Equality Commons

Equality Commons is really starting to come together! We’ve just finished the punch list walk through inspections of the 5th and 4th floors. We’re about eight weeks out from being ready to welcome our first residents to their new home! 🏠🌈🤞🏻

Calling all local coffee shop/cafe dreams ☕🏳️‍🌈 We’re looking for a small business entrepreneur to open a café, coffee shop, or deli at @equalitycommons (25 Casco St)! ✨ 627± SF retail space ✨ High foot traffic in downtown Portland ✨ Outdoor patio potential ✨ Located in a vibrant 55+ LGBTQ and ally community (opening June 2026) ✨ $165K available for buildout This is your chance to create a welcoming community hub right in the heart of it all 💛 📍 Available June 2026 📩 Contact Nate Roop or Craig Young at @theboulosco for details 👉 Tag someone who should jump on this! #PortlandMaine #MaineSmallBusiness #CafeForLease #LGBTQCommunity #QueerOwned SupportLocal CoffeeShopDreams RetailOpportunity

HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to tour Equality Commons! 💖 It was so exciting to see how much the building has progressed already! Just a few more months until it’s all ready and we cannot WAIT 🤩 More exciting updates coming soon, so stay tuned!

🏳️‍🌈🪩ANNOUNCEMENT - Category is… QUEER JOY 🪩🏳️‍⚧️ The Equality Community Center is bringing our annual Pride fundraiser, The Big Gay Dance Party, BACK with our partners @statetheatreportland and @coast931 , and this year it’s going to be bigger and more queer than ever! This June during @prideportlandmaine weekend, we’re teaming up with @crown_and_chaos to host the night! Local drag icons @finngerring and @t4t_rexx are taking the lead and turning it out with a lineup of incredible local trans and BIPOC performers. Every dollar raised supports the ECC as we prepare to open @equalitycommons this summer: Maine’s first LGBTQ-affirming affordable senior housing living community! 🎉 Saturday, June 20 📍 State Theatre, Portland ⏰ 7pm-12am 💋 TO BE ANNOUNCED - our VERY special guest from the current season @rupaulsdragrace 🎧 Music by Maine’s very own @melthebritish + special guest DJ from Chicago 🪩 Ages 18+ 🤟 ASL interpreted ✨ Early Bird tickets are ON SALE NOW for $20 (through 5/1) 🥂 VIP Experience available including meet & greet with our Drag Race guest + access to a private bar and lounge Full lineup and more surprises coming soon 👀 This is your night to show up, show out, and celebrate queer joy together 💖 Buy your early bird tickets now! Link in ECC bio 🔗 #biggaydanceparty #queerjoy #pride2026 #LGBTQpride #portlandmainepride

There’s still time to apply to work with us! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ The ECC is hiring a full-time Program Director to lead our programming efforts at an exciting time of growth, including the upcoming opening of our affordable senior housing community, @equalitycommons We’re looking for someone who: 🏢 Has professional experience in nonprofit, higher ed, or social services 🛠️ Has hands-on experience developing and evaluating programs for diverse communities 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Has worked with LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and/or other marginalized populations 💖 Is passionate about expanding community care for those who need it most If this sounds like you, apply today! 🗓️ Application review begins this Monday, March 23, but the application window will remain open until someone is hired. Learn more at eccmaine.org/jobs (link in bio) 🔗 ✨ A note on applying: Research shows that BIPOC folks and others from marginalized communities often won’t apply unless they meet every single qualification. If this role speaks to you, we want to hear from you, even if you don’t check every box! Lived experience matters here.

I spy siding! Check out that burnt orange and charcoal gray! 🧡🖤 #equalitycommons #affordablehousing #portland #maine

ATTENTION: Equality Commons Interest List members - Applications are now being accepted through November 30th! Portland Housing Authority will serve as our building management company and will conduct all business for the Equality Commons, including overseeing the application, selection, assignment and lease processes. The application process timeline is as follows: -Last week of October: All people on the Interest List notified. -November 1-30, 2025: Applications accepted from people on the Interest List. -Mid-December 2025: Lottery drawing from completed applications to assign placement on the Waiting List. -January 1, 2026: Applications will open to the general public and will be placed on the Waiting List in the order they are received (by date and time). More info available online at: /housing

Join us tomorrow at the ECC with our friends at @pflag_portland_maine and @mainetransnet to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance. If you can, we’d deeply appreciate a contribution to our Friendsgiving Food Drive. #tdor2025 #saytheirnames #translivesmatter🏳️‍⚧️

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope. It’s the crane installing the roof on Equality Commons! Look closely….the front wheels are in the air! Lots of exciting things happening as we hurry to get the building sealed for winter! #equalitycommons #seniorhousing #affordablehousing #portland #maine #lgbtqolderadults

🔔🚨Last call for the Equality Commons interest list!🔔🚨 Construction is moving fast and we’re on schedule to open next summer. That means we’re gearing up to start our pre-application process!📋 Not on the interest list? Sign up today! (Link in bio) Already on the interest list? Hold tight...more info is on the way! Our housing management company, Portland Housing Authority, will be sending out info about our selection process at the end of the month. ~*~*~*~ As a reminder, Equality Commons is a 54-unit affordable senior housing community being built adjacent to the ECC at 25 Casco Street! It will feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units with community spaces and supportive services and programs for LGBTQ+ older adults. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ #affordablehousing #seniorhousing #lgbtq #portlandmaine

Did someone say 4th floor?!? Holy cow this is so cool! 🏳️‍🌈😱🏳️‍⚧️ @equalitycommons is opening NEXT summer. #affordablehousing #seniorhousing #lgbtq #portlandmaine