Unlocking Independence: How We’re Bringing High-Tech, Accessible Homes to Maine

At 3i Housing of Maine (3i HoME), we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, autonomy, and real independence. That belief has guided our mission from the start, and today, we’re thrilled to share how that mission is coming to life in a powerful new way.

Recently, WMTW highlighted our Scarborough housing project, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the attention to this work. These aren’t just apartments. They’re the future of independent living for people with disabilities.

Why We Built This Community

In 2025, we launched our Innovation Lab in South Portland. This space is dedicated to developing solutions that meet people where they are. Much of our work is inspired by the lived experiences of our founder, Paul Linet, whose late wife Susan lived with a complex neurological condition. Watching her navigate a world that wasn’t designed for people with disabilities is what drives us every day.

Alongside innovators like Mitch Sturgeon — an engineer, longtime advocate for people with disabilities, who lives with multiple sclerosis, and a board member at 3i HoME — we are designing housing that removes barriers, supports daily living, and restores choice and control.

As we look at our Sturgeon Place project coming to the Town Center at The Downs in Scarborough, this project represents a major milestone for accessible housing in Maine. Some of its key feature include:

• A fully accessible, 51-unit building designed with barrier-free layouts and inclusive features in each apartment

• Integrated assistive technology that will empower residents — from voice-activated lighting and doors to mobility-supportive design and smart-home systems

• Customizable features that support the daily routines and independence of each residence

• A long-term community environment where people can thrive without the fear of institutionalization or losing connections to family

Maine has one of the highest rates of disability in the country, yet less than one percent of U.S. homes are accessible. We are developing housing solutions to challenge that reality — and to model a better path forward.

Our hope is that Sturgeon Place becomes the first of many developments that bring true independence to people with mobility and other physical disabilities.

You Can Help Us Expand This Vision

As we close out the year, we’re inviting our community to support our work to continue developing housing solutions for people with disabilities. Your gift directly fuels housing that promotes independence, supports safety, and honors every person’s right to live on their own terms.

Donate today and help us bring more accessible, tech-enabled homes to Maine!

DONATE

Thank you for championing independence, innovation, and inclusion. Together, we can build a Maine where everyone has a home that supports the life they choose.