About us
Islesboro’s IAP is the oldest functioning affordable housing program on the midcoast islands. It was founded in response to widespread recognition of the problem of affordable housing on Islesboro, noted in successive town planning documents. Island resident Steve Miller was an early proponent and the first director. The organization was incorporated and designated as a Nonprofit 501(c)3) in 1989. IAP’s mission and purpose has remained consistent throughout the years: ‘To create and provide housing that is affordable for full-time residents of Islesboro thereby contributing to the maintenance of a vibrant and active year-round community’.
The first project was the construction of the Ruthie James subdivision, a group of owner-built houses on land purchased at a favorable price from the Ruth James estate. Many board members and volunteers from the community collaborated in funding, sourcing and physically building those houses. Two of those first eight houses are still occupied by their original owners.
Over the ensuing years, additional homes were built or purchased and renovated with partial support by grants from Maine Housing Association as well as private individuals or foundations. Land was donated by the town, private individuals or purchased affordably. Some homes were sold back to IAP and are currently rented, others were built to rent. All remain within the affordable range and covenants restrict the sale prices.
The Mission of Islesboro Affordable Property (IAP) is to help in the maintenance and growth of Islesboro as a vital and successful year round community.
Our program, to carry out that mission, is to do all that we can to ensure that affordable, good housing is permanently available for families and individuals who live and work in Islesboro year-round. We support residents who participate (or will participate) in community activities, and whose work is an essential part of day-to-day life on Islesboro.
IAP builds houses for sale or rent. We monitor the private real estate market. We raise funds from private and public sources to underwrite our program.