NORTH HAVEN — The island community of North Haven on Saturday celebrated the completion of an assisted-living home to serve the elderly.

The Southern Harbor House should begin accepting its first residents by the end of the summer, said Hannah Pingree, campaign director of North Haven Sustainable Housing. The home is built to serve six residents.

The facility will allow seniors who can no longer care for themselves in their home to remain on the island and be part of the community.

The community raised $3.6 million for the Southern Harbor House construction but also to renovate an existing building on the property for housing for staff as well as an endowment for the home.

Construction began at the end of the summer of 2016.

Pingree said North Haven joins other Maine islands – Vinalhaven, Islesboro and Chebeague Island – in building an elder care facility. She said there is a lot of interest in the service.

She said the building was designed to meet the needs of a year-round community of 350.

North Haven Sustainable Housing partnered with the nonprofit organization Southern Harbor Elder Care Services, which will operate the home.

Pingree said that a seasonal resident, Mary White, was selling her home a few years ago and when she heard about the need for such a facility, she donated the house and 11 acres on the South Shore Road.

The Victorian home was renovated extensively and two wings were added to create the elder care home.

Bruce Laukka Inc. of Rockport is the general contractor. The architect is John Tittman, a Boston architect and seasonal island resident.

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