Emily Flinkstrom
Supportive Housing Stakeholder
Co-Chair Local Advocacy Workgroup
Executive Director, Fair Tide Co-Founder, Mainspring Collective
Emily joined Fair Tide in August of 2016 as Executive Director. A native of South Berwick, Maine she returned to her roots after ten years of working for non-profits in Utah, Colorado and Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and a Master of Social Work degree from Colorado State University. Among other coalition and committee work, Emily serves as vice chair of the Kittery Housing Committee, a representative to Maine’s Statewide Homeless Council, and on the leadership team for Home for All. Flinkstrom has led Fair Tide through significant expansion in their affordable housing development and supportive services work. She is also the co-founder of Mainspring, a one-stop-shop social services collective for the Seacoast. Emily lives in Kittery, Maine with her husband and two young children.
Where did you grow up and how did that experience shape you or influence the path you followed in life?
I was born and raised in South Berwick, Maine. During my childhood, our family relied upon assistance programs during times of financial struggle. Despite those stressful periods, I remember joyous summer days at the beach, skiing at our local hill and a tight-knit community. Although I moved away from the Seacoast for ten years, I was pulled back by my desire to ensure families and individuals across the economic spectrum can afford to enjoy the beauty of this region.
Why do you think affordable housing is important now?
Stable and affordable housing is the foundation upon which everything else in life is built. Without it, the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities suffer. With it, anything is possible.