AUBURN – Auburn's Charles Jordan House will soon be a home for former inmates reentering society.

The program at 63 Academy St. will come under the auspices of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, a nonprofit that supports those incarcerated and their families.

“Just imagine being in prison for 10 years or longer,” Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition Executive Director Joseph Jackson said. “The world changes quite a bit. Most folks that come in go out with absolutely nothing but their bags of clothing and property they accumulated when in prison and really need time to acclimate to the world.”

There will be 12 residential units for those recently released from incarceration with the goal of getting them reacquainted with society. 

There were 811 prisoners released in Maine in 2024, according to the  

Maine Department of Correction.

Olga Dolgicer, owner of the Munroe Inn Bed and Breakfast about a half mile away on Plesant Street, said she is glad changes are coming.

“It’s a beautiful building and it’s hurting right now,” said Dolgicer. “It hurts me to know that no one is occupying this gem of the house. I’m glad someone is taking over this property and is doing something beneficial with the land. We don’t have a lot of these programs and it’s important to help those out who have been released from jail.”

City Councilor Benjamin Weisner, whose ward includes the Charles Jordan House, declined to comment. 

Jackson says the organization will start converting the Charles Jordan House this fall with the expectation of it being operational next year.

The house was designed by Charles Jordan, who also designed the Edward Little High School in Auburn, according to Maine Preservation.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

It is currently owned by the LeBrun family who operated it as a boarding house but is set to be purchased by the coalition. 

An act of arson in 2018 caused extensive damage to the top floor and attic that was never repaired. The home has been vacant since.