Florence House Explained

Florence House is a 3 story building in Portland, Maine, United States, named after Florence Young "a social worker who spent more than 20 years working at Preble Street."^[1]

The building was created to help end homelessness. Florence House is based on the Housing First model, a strategy to help move women from homelessness to a permanent supportive home environment.

Florence House can house 50 or more former homeless women. The building includes 25 efficiency apartments, a safe-haven area with 15 semi-private spaces and 10 to 25 emergency shelter beds ^[2]

The $7.9 million facility was completed on April 6, 2009.^[3] It was developed by Preble Street and Avesta Housing^[4] and received state and federal funding^[5] as well as private contributions.

The opening in April, 2009 (five years after the project started) was attended by Maine Governor John Baldacci, Shaun Donovan (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development — HUD),^[6] Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator Susan Collins, Representative Chellie Pingree, and other dignitaries.

Sources

• Florence House Gives Homeless Women a Second Chance Maine Insights, August 27, 2010.

External links

• Avesta Housing
• Preble Street

43.6505°N -70.2781°W

Notes and References

1. Florence Young Housing for Homeless Women In Portland, Preble Street Resources.
2. Anne Mostue, New Housing Project Aims to Open Doors for Portland's Homeless Women, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, June 4, 2010.
3. John Richardson, Florence House to Open Doors for Homeless Women, Portland Press Herald, April 5, 2010.
4. http://www.avestahousing.org/ Avesta Housing
5. Maine State Housing Authority Funding News.
6. http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/speeches_remarks_statements/2010/Speech_06042010a Prepared Remarks for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan at the Florence House Grand Opening