BANGOR, Maine — Volunteers of America Northern New England has broken ground on a 55-unit senior housing apartment complex downtown.

The nearly $11 million project on Harlow Street is being paid for with federal funding, including federal stimulus money.

The expected opening date is early 2011.

“This type of affordable housing helps ensure that seniors can live in safety and maintain their dignity and worth as individuals,” said June Koegel, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Northern New England. “At Volunteers of America, we believe they deserve nothing less.”

Newport-based Bowman Constructors is the general contractor.

Eligibility for one of the 55 one- or two-bedroom apartments will be based on median income. Depending on where applicants fall, rent will be calculated either at 30 percent of adjusted income after allowances for medical expenses or fixed at $550 per month for a one-bedroom unit and $633 per month for a two-bedroom unit.

The facility will be accessible to the handicapped and provide on-site management and 24-hour on-call service. Additional features will include a computer lab, community room with kitchen, laundry room, on-site staff, elevator and on-site parking.

The 2.4-acre parcel at the corner of Harlow and Curve streets previously housed a commercial building that was in poor condition before its demolition.

The Bangor facility will be the ninth affordable senior housing community built and managed by Volunteers of America Northern New England. The others are in Augusta, Portland, Saco, Peaks Island, Belfast, Thomaston, Topsham and Loudon, N.H.

Volunteers of America Northern New England is a national, spiritually based nonprofit organization that provides human service programs and opportunities for community involvement. Additional information is available on its Web site at www.voanne.org.

For more information about the Bangor housing project, contact Glenn Michaels at 373-1140, ext. 216, or send an e-mail to help@voanne.org.