The Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, a local non-profit organization of rental housing property owners from across the region, recently initiated their new charitable foundation with a group of volunteer events. The philanthropic arm of the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, the RHA Foundation partnered with Hope Acts and Furniture Friends for two days of volunteer opportunities.
The RHA Foundation first held a painting event with Hope Acts, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and resources to support immigrants transitioning to life in Greater Portland. On October 10th, volunteers from the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine spent the morning painting and touching up the interior of various spaces at the Hope Acts office on 14 Sherman Street in Portland, ME.
“Hope Acts is a nonprofit organization that provides support to new asylum seekers, and we house 13 people at Hope House,” explained Martha Stein, Executive Director of Hope Acts. “Thank you to the RHA members who spent a day painting our office. Considering how busy rental housing providers are, the fact that those RHA members took time out of their very busy lives to brighten our space means the world to us. As a landlord, I am looking forward to joining RHA in the near future. Thank you!”
Following their first volunteer event, the RHA Foundation hosted a second event with Furniture Friends, a nonprofit organization that provides donated furniture to people in need throughout Greater Portland. On October 15th, RHA volunteers assisted the organization with moving and organizing furniture donations at their warehouse in Westbrook, ME.
“Furniture Friends is grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine,"said Jenn McAdoo, Executive Director at Furniture Friends. “Landlords, better than most, understand the desire that all people have to create a home that is safe, affordable and offers some degree of comfort. Additionally, they are on the front lines of the affordable housing crisis in Maine and see how tenants are negatively impacted by current economic pressures, so we were thrilled to have a group volunteer with us. The volunteers demonstrated a keen awareness of the clients we serve but also lent their energy, enthusiasm and muscle to help several families receive the essential household furniture they needed to make their apartments feel more like home. Thank you, RHA! We look forward to more opportunities to work together in the future.”
The RHA Foundation is the affiliated charitable arm of the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine. Founded to strengthen southern Maine’s housing opportunities and to improve the quality of life for underprivileged members of the community, the RHA Foundation works closely with groups that address issues of housing insecurity and homelessness. The RHA Foundation augments the organization’s continued philanthropic work through partnerships with local nonprofits, volunteer events, fundraising initiatives, and generating outreach and awareness.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue our longstanding community outreach efforts through the work of our RHA Foundation,” said Brit Vitalius, President of the RHA. “As a group of rental housing providers, we deeply understand the impact of quality housing and the importance of having a place to call home. The RHA Foundation will bring our industry closer together, supporting nonprofits that serve our local communities across southern Maine. We look forward to our next roster of volunteer opportunities andthe future of the RHA Foundation.”
