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BOSTON — The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (the Bank) awarded more than $3.6 million to fund 92 units of affordable rental housing in Alfred, Bath, Scarborough, and Veazie, Maine. More than $1.6 million is in the form of a grant or advance subsidy. In all, 15 initiatives in New England received almost $15.0 million in grants, loans, and rate subsidies as part of the Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) to create or preserve 449 rental and ownership units for very low-, low-, and moderate-income individuals and families.

Each year, the Bank sets aside 10 percent of its net profits to provide grants and subsidized, below market-rate loans through the AHP. “The AHP is an important way the Bank, our members, and local sponsors address the need for safe, decent affordable housing in New England,” said Michael A. Jessee, the Bank’s president and chief executive officer. “This round’s funds will help diverse population groups, including the elderly, the homeless, and the disabled.”

AHP funds are used to create or preserve affordable housing and help pay construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation costs. Member financial institutions work with local developers to apply for AHP funding, awarded twice a year through a competitive scoring process. The application deadline for the first round of next year’s AHP awards is April 27, 2007.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (www.fhlbboston.com) is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing finance in the six New England states. Its mission is to support the residential-mortgage and community-development lending activities of its members, which include over 460 financial institutions across New England. To accomplish its mission, the Bank utilizes private-sector capital to provide members and other qualified customers with reliable access to low-cost wholesale funds, liquidity, a competitive outlet for the sale of loans, special lending programs, technical assistance, and other products and services.

Information on the awards follows, and is also available at www.fhlbboston.com/ahp. For more information, see our backgrounder.

The Awards

	Location:	Alfred, Maine
	Member:	Kennebunk Savings Bank
	Sponsor:	York County Shelters
	Units:	8 rental units
	Subsidy:	$50,000 grant
	Shaker Hill Housing
	New construction of eight single-room-occupancy units for very low-income individuals with mental illness, substance-abuse problems, or other disabilities that have contributed to repeated episodes of homelessness. Residents will benefit from extensive supportive services including financial planning, transportation, participation on the residents’ council, and the ability to participate on the sponsor’s board of directors. This initiative incorporates numerous high-performance, energy-efficient design and construction elements, and contributes to community-organizing activities. The Brothers of Christian Instruction donated the land through a 30-year ground-lease. Kennebunk Savings Bank is providing permanent debt, and a right of first refusal will ensure continuance of use as affordable housing. Approved in Round Two of the 2006 AHP.

	Location:	Bath, Maine
	Member:	Bath Savings Institution
	Sponsor:	Tedford Shelter
	Units:	6 rental units
	Subsidy:	$358,000 grant
	Evergreen Woods
	New construction of six units of permanent rental housing for very low-income, chronically homeless families. The property will be comprised of three three-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments. All residents will benefit from extensive services and activities including financial planning, employment training, participation on the residents’ council, and the opportunity to participate on the sponsor’s board of directors. This initiative reuses previously developed land, is accessible to public transportation, incorporates numerous high-performance, energy-efficient elements, and contributes to community-organizing activities. In addition to the AHP direct subsidy, Bath Savings Institution is providing construction financing and a $10,000 grant. Other funding includes grants from HUD, the Maine State Housing Authority, and owner equity. Approved in Round Two of the 2006 AHP.

	Location:	Scarborough, Maine
	Member:	TD Banknorth, N.A.
	Sponsor:	Housing Initiatives of New England
	Units:	54 rental units
	Subsidy:	$798,514 grant and subsidy, $1,890,000 advance
	Bessey Commons Senior Housing
	Acquisition and adaptive reuse of the former Bessey School to create 14 apartments for the elderly. Forty additional apartments for the elderly will be created in a new building linked to and compatible with the historic school structure. Thirty-three units will be designated for very low-income households and 21 units will be targeted to low-income households. Residents will have the opportunity to participate in educational programs, on the residents’ council, and the sponsor’s board of directors. This initiative also incorporates high-performance, energy-efficient design and construction. The Town of Scarborough donated the property. TD Banknorth, N.A. is providing construction financing and an AHP-subsidized advance for permanent financing. Additional funding includes HOME funds, Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, and owner equity. Approved in Round Two of the 2006 AHP.

	Location:	Veazie, Maine
	Member:	Merrill Merchants Bank
	Sponsor:	Penquis Community Action Program, Inc.
	Units:	24 rental units
	Subsidy:	$436,798 grant and subsidy, $100,000 advance
	Veazie Village Senior Housing
	Construction of a 24-unit elderly development consisting of 20 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units targeting 15 very low-income and nine low-income elders. The development will be built in accordance with the Maine State Housing Authority’s green-building standards. Supportive services include transportation, financial literacy and planning, and the establishment of a residents’ council. Sources of funding include Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Maine State Housing Authority Capital Subsidy Loan, and use of Maine’s Tax Increment Financing District law, whereby the Town of Veazie will set up a Tax Increment Financing District and return to the project 100 percent of annual real estate taxes for up to 30 years. Approved in Round Two of the 2006 AHP.