I am a new resident in Augusta, having just graduated with my law degree from the terrific J.D. program at Maine Law School. I moved into an affordable senior housing project run by a nonprofit, Howell House, and was so grateful for this opportunity. I very much appreciate having parking, being on a ground floor and having quiet neighbors while I study for the bar.

This scenario was recently disrupted for me and all my neighbors, most much older and more mobility limited than myself. The nonprofit’s board of directors announced that they would sell our home on the open market, not guaranteeing us either that it would remain a senior complex nor that it would remain affordable. Though the treasurer of the board stated that Howell House was in good financial shape as recently as April, during the summer the house was appraised as being worth $2.3 million, or so I am told.

The residents, who have not been permitted to either see the notes from the board of directors meetings nor attend them, do not know how this could happen. Doesn’t a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation have the fiduciary responsibility to remain true to their mission statement? Isn’t that why they received donations and got a tax break all these years?

We are flummoxed and concerned. I worry for my neighbors who have little ability to pay more, move or make it without the services that were given for free but which we are told will be cut off on Dec. 1. I wonder why we haven’t sought grant-writing assistance in order to make up for any small shortfall the treasurer may have overlooked.

My friends say that the skyrocketing value of land is leading to these types of callous decisions — but you and I both know that shouldn’t be. What can we do, in this affordable housing crisis — to save successful little projects like Howell House from selling the elders down the proverbial river? We need community support to keep Howell House a not-for-profit corporation. Nobody should let senior affordable housing go down without a fight.

Thank you.

Grace Nichols

Augusta