Parish House in Bar Harbor

The Parish House: A Long Road with Many Partners

The renovated historic building in Bar Harbor has opened its doors to residents

Bar Harbor, Maine: Local Solutions and Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) have partnered with Volunteers of America Northern New England to provide supportive permanent housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Local Solutions, a group of parents and concerned citizens from Mount Desert Island, began working in 2011 to create housing where people with special needs on Mount Desert Island would flourish.

In 2013 St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church offered to donate their historic Parish House to the group to be renovated into housing. A chance meeting with the director of Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) of Portland led to a partnership that made this project possible.

While Local Solutions raised revenues locally for this project, CHOM, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, undertook the bulk of the fundraising. Funding is being provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program, and through a significant investment in the project by Camden National Bank and Community Housing of Maine.

The Parish House building has been developed into six one bedroom apartments, staff space, common kitchen and community space. The MDI Housing Authority has been instrumental in securing six project-based Section 8 housing vouchers. “This project is the culmination of years of dedication, collaboration, and hard work on the part of all involved project partners, funders, and the Mount Desert Island community,” said Erin Cooperrider, Community Housing of Maine’s Development Director.

Ms. Cooperrider continued, “Parish House was designed and developed to be an inclusive community, where people will have the opportunity to live, thrive, and be active participants in the Bar Harbor community.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) introduced Volunteers of America to Local Solutions. With many years of experience staffing and administering developmental and behavioral health programs, Volunteers of America is an ideal partner. Volunteers of America has developed a model of care for the Parish House that emphasizes health and wellness, engagement with community, and fosters a nurturing environment. "We are very happy to be partnering with organizations that are working hard to build a bright future for their community." said June Koegel, Volunteers of America President/CEO