Photo: Steven Bridges
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, we celebrated the grand opening of Equality Commons, and what a memorable day it was! This has been a dream held by the ECC's four founders since the very beginning, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house that brought our community together to mark this historic moment.
Photo: Steven Bridges
We were honored to hear remarks from Portland Mayor Mark Dion, Frannie Peabody Center Executive Director Katie Rutherford, future Equality Commons resident Erica, and several other community members who helped make this project possible, before cutting the ribbon on Maine's first affordable senior housing community with programs and services for LGBTQ+ older adults.
The 54-unit housing community will be next door to ECC's new offerings including more community meals, wellness sessions designed for older adults, intergenerational programming and much more.
As ECC Board Member Theo Greene shared, "LGBTQ+ older adults having this sense of community and having the opportunity to be around central amenities and programming is really important, particularly in this political moment."
None of this would have been possible without so many people and organizations who believed in this project from the very beginning.
Photo: Steven Bridges
Thank you to Ryan Senatore for designing a building that beautifully reflects the brick red, historic character that defines downtown Portland. To Penobscot General Contractors, who built it with such care and precision. Developers Collaborative masterfully guided this project from vision to reality. Thank you to Portland Housing Authority for stepping in to manage the property and support our residents for years to come. The City of Portland and Portland City Council were true partners throughout this process, and we thank them for their continued support. MaineHousing believed in this project enough to make it one of just a handful selected for funding statewide, and that belief is a huge part of why Equality Commons exists today. We are so grateful to TD Bank's Evernorth Fund and the Genesis Community Loan Fund for putting their name and their money behind this project when so many companies are backing away from connected to the LGBTQ+ community. And thank you to the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for your generous grant, which will help make Equality Commons safer and more comfortable for residents for years to come. We are endlessly grateful to each and every one of them.
Residents will begin moving in over the coming days, and leasing and applications remain open for anyone interested in calling Equality Commons home.
We can't wait to welcome our new neighbors home!
