Affordable Housing
Stable, affordable housing is fundamental to breaking the cycle of homelessness.
Housing Overview
Providing deeply affordable, permanent housing is the primary focus of our work. It is the cornerstone of a healthy and thriving life and the foundation upon which all other goals can be achieved. We create housing opportunities through two separate avenues: 1) developing new affordable units, and 2) partnering with private-market landlords as part of our Landlord Engagement Initiative to make units available immediately to households with housing vouchers. We pair stable housing with Fair Tide’s case management services to ensure long-term success.
Fair Tide’s housing portfolio currently includes a five-unit house in the Kittery Foreside neighborhood, a six-unit house on Shapleigh Road, a 12-unit project in the pre-development phase, and we are exploring a potential joint-project in Dover, NH. Each property in Kittery is owned and operated by Fair Tide as part of our Housing and Case Management Program.
Our Affordable Housing Developments
Fair Tide implements Permanent Supportive Housing using the nationally recognized Housing First approach. This model offers a solid foundation along with the support necessary to thrive. Households living in Fair Tide’s units have experienced homelessness, or were at risk of experiencing homelessness, and pay 30% of their income toward rent and utilities, ensuring affordability regardless of fluctuations in income. We are continuously pursuing opportunities to develop additional affordable units in the Seacoast Region.
Founders’ House – Five Units
Fair Tide’s first housing development opened in 2003 as transitional housing. In 2018 we adopted the Housing First approach and converted the five units into permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. Tenants pay 30 percent of their income and renew their lease annually.
Rosamond Thaxter House – Six Units
In July 2022, Fair Tide was one of three agencies that was awarded funds through MaineHousing’s HOME-ARP program to construct six-units of affordable housing on Shapleigh Road. Construction began in late 2023 and welcomed tenants home in November 2024. These six units (five one-bedroom units and one studio) in Kittery are targeted for individuals and couples who have experienced homelessness. Residents have easy access to a variety of services at neighboring Mainspring, in addition to Fair Tide’s one-on-one case management.
Old Post Road – 12 Units (Proposed)
In August 2022, Fair Tide was chosen through the town’s competitive RFP process to acquire 42-44 Old Post Road in Kittery. Thanks to a Brownfields grant from Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, we’ll be able to remove hazardous materials from the current house and demolish the garage – creating the space to redevelop it into an affordable housing project.
Lassel Architects has provided preliminary sketches for two six-unit houses, which fit into the neighborhood extremely well, providing 12 units of permanent, supportive housing for both individuals and families. Civil Consultants is working on the survey and site design, and Fair Tide submitted applications for funding to both MaineHousing and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. We hope to start construction in the Spring of 2025.
Recovery House in Dover, NH
Fair Tide is exploring a partnership with the Dover Housing Authority and SOS Recovery to build a Recovery House in Dover, NH. Fair Tide would develop the property, with SOS providing services and the Housing Authority owning the building. We’re thrilled to work with both organizations on this much-needed type of housing.
Additional Development Opportunities
Fair Tide is committed to continuing the momentum of our housing development work and is scouting locations for additional projects. If you have land or property that you are interested in donating or selling to Fair Tide at a deep discount to develop into affordable housing, please reach out to our Director of Housing, Hershey Hirschkop, at hershey@fairtide.org.
Landlord Engagement Initiative
Our Landlord Engagement Initiative (LEI) is an innovative program that builds partnerships with landlords and property owners and incentivizes them to rent to tenants with housing vouchers. Fair Tide is proud to have been at the forefront of this work, rolling out one of the first programs in our region, and helping similar programs launch.
View our Landlord Engagement Initiative page for the full list of landlord incentives and the forms to begin enrollment.
Coupled with Case Management
Households living in properties we own and through our Landlord Engagement Initiative receive ongoing, targeted case management services to assure long-term success. On average, Fair Tide’s case management services have a 90 percent success rate in helping households sustain their housing for at least one year.
Check out all of our supportive services and how we help create a sustainable pathway out of homelessness.