AREA — Like many other places in Maine and beyond, affordable, inspired housing is in very short supply in the western foothills. In recent years many people, young and old, have been attracted to the Norway/South Paris area for its thriving Main Street, arts and culture, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities, but often end up leaving the area for lack of a safe, affordable place to live.

Western Foothills community members, in partnership with the Center for an Ecology Based Economy’s (CEBE) Shelter Working Group, have begun meeting to envision, plan and build affordable, cooperative, sustainable housing options in Norway, Maine. Discussions so far have included everything from Main Street live/work spaces and downtown multi-family dwellings, to tiny houses and ecovillages on the outskirts of town.

This is an open call to locals and folks further afield with interest and ideas, to meet at CEBE, virtually or in person, on Thursday, August 12 from 7- 9 p.m. We will be building an inter-generational core group to define our cooperative structure and manage the project, along with a larger support group to call on for guidance as this project develops.

We welcome anyone who is interested in living cooperatively, or in simply supporting cooperative living. If you have time, interest, resources, or expertise in budgeting, real estate development, grant writing, Indigenous land rights, farming and gardening, green energy, or building and design, please consider joining our team. To build and sustain a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community and a thriving local economy will demand innovative housing solutions. With a progressive housing bill just passed and funded in the state legislature and a group of committed locals on board, now is the time to act on this critical issue for our community.

For more information, call (207) 739-2101, visit ecologybasedeconomy.org, or email [email protected]. If you aren’t able to make it to this meeting but would like to indicate your interest and stay updated, fill out our online form on our website or at: forms.gle/WYRTiaetBgnJnpRs8.