SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Avesta Housing, northern New England’s largest affordable housing nonprofit, recorded a sizeable increase in applications in 2021.

The vast majority of applicants were unable to find a home.

The organization released its 2021 data at the end of March. A total of 6,231 people applied for housing assistance through Avesta, a 32% increase from 2020. Around 34% of all applicants identified as being homeless.