MAHC Legislative Update

We are in the second session of this legislature and many bills got carried over from last year for consideration this year. Proposals for new bills had to be submitted by September 29. These new proposals need to get approved by the Legislative Council in order to be considered this session. MAHC has submitted LR2772 to bolster and update the State Historic Tax Credit that has been a $5 million credit since 2008. If a majority vote from the council is received, then it will be assigned an LD number and it can go through the legislative process. MAHC believes the State Historic Tax Credit is important because it brings in funding from outside of Maine for housing development, leverages existing infrastructure, and honors the character and history of our state. With increasing construction costs and heightened energy standards since 2008, now is the time to update this housing production tool.
Other bills that have been submitted include the below. MAHC will provide more detail on these as the session evolves. MAHC will also be prioritizing several carry over bills related to funding and zoning. Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas.

LR: 2921 Sponsor: Senator Chipman, B of Cumberland Title: An Act to Address Maine's Affordable Housing Crisis
LR: 2938 Sponsor: Representative Golek, C of Harpswell Title: An Act to Improve the Housing Voucher System
LR: 2962 Sponsor: Senator Tipping, M of Penobscot Title: An Act to Assist First-time Home Buyers by Increasing Assistance Available from the Maine State Housing Authority
LR: 2966 Sponsor: Senator Nangle, T of Cumberland Title: An Act to Remove Barriers to Heating Assistance for Low-income and Moderate-income Maine Residents
LR: 2803 Sponsor: Senator Pouliot, M of Kennebec Title: An Act to Increase Housing Options in Maine HOUSING RENTAL
LR: 2641 Sponsor: Senator Chipman, B of Cumberland Title: An Act Regarding the Fees Charged for Keeping Pets
LR: 2650 Sponsor: Representative Light Lookner, G of Portland Title: An Act to Prevent Homelessness During Repairs for Breach of the Covenant of Habitability
LR: 2963 Sponsor: Senator Tipping, M of Penobscot Title: An Act to Assist Residents of the State Who Have High Rents

Maine needs 84,000 new homes in the next 7 years - Study here.

The study is the first to examine the need for housing both now and in the future, and across all income levels statewide.

The state needs to build up to 84,000 new homes in the next seven years to accommodate its existing population and the people expected to move to Maine, according to a report from the state and MaineHousing. Maine’s housing market has been plagued by historic underproduction of homes, some of the oldest housing stock in the country, an influx of in-migration, a changing labor force and a steep climb in home prices. These contributing factors have snowballed and now, policymakers are scrambling to figure out how to nearly double the annual number of building permits issued in Maine each year and rehab existing but deteriorating homes to house current and future Mainers.

Housing Matters! Conference - 10/16, Orono
Presented by AARP Maine and the UMaine Center on Aging, this free in-person conference brings state-wide leaders and Age-Friendly, Lifelong Communities together for thought-provoking discussion, networking, and peer sharing. Visit https://www.lifelongmaine.org/housing-matters to see the full agenda and to register today!

Info Session about Fellowships and Grants

Places like Portland, Oregon have removed restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and states including California, Maine, and Connecticut have new laws requiring local approval of ADUs that meet basic standards. Ellie Sheild, a student research assistant at the Center, will discuss how these efforts might inform policymaking in Massachusetts, in conversation with Jesse Kanson-Benanav of Abundant Housing Massachusetts. Register to watch online

Housing Committee Meeting in Orono & Bangor, 10/17
The committee will receive presentations at multiple locations on the University of Maine Campus (Orono ) from 10:00am – 3:00pm. Following presentations at the University, the committee plans to visit a “tiny home” construction site in Bangor. No Zoom attendance or streaming video of this meeting.

Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)- Oct 11 Public Hearing, 5:30-7:00 pm, Augusta

Grants to state and local governments to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing production and preservation to help meet the demand for accessible and available housing in urban and rural areas. Due October 30. The State of Maine is applying through its Housing Opportunity Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). They are hosting a hybrid public hearing to discuss DECD’s draft application. This grant opportunity appropriates $85 million in grant funding for the identification and removal of barriers to affordable housing production and preservation. DECD’s draft application can be found here. This public hearing will provide an overview DECD’s draft application, a timeline of the grant application process, and an opportunity for public feedback on DECD’s draft application. DECD will also accept written comments on its draft until 11:59pm on Sunday, October 22, 2023. To submit written comments, please email housing.decd@maine.gov.

Location: Zoom or in person at 111 Sewall Street, Cross Office Building Side Doors, Room 103B, Augusta
Zoom: https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/85656259362

MaineHousing Notice of Funding Availability for Winter Overnight Warming Shelters Due 10/13, 5pm
MaineHousing has an appropriation in the State of Maine’s FY2024/2025 General Fund budget, to address the continuing crisis of unsheltered homelessness during the winter months of 2023-24. This notice invites applications for funding of overnight warming shelters to become operational by November 15, 2023 and operate until April 30, 2024. This funding should only be used to expand beyond existing shelter services and should not act to replace current funding for existing shelter services.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson discussing the agency’s report on Federal Home Loan Banks and the future of the housing finance system. 10/25, 1 - 2pm, Zoom: Online

Hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is responsible for ensuring the soundness and liquidity of the housing finance system through its oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system. Established by Congress in response to the Great Depression and currently consisting of 11 regional banks, the FHLB system is designed to provide low-cost loans to its 6,800 member institutions to facilitate mortgage lending, while also offering financing for affordable housing and community development projects. Last year, FHFA began a comprehensive review of the FHLB system to evaluate its performance over the past 90 years and to consider the role it should play going forward.

NLIHC Housing Policy Forum

Save the Date for 2024 Housing Policy Forum on March 18-20!

NLIHC’s Housing Policy Forum 2024: An Unwavering Path Forward to Housing Justice will commemorate the 50-year anniversary of NLIHC by celebrating our organization’s history, achievements, and partners, while renewing our commitment to solving the nation’s housing and homelessness crisis.

Up For Growth Federal Legislative Update

A signature legislative priority of Up for Growth Action, the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) Act, is a proposal to shed light on discriminatory local land use policies and encourage municipalities to eliminate exclusionary zoning, bringing a new level of transparency to the community development process.

The YIMBY Act would require Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients to submit to HUD information regarding their implementation of specific land-use policies, such as policies for expanding high-density single-family and multifamily zoning, reducing minimum lot sizes, and allowing office-to-residential conversion. This bill, if passed, will provide more transparency for citizens, lawmakers, academics, and others to understand a community’s rationale for not adopting anti-discriminatory housing policies. An endorsement coalition of over 300 organizations across the U.S. supports this bill. Continue Reading...

Housing underproduction is a national crisis, with every state falling short of meeting housing needs. While the drivers of and solutions to underproduction may vary, rural communities confront distinct challenges in expanding their housing supply. Regrettably, these challenges often receive less visibility and attention than those in urban areas. During the second installment of Up for Growth’s 2023 Webinar Series, we explored the specific barriers that rural communities face in expanding access to housing and the policy changes that can bring about meaningful change. Watch Now

Build for the Future Funding Navigator
New tool on the HUD Exchange provides information on funding opportunities made available under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and other federal programs. These opportunities provide funding and technical assistance to support your efforts in HUD-assisted communities, programs, and properties.

MAHC ONLINE MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM HERE
Renew Your Membership- July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
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YOU MAY NEED TO RESET YOUR ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERSHIP LEVEL. Log in with your email address and set your password by clicking "Forgot Password". Please reach out if you have any questions HERE.