Freeport Project

The Green Bean

The Green Bean house is the frame of a house that was donated to

Habitat by LL Bean in 2008 and then moved to the West Street site

onto a piece of land donated by the Town of Freeport. 

In a true green fashion, the house is being recycled and will be

rebuilt to green standards that will make it highly energy efficient. 

Habitat has recently started work on the home and welcomes the

support of the community in the effort.

Our goal is to raise $130,000 of both cash and in-kind donations

in order to complete deconstruction and full renovations. Thus far,

$20,000 has been donated for the work, Royal River completed

the survey, Taggart Construction drafted architectural drawings, 

and Newman Concrete and Standard ICF teamed up to pour the

foundation.

Almost Home

Mikki and her young son Eli

will be the proud residents of

12 West Street in Freeport

As a selected Habitat homebuyer, Mikki will be required to volunteer

more than 250 hours working on Habitat homebuilding projects

including her own home. In addition, she must  complete homeowner

education classes in first timehome buying, financial literacy,

and home maintenance. 

Project History

In the spring of 2008, L.L. Bean donated a 26x32 cape-style house,

which we then deconstructed.  During the late summer we moved the

home to a lot on West Street donated by the Town of Freeport.

The Town of Freeport enlisted the help of Habitat for Humanity of Greater

Portland for our experience in providing homeownership for qualified,

low-income, working families. We also have the infrastructure in place to

build or renovate safe, affordable homes at a reduced cost due to the level

of in-kind donations we receive along with the support of nearly 800 volunteers.

Habitat will also use this opportunity to greatly increase the energy efficiency

of the home, thereby reducing future utility bills.

This will be the third Habitat home in the Freeport community.  The first two

projects in Freeport were new construction homes, completed in partnership

with the Freeport Housing Trust.

Recycling a home is an innovative and cost effective way to not only improve

the life of one chosen family and families that live in the home in the future,

but it uplifts the entire community as neighbors help neighbors through

volunteerism and community support. We’ve often seen property values go up

once a Habitat house is in place, but most importantly hundreds of people in

town become part of the solution to the affordable housing crisis and they receive

the precious reward of giving to a family in need.    

If you would like to volunteer with the construction of this project,

please email our Volunteer Manager.

Click here to donate in-kind materials.

Donate funds to support this project.

Maine Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)

present check for more than $5,000 to support Freeport Build

On Wednesday, March 4th, the Maine Chapter of the National Association

of Women in Construction (NAWIC), presented a check for over $5,000 to the

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. The money will help build the Habitat

our home currently under construction on West Street in Freeport, where the

presentation took place.  This donation was one of the events planned by the

Chapter in conjunction with NAWIC celebration of Women in Construction

Week in Maine March 1-7. Members of the Maine Chapter also plan to donate

time this summer on the construction of this project.

On hand for the presentation by Chapter President Joyce Newman (Maine Better

Transportation Association, was Kathie Stevenson of the Maine Chapter and

members of the former Southern Maine, Angela LeVasseur (CPM Constructors),

Patricia Adriance (East Coast Construction Management Co.), Catherine

MacDonald, CIT, LEED AP, Patricia Mahoney (AD&W), Heidi Rodzen (Skillings

Shaw & Associates), and Sharon Martel (Ohio Casualty Bond).and current

NAWIC Maine chapter members who raised the money.  George M. Ellis,

Development Director accepted the gift on behalf of Habitat for Humanity

of Greater Portland

The Maine Chapter will be celebrating their 30th anniversary in August. 

For more than 50 years, NAWIC has helped women take advantage of the

opportunities in construction, enabling members to embark on a new career,

establish a networking base or engage in public service, be a mentor/mentee,

or pursue higher education.

Founded in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1955, NAWIC is an international Association

serving upwards of  5,500 members in approximately 160 chapters across

the United States. NAWIC also has international affiliates in Australia, Canada,

New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.  For more information and

membership information, go to www.NAWICMaine.org.