MAHC Releases New Research - Case Studies on the Cost of Building Affordable Housing
MAHC worked with Research Consultant, Sarah Sturtevant, to consider different approaches and costs to building affordable housing. These three case studies and areas of opportunity based on the findings support the need for subsidy to build affordable housing, reduced regulation to build safe housing, reduced impact of stringent zoning, and more. Full report.Welcome New MAHC Members - Sunnova Energy and Anthony Armstrong, SVN Commercial Brokers
Sunnova Energy - adaptive energy services company focused on making clean energy more accessible, reliable, and affordable for homeowners and businesses. Through its adaptive energy platform, Sunnova provides a better energy service at a better price to deliver its mission of powering energy independence.
Anthony Armstrong - Broker at SVN Commercial Brokers and President at Maine Home Mortgage Corp.
MaineHousing Releases Report on 2024 Point in Time Homelessness Assessment
A Decrease From 2023 Reflects The End Of Several Temporary Programs That Provided Hotel And Motel Emergency Shelter During Covid.
Waning pandemic-era funding and the conclusion of emergency hotel and motel shelter programs has resulted in a decrease in the homelessness figures in Maine during the latest Point-in-Time Count, conducted on January 23, 2024. Full report here.
Celebrate Cullen Ryan of CHOM and MAHC Founder - 6/20, 4-6:30 PM, Portland
Portland Leviathan: A Forum on Past, Present, & Future of Interstate 295 - 6/20, 5:30 pm
It has been widely documented that urban highways have a problematic history, especially when it comes to routing their path–inevitably through underserved neighborhoods and communities of color. And for decades, Portlanders have been advocating for numerous projects to restore the urban fabric which are now starting to gain traction adjacent to the various highway exits. These projects collectively will be transformative for livability, connectivity, and economic development; but we often forget to acknowledge that the cause for all of this needed restoration is the presence of I-295 cutting through the heart of downtown. The forum will discuss 295's influence on local communities, current initiatives, and future visions. You may have caught some of our media coverage on Maine Calling, The Bollard, and The Portland Townsman (forthcoming). Hosted by Portland Trails, The Urbanist Coalition, GrowSmart Maine, M4ST, Better Biddeford, PBPAC, Portland Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and the Libbytown Neighborhood Association. Portland Leviathan: Forum on Past, Present, & Future of Interstate 295
Meet & Greet 5:00; Program 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM; Reception & Refreshments 8:30-9:00
Location: Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, 1342 Congress Street, Portland
Grand Opening - Village Commons, Scarborough - 6/18, 2 pm
New Maine HUD State Director - Briefing for Maine's Delegation HUD has a new State Director, Jen Boardman. You can email her here if you'd like to connect - Jennifer.L.Boardman@hud.gov. HUD shared this briefing presentation with Maine's delegation last week.
Suburban Areas That Lack Rental Options Are Predominantly Single Family Zoned, With Large Lots Sizes, and Have Populations That Are White and Higher Income
Nearly a third of neighborhoods across the US have few options for renter households (rental deserts), that are often lower income than home owner neighborhoods, limiting where renters can live and potentially perpetuating patterns of racial and socioeconomic segregation. Rental deserts are overwhelmingly white and higher income. Rental deserts are frequently suburban neighborhoods abutting urban centers. Neighborhoods with lower shares of rental housing are located in municipalities that impose strict growth controls, require large minimum lot sizes, limit density, and mandate a higher number of parking spots with new construction. Conversely, neighborhoods with a higher share of rental housing are in municipalities with more permissive land use regimes that allow ADUs, provide incentives for inclusionary housing, have by-right multifamily zones, or permit construction at greater heights. While zoning changes have the potential to increase housing options for renters, creating socioeconomically integrated, mixed-tenure communities will also require building more homes at lower price points, increasing access to homeownership, and expanding housing subsidies. Read more.
Modular Multi-Family Affordable Housing Is Working In Other States
Great Falls Construction & Westbrook Project Making Great Progress
EBlackmore Photography
MAHC Member , Asking for Portland Planning Board Letters of Support For Site-based Housing First - Before 6/25, 4:30 pm
The City of Portland’s Planning Board will hold a meeting to consider the redevelopment of the former Oxford Street Shelter location into a new Avesta Housing and Preble Street Site-based Housing First building similar to Logan Place and Florence House. Preble Street is asking residents to submit written testimony in support of this project to planningboard@portlandmaine.gov.
Site-based Housing First has proven to be a cost-effective, permanent solution to ending homelessness nationwide.
With more than 150 people on the wait list for Logan Place, Florence House, and Huston Commons and daily proof of the model’s success in bringing people who are chronically homeless home for good, Portland needs more Site-based Housing First apartments.
The role of the Planning Board right now is to evaluate the technicalities of the proposal, which this project meets.
More Site-based Housing First programs in Maine will help us to end long-term, chronic homelessness in our state.
A Site-based Housing First approach provides dedicated apartment buildings with on-site, 24/7 professional social work staff providing supportive services and crisis intervention to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness.
Site-Based Housing First leads to positive outcomes for tenants and the community.In a study of Logan Place tenants, there was an 81 percent decrease in police contacts, a 71 percent decrease in ambulance use, and a 74 percent decrease in emergency room visits, after being successfully housed with Housing First.
Site-based Housing First is especially effective for highly vulnerable populations, including the chronically homeless, people sleeping outside, and people with untreated mental and behavioral health and/or substance use disorders.
Once people are safe and supported by 24-hour onsite social work staff in permanent housing, they can stabilize and work toward a more fulfilling and independent future; including addressing substance use disorder, focusing on health, education, or employment, and rebuilding relationships with friends and family.
Maine needs 400 Site-based Housing First units, which translates to the establishment of 12-15 new properties.
As housing costs have outpaced incomes in recent decades, rental subsidies have not kept up with need. In 2021, only one in four income-eligible households received housing assistance, leaving 14.2 million eligible renter households unassisted. With many renters living on thinner financial margins than ever, a greater investment in subsidies will be necessary to protect financially vulnerable renters and mitigate the painful tradeoffs that are increasingly a fact of life for many households. Read more.
Sign On To Support Federal Bill to Reduce Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act (RRBH) The bill:
Directs HUD to develop model zoning legislation for state and local governments can utilize voluntarily to boost housing production.
Provide technical assistance and best practices to local governments to implement zoning and land-use reforms.
Fund the national expansion of the National Zoning Atlas and provide grants for localities to develop pre-approved building plans for small and medium multifamily housing to streamline production.
Anthony Armstrong - Broker at 
