion of their income for rent.

The AIDS Lodging House offers housing for people with AIDS who have substance abuse problems and/or mental illness.

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Table of Contents | Being Prepared for the Intake Process
Overview of Housing Options in Greater Portland
Housing Source Tip Sheets