Commonsense Housing, Inc.

In the fall of 1978 Penobscot Area Housing Corporation (PAHDC) a nonprofit housing corporation committed to developing low income housing was approached by a local professionals from the Bureau of Mental Retardation, day programs, and other community representatives to develop community group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities and emotional health issues.

PAHDC assembled a Special Committee to work with community representatives to develop the homes. It was intended once the homes had been established, this Committee would incorporate and assume responsibility for managing these new homes.

In January of 1979 the Committee found a home in Brewer, Maine which met the needs of the individuals with intellectual disabilities. While work on securing the house progressed, the local community expressed concerns with the development of the home. These concerns deteriorated into a climate of fear and misunderstanding. A neighborhood informational meeting schedule for April 10, 1979 was boycotted and protested by community members.
In April of 1979 a Certificate of Occupancy was denied by the City of Brewer. Legal briefs were filed by both sides and following a hearing in May of 1979 the appeal was turned down by the City of Brewer. While a new home was purchased in Brewer, the Committee felt that they may be tied in court for years, so a new search was initiated.

In September, 1979 a closing occurred on a new property in Eddington, Maine. A local contractor was hired to renovate the home, and on December 10, 1979 Eddington House opened with its first residents arriving from Pineland Center and Bangor .Mental Health, and Commonsense Housing, was “born”.

Since that time we have continue to grow, offering community homes to individuals with developmental disabilities. While services continue to change, we have stayed the course and continue following our mission …to within community settings provide safe, supervised, comfortable environment, in which to teach, support, and empower adults with developmental disabilities to actualize their fullest potential.