MILBRIDGE, ME — August 3, 2020 was a banner day. The Downeast Tiny House was placed on its foundation. The work and love of many people paid off. Full story, photos, and video coming soon. https://
CHERRYFIELD, ME — “Lee Watrous is our all star volunteer/contractor from Gales Ferry CT,” said Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager Scott Shaw in an email about the Downeast Maine Tiny House Project. “Lee has agreed to help us out with the project,” said Scott. Lee is now working on the tiny house at Assabet Valley Regional High School, finishing and preparing the house for transporting to Milbridge, ME. “Lee also offered to work on the home in Milbridge,” said Scott.
Mission fans may remember Lee Watrous and his volunteer work crew in 2018 when they finished the Final Phase of expanding and modernizing the Weald Bethel Community Center. The finished building included a commercial-grade community kitchen, additional dormitory space for Housing Rehabilitation Program volunteers, new EdGE classroom space, and space for weekly community functions.
And for Lee’s work on making Housing Rehab Program area homes safe and warm, one homeowner said, “Absolutely nothing will stop the progress of a job site when Lee Watrous and crew are volunteering with the Mission’s Housing Rehab Program.”
Downeast Campus Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington called Lee Watrous, “Super Volunteer.”
This is what community looks like.
Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager Scott Shaw
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Earlier this year, Housing Rehabilitation Manager Scott Shaw wrote with a “heavy heart,” a letter to year 2020 Housing Rehab volunteer groups. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Scott said, Maine Seacoast Mission was not providing stay over accommodations for Housing Rehab volunteer groups this season. This year, for safety’s sake, volunteers should stay home, said Scott.
The 2020 Housing Rehab program, however, is still going forward in a modified version. You might say we’ve rebuilt the Housing Rehab program. Temporarily.
Houses and mobile homes in Washington County are often old and hard to heat, especially on limited budgets. Through the Mission’s Housing Rehabilitation program we normally fix or rebuild twenty houses a year. Repairs and renovations range from painting to insulated mobile home skirting to new roofs.
In a normal season, this very worthwhile work is done primarily by our great volunteers from all over the country. This summer, without these traveling volunteers, Housing Rehab is focusing on homeowner applicants who have their own help available — family, friends — to do the home improvement tasks, as well as some local volunteers. Housing Rehab will vet the projects and supply the building materials. We look forward to working with households to make needed improvements to their homes!
CHERRYFIELD, ME — More good news from the Mission’s Housing Rehabilitation Manager Scott Shaw, who sends this job site photo with a County Concrete crew, and this note: “Happy to report the concrete contractors began the four step process last week, and were pouring today appropriately on Veterans Day.”
When completed, this house will belong to a formerly homeless US Military veteran with a disability.
Follow the Downeast Maine Tiny House Project Blog.
From Massachusetts to Milbridge: Collaboration helps secure home for veteran
By Spencer Roberts |
Posted: Tue 5:29 PM, Nov 05, 2019
MILBRIDGE, Maine (WABI) – “To see it drawn on a napkin three years ago and be a dream to being a reality, it’s pretty amazing.”
Scott Shaw is the housing rehab manager for Maine Seacoast Mission. When he looks at this construction zone in Milbridge, he sees the start of a new life for a veteran.
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CHERRYFIELD, ME — Positive news — short and sweet — from Housing Rehabilitation Manager Scott Shaw: “More excitement at the Tiny House site! Well is being drilled today! Moving forward!”
Thank you to Shannon Drilling, Inc. of Machias, Maine.