PORTLAND, Maine —A number of formerly homeless veterans now have a place to call home, thanks to a new property in Portland.

Thomas Heights held its grand opening celebration Wednesday.

The 18-unit affordable housing property is on Washington Avenue. The building was named for Thomas Ptacek, an advocate for homeless veterans.

With a shortage in rental vacancies and rapidly rising rents, it is becoming more difficult for many low-income people to find housing, said Dana Totman, Avesta’s president and CEO.

“To have these 18 new efficiency apartments fully occupied with 100 people on the wait list suggests that we are doing something that is needed in this community so it’s wonderful to celebrate this,” Totman said.

With a growing need for housing, Avesta is already working on other projects to fill the void.