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NOV 8 - MAHC Member's Encouraged to Attend MaineHousing Feedback Session on New Energy Standards & QAP

DEC 5 - MAHC Member Meeting, 9-10:30 am, Portland

QAP & Energy Standards, Nov 8 - 1-2:30 PM, Augusta or Zoom

Please attend the MaineHousing session on Wednesday, November 8, from 1 - 2:30 to discuss the 2025-2026 QAP. MaineHousing will present planned changes including the Energy Efficiency Standards, and be looking for your feedback and suggestions. At MaineHousing, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta or online using ID: 482912667 and Password: 3srS8wVsp2

Rep. Pingree and Rep. Golden Sign Onto Letter to US Treasury to Support LIHTC Investments in Maine

MAHC is so pleased that our Federal delegation have signed onto a House and Senate letter to support Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investments in Maine. The State's recent housing study showed Maine needs 84,000 new units of housing. For the average Maine resident, housing of any kind is unaffordable. A lifeline in building affordable housing is the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. To ensure continuity of LIHTC investment in Maine, the US Treasury needs to resolve a technical issue classifying investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as not Tax Exempt Controlled Entities.

In June, Maine's Senate delegation sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen to resolve this issue and now Maine's House delegation have signed onto a letter as well. The Senate letter is here. The House letter to IRS/Treasury on the TECE issue is here.

The technicality around TECE has caused Fannie Mae to reduce its role in the New England regional market for housing credits. In a communication to FHFA Fannie has gone on record to show the potential impact to rural communities, even though it has a Duty to Serve.

The communication states “Fannie Mae’s initial baseline for its 2023 Plan year was 59 rural LIHTC investments, and the initial target for its 2023 Plan year was to make 70 rural LIHTC investments. As discussed in further detail in Fannie Mae’s attached proposed modification request, Fannie Mae’s proposed modification for the 2023 Plan year would change and recalculate the baseline and target due to a material change in market conditions that is preventing Fannie Mae from investing in rural in LIHTC properties through multi-investor funds. The proposed modified baseline for the 2023 Plan year would be 20 to 40 rural LIHTC investments.”

Take Action to Stop Harmful Amendments to the FY24 Spending Bill and Protect Housing Investments

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote next week on its draft Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill for fiscal year (FY) 2024, as well as on several amendments. The vote was initially slated for today (November 3) but is being delayed after some Republican members threatened to vote against the bill due to its cuts to funding for transportation programs, including for Amtrak. Because of their narrow majority in the House, Republicans can only afford to lose a handful of votes if they hope to pass legislation without bipartisan support. Read More

AGING WITHOUT HOUSING: ADDRESSING THE RISING TIDE OF SENIOR HOMELESSNESS

NOV. 7, 1-2 p.m. Virtual - REGISTER NOW - Adults over 65 now make up the fastest-growing segment of the unhoused population. Economic shocks, such as rising housing costs or unexpected life events, can quickly push seniors who rely on fixed incomes into homelessness. Equally concerning is the rising number of individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time after the age of 50, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to meet the complex needs of older adults who find themselves without stable housing. Building on the groundbreaking work of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Senior Health and Housing Task Force, which called for a major national goal to end homelessness among older adults, panelists will discuss strategies and practices for integrating housing, healthcare, and long-term services and supports to address senior homelessness.

Joint Select Committee on Housing Update - Results of Study Methods to Encourage Development of ADUs

On Oct 31, the Housing Committee received a summary presentation on the ADU committees report pursuant to Resolves 2023, ch 107 directing GOPIF to Study Methods to Encourage Development of ADUs (LD 654), The Honorable Ryan Fecteau, Senior Advisor for Community Development and Strategic Initiatives shared some key recommendations:

Establishment of a FAME like authority for ADU lending → basically a secondary mortgage program
TIFS specific to ADUs→ maybe challenging if ADUs don’t accrue value
Brenner- LD 1538 in TAX could be relevant
Family member transactions→ value of 30,000 for caretaking while living in ADU (to assist with debt to income ratio)
Require publishing ADU values
Changes to construction loan regulations
Eliminate owner occupancy guidelines
State ADU ombudsman position
Eliminate compulsory regulations, except in contexts where it’s allowing things formerly unallowable
Emphasis on the need for manufactured off-site construction
Appraisal value streamlining

CAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES?

Despite substantial government investment aimed at reducing health disparities, large differences in health persist across geographic and racial lines in the United States. One prominent theory is that these health disparities are driven in part by disparities in the neighborhood environments where people live. If this is the case, then housing policies that desegregate, and therefore reduce disparities in neighborhood environments, may be an effective means for reducing disparities in health. More.

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