September 2026

Affordable Housing Rises Again in Calais

In the small rural community of Calais, Maine, along the Canadian border, an abandoned rundown property received a new lease on life as much-needed affordable housing for low-income seniors.

The housing, known as St. Croix Apartments, was made possible thanks to a mix of financing from local, state, and federal sources and a grant from FHLBank Boston’s Affordable Housing Program.

In fact, the initiative – which will add 26 new units of housing for income-eligible residents age 62 and older – got a jump start when a $647,000 AHP grant was awarded to Machias Savings Bank in 2019.

“Without the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston funding we would not have been able to get in the door,” for federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), said Tom Michaud, executive director of Sunrise Opportunities, the management agency of the apartment complex.

I think everywhere in Maine is facing some sort of housing shortage, particularly affordable housing. To be able to introduce this number of units in a community that desperately needs it, will have a huge impact.

Michaud explained that St. Croix Apartments was one of 20 projects nationwide selected in 2019 for funding through a specific HUD program designed to expand low-income senior housing. But due to the pandemic, and the skyrocketing construction costs that followed, most of these projects were either stalled or abandoned.

“Even when the situation looked bleak, we never gave up,” said Michaud, explaining that financing from Machias Savings Bank and federal funding support secured by U.S. Senator Susan Collins helped bring together all the pieces.

Added Sean Daye, senior vice president, commercial banking officer at Machias Savings Bank, “I think everywhere in Maine is facing some sort of housing shortage, particularly affordable housing. To be able to introduce this number of units in a community that desperately needs it, will have a huge impact.”

Situated along the St. Croix River, the property previously offered affordable housing. But the federal funding used for the housing expired. By the time Michaud purchased it in 2018, the property had been vacant for at least four years and was in desperate need of repairs.

“To be able to revitalize that property into modernized affordable housing in Calais is just a significant win for everybody,” said Daye.

Today, the property, which includes 20 one-bedroom and 6 two-bedroom apartments for tenants below 50% of the area median income, is designed to be accessible to individuals with mobility or memory issues.

Sunrise Opportunities started accepting applications from interested tenants in August and there’s already a waiting list.

Michaud explained that one of the tenants is a former resident who was displaced when the old property closed.

“Twenty-six units doesn’t sound like a lot. But 26 units of housing in Calais is the equivalent of 260 units in Portland. It’s a big impact for our small rural community,” said Michaud.