MREMA [Maine Real Estate Managers Association] Service Coordination : About MRSCA

MRSCA History

Service Coordination in Maine began in l988 with the Supportive Services Program in Senior Housing (SSPSH), a demonstration project funded by The Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation. Maine was one of five New England states,and ten selected nationally to participate in this grant project.

Subsequently, HUD opened the option of allowing service coordination funding, including through a competitive grant pool, in some elderly housing, and other sources of funding were developed. The number of RSC’s in Maine began to grow. Maine State Housing Authority established a position to oversee the RWJ grant program and coordinate the development of service coordination in Maine, including state-wide quarterly training/networking meetings. An informal organization of service coordinators in the southern half of the state functioned with good effect for a few years and demonstrated the benefits of a peer-to-peer support network.

Discussion about a state-wide organization grew more focused and at a quarterly meeting in August 2003 the first discussion about creating a state association of RSC’s took place. A founding committee began to meet in September 2003, and in early 2005 MRSCA was registered as an unincorporated non-profit organization in Maine, with a 501 (c) 3 designation, through the IRS, following later that year.

Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA), now known as MaineHousing, and its Manager of Resident Services position continued as MRSCA’s catalyst and major support throughout this evolution. MaineHousing’s ongoing support and encouragement has been essential and greatly appreciated. A timeline of the history of service coordination in Maine can be viewed by link (click here). [Note: the history is a document in the RSC Program Guide – pages 4 & 5.]