$15 Million for Community Housing of Maine McAuley Residence Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $15,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for Community Housing of Maine’s request to expand the McAuley Residence program in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Transitional housing recovery programs offered by Community Housing of Maine are crucial to helping individuals break the cycle of addiction,” said Senator Collins. “As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“This funding would allow a statewide collaborative strategy to bring housing and comprehensive recovery services to women and their children in distant corners of Maine, filling an enormous void, saving lives, and rebuilding families,” said Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine Expansion Cullen Ryan. “Expansion of this proven model, which involves a two-generational trauma-informed approach, will allow people access to vital recovery services and foundational access to housing. We are extremely grateful for Senator Collins’ leadership in ensuring healthcare and housing are available for people in need.”
The McAuley Residence, a two-generational program with housing for families affected by substance use disorder, is currently located in both Cumberland and Penobscot Counties. Funding for this request would allow Community Housing of Maine to expand the program to new locations across the state, including Aroostook, Hancock, Oxford, and York Counties.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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