Penquis

About Penquis

Penquis, Maine’s largest community action agency, was created as a result of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to alleviate and eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty. Penquis is a community development organization, a community housing development organization, and a manufactured housing dealer. Subsidiaries include MaineStream Finance, a CDFI, Penquis Housing, Inc., a for-profit housing development organization, and Penquis Development, Inc., a not-for-profit housing development organization.

With an annual operating budget (including subsidiaries and affiliates) in excess of $70 million and more than 650 employees, Penquis delivers more than 50 programs to assist individuals in becoming safe, healthy, connected, and financially secure. Its wide range of programs and services work together to help individuals and families achieve affordable housing, economic security, reliable transportation, school readiness, and healthy lives.

Penquis provides services statewide but concentrates its efforts in central and eastern Maine. Penquis is the only hoMEworks homebuyer education provider for much of the region and is among the highest performing hoMEworks education providers in the state. It is one of the few providers that offer foreclosure counseling. Penquis is considered a leader in housing development, with a $50+M portfolio and over 300 units developed over 17 years. Subsidiary MaineStream Finance is the only Maine CDFI with a lending focus on single-family homes. Nearly three quarters of the loan portfolio is mortgage lending.

Penquis and its staff have received recognition for quality and leadership. In addition to CEO Hay’s 2017 and 2019 NeighborWorks awards, recent recognition includes a 2018 SBA District Director’s Award (MaineStream Finance), a 2018 Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, and a 2018 Rural Transportation System of the Year Award from the Community Transportation Association of America.