Energy & Housing

Energy & Housing

Our mission is to help people maintain safe, stable, and energy-efficient homes. Through education, financial assistance, and housing support programs we assist with heating costs, energy conservation and home purchase and repair. 

Provides assistance replacing home heating oil tanks that are at a “high risk” of discharging oil to the environment by leaking or in danger of tipping over, etc. Eligible households must be owner-occupied, single family residences who receive the Home Energy Assistance Program.  

Provides assistance to income-eligible households for heating system improvements such as cleaning, tuning, evaluation, burner retrofit, repair, replacement, or conversion. Priority is given to those in a no-heat situation.  Household must be eligible for HEAP.

The Community Aging in Place Program (CAIP) and Older Adult Home Modification Grant Program (OAHM) objectives are to increase the housing stability of low and moderate-income older adult homeowners in Aroostook by increasing safety, minimizing the maintenance burden, and lengthening the tenure in their homes.  These programs provide services that assist aging single-family homeowners with low-cost high-impact home modifications to make their homes safer.  Typical installations include Grab Bars, Shower Seat, Raised Toilet Seat, Smoke and CO Detectors, Minor Repairs to Steps, Existing Ramps and minor electrical and plumbing repairs. 

Provides assistance to income-eligible households for emergency fuel delivery or an electrical disconnect emergency.  A Household may be eligible for ECIP if a Household member’s health and safety is threatened by an Energy or Life Threatening Crisis and if the Household does not have the financial means to avert the energy crisis.  To qualify for ECIP the household must be below 1/8 tank of oil or about to be disconnected. There are a limited number of ECIP requests that can be fulfilled each day.  If all slots are filled, you will have to call back the next business day to request the ECIP benefit. Household must be eligible for HEAP.

 Provides financial assistance to income and program-eligible households to help address energy costs. HEAP Applications can be filled out online, over-the-phone or in-person. If you would like to fill out an online application go to: MaineHousing ECOS Application

For more information ab0ut the program including income guidelines visit: MaineHousing.org

If you would like to complete an application over-the-phone or in-person call us at 207-764-3721 ext. 1 to schedule an appointment. 

Provides zero percent no payments, deferred/forgivable loans or grants to income-eligible homeowners for home repair, replacement or repair of septic systems, lead hazard reduction, replacement housing, and other essential improvements necessary to permit use by persons with disabilities and energy related repairs and improvements to homes. Service is prioritized to assist those households with the greatest home repair need with consideration given to the elderly and household income.

An 8-hour course on the essentials of successful homeownership to educate both homeowners and those who aspire to own their own home. This course offering is open to the public, registration is required.  

The hoMEworks homebuyer education classes provide an opportunity to learn about the home buying process in a neutral environment. Buyers who have taken home buying classes are more confident when asking questions and making decisions about homeownership and loan products. Education gives buyers the tools they need to avoid predatory lending and possible foreclosure.  

If you are unable to attend a local live class, hoMEworks also has partnered with e-hoME America to offer a fee-based online certification course. Visit the eHome website to register: https://www.ehomeamerica.org/acap 

Completion of a hoMEworks live class or eHomeAmerica online course is acceptable if you’re applying for a MaineHousing mortgage with the Advantage option. If you’re buying a house with your spouse or another person who will legally share the financial responsibility for making mortgage payments, then both of you must complete a class prior to loan closing.  If completing the eHomeAmerica online course, each must obtain their own certificate. 

For more information about or to register for the next available Homebuyer Education class, contact registration at 207-764-3721 Ext. 223 or homebuyeredu@avecmaine.org

Assists HEAP-eligible customers with electric bill payments.  

Norman L. Fournier Place includes The Hope and Prosperity Resource Center and Fournier Place Apartments and is located at 1 Edgemont Drive in Presque Isle, Maine. 

The Hope and Prosperity Resource Center at Fournier Place is a Place with a Purpose. It is a warm, safe, and inviting space to work on goals. Avec Coaches work with individuals and families interested in creating a plan that is customized to their needs. Access to all Avec programs is available to clients working with Avec Coaches including but not limited to housing assistance, health and wellness initiatives, budgeting, education, and employment counseling.  For more information call 207-764-371 or info@avecmaine.org.

If you are interested in the Fournier Place Apartments, complete the application and return it so that we can assess your eligibility for housing. Priority consideration is given to individuals experiencing long-term homelessness, and our tenants receive support from our coaching team to ensure long-term success.

Additionally, we kindly ask that you submit copies of each household member’s Social Security card and birth certificate along with your application for processing. Please provide these documents at your earliest convenience.

We appreciate your interest in our Fournier Place housing services. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 207-764-3721 or info@avecmaine.org. 

Mail completed applications to:

Avec Attn: Norman L. Fournier Housing

771 Main Street

Presque Isle, ME 04769

Email completed applications to:

info@avecmaine.org

 

Provides a comprehensive Energy Audit by BPI Certified Energy Auditors to determine the best approach to reduce heating cost of your home.  Energy Conservation Measures may include air sealing, wall and attic insulation, basement wall insulation, weather stripping and caulking. Improvements may also include moisture controls and health and safety measures.  Eligible Applicants for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and whose income is below 200% of poverty guidelines are placed on our Weatherization wait list when certified for HEAP. Households are ranked by the following factors; households with senior citizens (over 60), children age six or under, a person with disability, fuel usage costs and poverty level.  

Are you interested in becoming a qualified contractor for any of these programs? If so, please fill out the contractor application and review the requirements. Contractors are needed for the following programs: 

  • Home Accessibility and Repair
  • Weatherization
  • Home Heating Improvements

MaineHousing Contractor Info Brochure

Contractor Application

Questions regarding becoming a Qualified Contractor contact: info@acap-me.org or call 764-3721.

For decades we were ACAP, Aroostook County Action Program. The name said where we worked and what we did, and for a long time it fit. Just over a year ago, things changed. When longtime services in Washington and Hancock counties were at risk we partnered so that families there wouldn’t be left without help, and our reach grew. A name rooted in one county could no longer hold all the places we now call home.