Cabin in the Woods Community is the first project of its kind in the state of Maine, and the only program in Maine that will offer permanent housing for homeless male and female veterans, as well as their families. There are 16 one-bedroom 700 square-foot cabins and five two-bedroom 700-square-foot cabins.
21 veterans and their families can finally say “we are home” as Cabin in the Woods opens its doors and offers peace of mind to residents. After serving our country, our veterans deserve more than just a thank you, they deserve a home and a community that will fight for them the way they have fought for us, and now they have just that.
Cabin in the Woods Community is the first project of its kind in the state of Maine, and the only program in Maine that will offer permanent housing for homeless male and female veterans, as well as their families.
The cabins have been built on 11 wooded acres on the grounds of Togus VA Medical Center in Chelsea, Maine and are within walking distance of services.
There are 16 one-bedroom 550 square-foot cabins and five two-bedroom 700-square-foot cabins, as well as one cabin for office and community space. Special attention was given to maintaining a rustic, wooded private setting for each of the cabins.
“I tell you what, this is incredible,” said Tim Buckmore , a former homeless vet and now new community member at Cabin in the Woods. “They need to spend more money on programs like this. I’m so grateful for the privacy and the quietness and how easy it is to get to my appointments. Plus the people who made this happen for me have been so helpful and nice. This is a great investment if veterans and I think it’s long overdue.”
The program has an emphasis on family reunification and employment, Cabin in the Woods will work with many local, regional, state and federal agencies to meet the needs of veterans and their families.
The $4.2 million development cost of the project will be funded primarily by Maine Housing Tax Credit Allocation. Our work continues with Maine Housing to finalize the timeline and construction documents. We have partnered with the Veterans Administration to secure a 75 year lease on the land and the Home Depot Foundation is generously funding a portion of the cabin construction costs.
The land for the Cabin in the Woods development was acquired through the Department of Veterans Affairs Enhanced Use Lease Program, where the VA leases underutilized real estate to the private sector for the purpose of developing housing for homeless veterans.
If you are interested in contributing to Cabin in the Woods please contact Michael Coon at (207) 373-1140.
Our Partners
Cabin in the Woods is a collaborative project led by Volunteers of America Northern New England with:
- Bangor Savings Bank
- Community Development Services
- Doree Taylor Charitable Fund
- Home Depot Foundation
- Housing Ministries of New England
- Jane’s Trust
- Langford & Low
- Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
- Maine State Housing Authority
- Northern New England Housing Investment Fund
- Robert Foster Architecture
- TD Charitable Foundation
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development
- US Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA Maine Healthcare System
Media Kit
Thank you for visiting the Cabin in the Woods media kit where you can find information about Cabin in the Woods and other facts about the organization. For all inquiries, please email info@voanne.org or call (207) 373-1140.
How You Can Help CITW
Buy a Brick
Brick Sizes and Specifications:
• 4″X 8″ Bricks with artwork: 3 lines; 18 characters or spaces per line (image on right or left side)
• 4″X 8″ Bricks, text only: 4 lines max; 18 characters or spaces per line
• 8″X 8″ Bricks with artwork: 6 lines; 18 characters or spaces per line (image on top, bottom, left or right)
• 8″x 8″ Bricks, text only: 8 lines max, 18 characters or spaces per line
Symbols are available for an additional $10. Please note that any symbols under the “Medals/Nationals” category can only fit on 8×8 bricks. Placement of the symbol must be specified in the “additional comments” section.
Click here to place your order online or you can also download a printable brochure here. Please contact Erica Koch at erica.koch@voanne.org or (207) 373-1140 x206 with any questions.
Sponsor a Bench for a Veteran
Provide a veteran a place to relax
Each bench measures 48 x 19 x 35 inches and is ready to stand up to a long Maine winter with the water-, and moisture-repelling properties of teak! If you choose, you may design an engraved plaque honoring a loved one, or greeting the veterans who live in the community. The engraved brass plaque can have up to three lines of text with 30 characters on each line.
Each bench is $1,000 and is considered a tax-deductible donation.
Please contact Erica Koch at erica.koch@voanne.org or (207) 373-1140 x206 with any questions or to place your order. You can also download a printable brochure here.