Maine Housing Champions

Portland Housing Champions

Deb Ibonwa

Deb Ibonwa is an attorney at Maine Equal Justice, focusing on immigrant rights to resources, including housing and legal services. QHC relies on Deb’s expertise with many housing policies and strategies to navigate clients successfully. Her life experiences as a refugee gives her a unique perspective in the legal sector. “I understand the various impacts one can experience depending on status,” she told lawmakers in August, which is why she is so successful in her work.

Aaron Geyer

Aaron Geyer is the Director of Social Services for Portland, where he has overseen the delivery of more essential needs funding for food, medications, and housing for the lowest income households experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness than the City has ever seen. A true Project HOME partner, Aaron and his team ensure that the process for accessing resources is as smooth as possible for all those eligible for services.

Shauna Dineen

Shauna Dineen is a Regional Property Manager at Port Property. As leader of the property management team, she is an incredible Project HOME partner who works hard to make sure Project HOME residents are successful in their housing. Grounded in integrity, respect, and deep compassion for the people she works with, Shauna is a shining star in property management.

Westbrook Housing Champions

Amanda Atkinson Lewis

Amanda Atkinson Lewis is the Equity Resource Coordinator for Westbrook Schools and a facilitator with One Westbrook, a Community Collaborative Group dedicated to bringing Schools, City, Public Safety, and Residents together to provide a space for Community Education and Conversation, identifying community needs, and providing solutions-based advocacy. A social worker by trade and a justice warrior by nature, Amanda has been building bridges in Westbrook between all stakeholders to make sure that Westbrook prioritizes the needs of students and families experiencing homelessness.

Liz Eisele McLellan

Liz Eisele McLellan is a pivotal equity strategist and project advisor in Westbrook, channeling her passions for marketing, community wellness, and social justice to improve the quality of life of those around her. Most notably, she led the City's inaugural Juneteenth Commemoration in 2022 and is the co-chair and creator of the Westbrook Community Housing Coalition. The coalition’s mission is to increase community accountability to neighbors impacted by the local housing crisis.

Freeport Housing Champions

Amy Cartmell

Amy Cartmell is the leader of Cartmell & Associates at Keller Williams, the Vice President of the Freeport Housing Trust Board, a Project HOME landlord, and proud to work with FHT, "a community-based charitable organization whose mission is to provide safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities to the lower and moderate-income households of Freeport, Maine" to help ensure that the folks who work and retire in the town are able to live and remain here. 

Leanne Barschdorf Nichols

Leanne Barschdorf Nichols is a founding principal of Keller Williams Realty, past President and member of Maine Listings and The Greater Portland Board of Realtors, member of the Maine Association of Realtors Board of Directors, Freeport Economic Development Corporation, and was recently appointed to the Maine Real Estate Commission by Governor Janet Mills. She works hard to make sure that new immigrants seeking asylum in Maine have access to a safe and affordable home. 

Lewiston Housing Champion

Elaine Brackett

Elaine Brackett is the Lewiston Social Services Director with lived experience with housing and financial insecurity as a child. She brings compassion and 30+ years of expertise in social services. She never gives up on anyone as she works with every client to achieve positive outcomes. “Everyone has a story, and when I meet with clients, it’s important to focus on their potential. Not only do I want to assist with their immediate need, but also want to embrace them and get to know them.”

South Portland Housing Champions

Mike Hulsey

Mike Hulsey is the Executive Director of the South Portland Housing Authority. Mike has used his housing and financial expertise to increase affordable housing by 40% in South Portland during his tenure. As an innovator in the housing field, Mike partnered closely with QHC to create our housing navigation efforts and pilot Maine’s first risk mitigation fund. Mike strongly believes that communities can withstand challenges if they work together towards a common goal.

Leanna Bruce

Leanna Bruce is the Director of Housing Programs at South Portland Housing Authority. Leanna currently oversees 777 housing units owned and/or managed by SPHA, 488 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the SPHA Housing Navigator Pilot Program. She has over 20 years of experience administering and managing housing programs, including Section 8, Public Housing, LIHTC, BRAP, Shelter Plus Care, and HOPWA. Leanna graduated from Husson University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Biddeford Housing Champion

Guy Gagnon

Guy Gagnon is the Executive Director of Biddeford Housing Authority and President of Southern Maine Affordable Housing with 24+ years creating and developing affordable housing. He is a collaborative and innovative housing partner, having created one of Maine’s first modular affordable housing projects and a permanent supportive housing project for young people. He believes that everyone deserves a safe and affordable home and he does everything he can to make that happen.  

Augusta Housing Champions

Steven Knockwood

Steven Knockwood is a member of the “Muin Clan” (Bear Clan) of the Mi’kMaq Nation. His ancestral grounds are Sipekne'katik, Nova Scotia. He currently serves as the Deputy Organizing Director for the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project and identifies as a person in recovery from intergenerational trauma, residential school trauma and cultural/physical genocide. Steven brings his wisdom and knowledge of cultural integration and marginalized community perspective to his position as Inclusivity Caucus Coordinator with our national network.

Courtney Gary-Allen

Courtney Gary-Allen is the Organizing Director for the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project and has helped to pass countless pieces of legislation focused on addressing the opioid crisis, including the strongest Good Samaritan Law in the Nation. Before this work, Courtney interned in Senator King's DC office and helped open the first recovery residences in her community. She currently serves as an At-Large City Councilor for the City of Augusta, ME and is a person in long-term recovery from substance use.