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The newly formed Harpswell Housing Trust now has a nine-member board and at least 18 enthusiastic and talented supporters. (It is not a membership organization). The Housing Trust has completed its bylaws and filed its incorporation papers, and it is preparing its 501(c)(3) application for nonprofit status with the IRS.
The Housing Trust is moving ahead with support from two existing nonprofits in Harpswell — the Holbrook Community Foundation and the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust.
The Holbrook Community Foundation has agreed to become the fiscal sponsor of the Harpswell Housing Trust. This means that until the Housing Trust receives its 501(c)(3) status, the foundation will act as the trust’s fiscal agent.
The Holbrook Community Foundation and the Harpswell Housing Trust are preparing an agreement that will guide the fiscal relationship. Specifically, the Community Foundation will set up a dedicated bank account for the Housing Trust, making it possible for the foundation to collect tax-deductible donations, accept property and make disbursements on the trust’s behalf.
“We played a similar role for other now-established nonprofits to help them get started, including the Harpswell Anchor and Harpswell Aging at Home,” said Peter Griffin, treasurer of the Holbrook Community Foundation. “We look forward to working with the Harpswell Housing Trust to get them launched.”
Mackin Pulsifer, vice president of the Holbrook Community Foundation, added, “Assisting the Harpswell Housing Trust aligns with the Holbrook Community Foundation’s commitment to preserving working waterfronts.”
Matt Newberg, executive director of the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, recently had an introductory meeting with Harpswell Housing Trust President Ellen Glew.
“The meeting was very productive,” Newberg said. “We both feel that the goals of our two organizations are not only compatible, but potentially synergistic, particularly if a project opportunity involves both land conservation and attainable housing. An example of this would be the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust holding a conservation easement to allow for higher-density development on the part of the Housing Trust.”
Newberg will represent the Land Trust as its liaison to the Housing Trust.
The Housing Trust has already received its first cash donation. Anyone interested in providing financial support, whether cash or property, to the Housing Trust should contact either Glew, at eglew@comcast.net, or Treasurer Julie Moulton, at juliemoulton28@gmail.com.
“We are extremely grateful for the initial response and support from the Harpswell nonprofit community and look forward to working together,” Glew said. “In the coming weeks and months, we will be defining and prioritizing the tasks at hand in achieving our mission, which is to create attainable housing for Harpswell residents.”
The Housing Trust is looking at a variety of ways to create opportunities, including adaptive reuse of existing structures; modest-sized, affordable new single-family homes in a clustered setting; or accessory dwelling units that place a second housing unit on an existing property.
The state recently passed legislation, L.D. 1829, as a possible way to alleviate Maine’s housing shortage. Harpswell’s Housing Committee is working with a consultant to see how this new legislation might apply to Harpswell. Brian Hirst, the Housing Trust’s liaison to the Housing Committee, is tracking these developments.
The Harpswell Housing Trust meets on the second Wednesday of each month, usually at the Orr’s Island Schoolhouse. The next meeting is Aug. 12, but because of a scheduling conflict, it will be held at the Great Island Church of the Nazarene.
Please send your email address to eglew@comcast.net to receive the meeting notices and agenda. The Harpswell Housing Trust is a completely open, nonmembership organization that welcomes participation from all Harpswell residents, seasonal or year-round.
