The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Pingree Votes With Minority of Democrats Against Tabling Yet Another Measure to Impeach Trump
  • Bowdoin Grad – Likely Next NYC Mayor – Railed Against ‘Zionists’ And ‘White Supremacists’ While In Maine
  • Not on Vacation: New York Man Out on Probation for Bank Robbery Arrested in Maine for Drug Trafficking
  • Trump Makes NATO Chief Call Him ‘Daddy’
  • Local Man Charged in Westbrook Bicycle Theft After Previous Arrest for Stolen Gun
  • Mills Supports Republican Alternative to Red Flag Gun Grab Law as November Ballot Question Looms
  • Troy Jackson Fashions Himself Maine’s Own Zohran Mamdani, Is Jubilant About NYC Socialist’s Win
  • ‘Welcome Aboard the U.S. Border Patrol Express’ – Maine Border Patrol Puts Out Promo Video Showing Deportation Flight Set to Guns N’ Roses
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Wednesday, June 25
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
    • Contact
  • Investigations
    • Data
  • Donate
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » BREAKING: Senator Collins Asks Feds to Investigate MSHA/Avesta Section 8 Issue
News

BREAKING: Senator Collins Asks Feds to Investigate MSHA/Avesta Section 8 Issue

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonDecember 22, 2011No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

The Maine Wire has obtained a copy of a letter sent today by  U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine)  to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, asking for an investigation into the recently-reported failures of a Section 8 inspection program at an affordable housing complex in Norway. MSHA contracted Portland-based Avesta Housing for more than $600,000 to administer the program in four counties. Avesta is run by former MSHA deputy director Dana Totman.

From the letter:

“I am writing to request your assistance in investigating the property inspection and fire code enforcement practices for federally subsidized properties in Oxford County, Maine. I have been contact by the Fire Chief of the Town of Paris, Maine, about serious safety violations in units that receive federal payments under the Section 8 program.

I request your assistance to ensure that federal housing subsidies are not supporting properties that violate either Maine fire safety code or HUD’s Housing Quality Standards. More specifically,  request that you investigate compliance with the NFPA Life Safety code in HUD-subsidized units and that that you audit property inspection and enforcement practices in Oxford County, Maine, to determine how substandard units received federal support.”

Click here to read the entire letter >>

MSHA board member and State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin expressed concern over the delay in response to the problem in Norway. “As a board member of Maine Housing, I’d like to know why the staff learned about problems with the Norway units roughly two years ago, and why we’re only seeing efforts to correct the problem now?”

According to Poliquin, Avesta Housing was paid $619,000 to administer the Section 8 program in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin and Oxford counties. “It doesn’t appear we have been getting our money’s worth.”

More on the Norway issue here.

 

Dale MCCormick MSHA
Previous ArticleMore Questions than Answers in Maine Housing, Avesta Section 8 Inspection Scandal
Next Article Dem Rep: LePage Budget Proposals 'Euthanasia'
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Subscribe to Substack

Related Posts

Pingree Votes With Minority of Democrats Against Tabling Yet Another Measure to Impeach Trump

June 25, 2025

Bowdoin Grad – Likely Next NYC Mayor – Railed Against ‘Zionists’ And ‘White Supremacists’ While In Maine

June 25, 2025

Not on Vacation: New York Man Out on Probation for Bank Robbery Arrested in Maine for Drug Trafficking

June 25, 2025

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Substack
Recent News

Pingree Votes With Minority of Democrats Against Tabling Yet Another Measure to Impeach Trump

June 25, 2025

Bowdoin Grad – Likely Next NYC Mayor – Railed Against ‘Zionists’ And ‘White Supremacists’ While In Maine

June 25, 2025

Not on Vacation: New York Man Out on Probation for Bank Robbery Arrested in Maine for Drug Trafficking

June 25, 2025

Trump Makes NATO Chief Call Him ‘Daddy’

June 25, 2025

Local Man Charged in Westbrook Bicycle Theft After Previous Arrest for Stolen Gun

June 25, 2025
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.