Community Housing of Maine
Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides advocacy, supportive housing, community inclusion, and stability for homeless and special needs populations across the state. CHOM develops, owns, and maintains high quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for people with low incomes and disabilities. Founded in 1993, CHOM has become the largest supportive housing developer in Maine with some 63 housing sites in 29 communities spanning 12 counties, creating over 519 units of low-income and special needs housing. We have provided stable homes to hundreds of disadvantaged people.
Characteristics of populations served by CHOM:
- People who are homeless
- People with low or very low incomes
- People experiencing mental illness
- People with developmental or intellectual disabilities
- People with physical disabilities
- Refugees
- People recovering from addiction
- People living with HIV/AIDS
- People who have been victims of domestic violence
- Homeless Veterans
- People who can’t afford to live near their work
CHOM is also a strong and effective advocate for people with special needs at the local, state, and national level, working to improve policies and funding prioritization, and building coalitions.
Each of our unique initiatives is a wonderful story of a collective group of caring people pulling together insight, creativity, and resources to meet the complex needs of a particular population in a distinctive setting. We partner with over 30 service providers across much of Maine for individualized, client-centered, community-based housing that gives people with special needs a foundation because they are in stable housing enriched with support.
Our housing makes everyone proud – it is of high quality, and is constantly updated to meet the evolving needs of our consumers and service providers. Clients have a strong sense of ownership – we want them to – this is their housing; this is their home. We on the front lines have the pleasure of hearing the direct compliments: “This housing has changed my life, opened up opportunities, and given me a chance to make my life better. Thank you for giving me a place to make my life work out. I don’t know where I would have been without it.”
