The following press release was distributed on Monday afternoon. 

PORTLAND, MAINE – November 20, 2023 – InterMed, Maine’s largest independent physician-owned practice, has made a charitable donation of $30,000 to Quality Housing Coalition to support their work securing permanent homes and financial security for those experiencing homelessness in the Greater Portland area.

“We believe that stable housing is the foundation of health and are so excited to partner with InterMed to address the community conditions Maine people need to thrive,” said QHC Executive Director Victoria Morales.

InterMed chose QHC as a recipient of this donation because of the nonprofit’s leadership in Maine to remove barriers to access for affordable and sustainable permanent homes for low-income earners.

“We are inspired by the work Quality Housing Coalition does for the Greater Portland community and believe homelessness is one of the most pressing public health issues of the day,” said InterMed President Dr. Phyllidia Ku-Ruth. “Lack of access to housing is a major barrier to good health, and to commemorate our 30^th anniversary we wanted to place our support with an organization who has boots on the ground, directly working to mitigate the affordable housing crisis in southern Maine.”

In addition, QHC aligns with InterMed’s mission of enhancing accessible, affordable and reliable  healthcare for Mainers, as QHC’s  innovative public health approach to holistic housing stabilization wraps unlimited home health outreach and financial assistance services around each household.

Through its flagship program Project HOME, QHC has provided 650 permanent homes to more than 1,500 adults and children, all of whom have experienced homelessness. Project HOME uses a culturally and linguistically appropriate process, led by staff with lived experience and has a 99% success rate in sustainable housing for every resident. QHC also authored Maine’s first housing navigation pilot program that was promulgated into law in 2022 and has resulted in securing approximately 500 units of permanent housing for low-income earners statewide.

“Adequate, stable and affordable housing is the foundation of strong communities,” said Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross. “But too many Mainers are in crisis mode when it comes to finding and staying in their homes. Addressing this issue will require cross-sector partnerships and investment. This generous contribution towards housing from InterMed exemplifies the power of civic duty and compassionate leadership. Their donation to the essential work of the Quality Housing Coalition signals their strong commitment to our community long term. I’m grateful for both of these organizations and their commitment to ensuring that every Mainer has a place to call home.”

Established in 1993 with a mission to provide patient-centered primary care complemented by integrated specialty services, InterMed has grown to serve more than 100,000 patients across the state with a dedicated team of more than 900 clinicians and staff.

On Monday, QHC will join InterMed at their Marginal Way location to receive the charitable donation.

For media inquiries about InterMed or this donation, please contact Liz Gold at liz.gold@intermed.com

About InterMed:

InterMed is a physician-owned practice founded in 1993, with a mission to provide patient-centered primary care enhanced by integrated specialty services. With more than 900 employees across three locations in downtown Portland, South Portland and Yarmouth, InterMed serves more than 100,000 patients across Maine, delivering the highest quality of care at the greatest value. InterMed is committed to continuous innovation to ensure healthier patients and high-value healthcare outcomes.

About QHC: Quality Housing Coalition was created in direct response to the affordable housing challenge in Maine and is dedicated to opening new pathways to stabilize and access the housing people need to live, work, and raise their children. QHC centers its work around inclusive cross-sector community partnerships by working with municipalities, housing authorities, state and local leaders, housing and homeless advocates, nonprofit and for-profit housing developers, tenants, landlords, property managers, and community members to create housing forward policies that provide quality housing for those in need in Maine.

From left: Quality Housing Coalition Board President Brit Vitalius; Stephanie Mills, InterMed Chief Legal and Compliance Officer; InterMed CEO Roger Poitras; Quality Housing Coalition Executive Director Victoria Morales and Quality Housing Coalition Director of Programs Rod Mahoua at InterMed’s Marginal Way location on Monday.