MAHC Member Events
Apr. 4, 9-10:30 am, Maine Housing, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta. Agenda:
- Operational building performance stats over 5 years, based on construction techniques. Todd Rothstein, Avesta Housing. Discussion: Achieving efficiency and high production.
- Developer pipeline and construction capacity survey results. Laura Mitchell, MAHC.
- Shovel ready projects - Cumberland Senior Housing. Amy Cullen, The Szanton Company. Discussion: Share your project in the pipeline that just needs funding.
Jun. 6, 9-10:30 am, Portland
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MacKenzie Scott Foundation Seeks Grant Applications up to $1 Million
Focused on nonprofits with an annual operating budget of between $1 million and $5 million for at least two of the past four financial years. Interested organizations must register to apply by May 5 from the $250 million funding round. Organizations best suited to this initiative will enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. This includes providing access to health care, stable and affordable housing, education and job training, support for sustained employment, asset ownership, civic engagement, and other pathways. More.
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LD2 - Testify - Apr. 4, 1 pm
Stay in Augusta to attend the Housing Committee public hearing or submit zoom or written testimony on LD 2: An Act to End Chronic Homelessness by Creating the Housing First Fund, sponsored by Speaker Talbot Ross. This bill focuses on a specific, chronically homeless population, and providing them supportive housing with 24/7 services. MAHC advocates for the creation of affordable housing so all people in Maine have a home, and this is one segment of the populations in need in Maine. Submit your written testimony here. MAHC testimony here. |
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| MAHC Legislative Tracking Updates
MAHC's Policy Committee reviews and discusses housing related bills. Find a list of bills and updates here and here.
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Part 1: $9.9 M Budget Passes; Part 2 of Budget Will be Considered Next and Includes Housing Funding Deliberation
The Part One continuing services budget has passed in the House and Senate and is anticipated to be signed by the Governor. This budget would begin July 1. Budgeted funding beyond the continuing services budget will be a part of Budget Part 2/Supplemental Budget that will be considered at the end of the legislative session around June and begin funding in September. Proposed funding in the budget for housing will be in the Budget Part 2/ Supplemental and available in the fall if it passes. The Housing Committee has asked for $80 million over two years, an increase from the $30 million proposed in the Governor's budget. |
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LD1193 - Allow Residents of Low-Income Housing to Keep Pets- Hearing 4/6, 1 pm
Bill by Senator Chipman that directs Maine Housing, a municipal housing authority, or other entity
in control of public housing to allow a resident of public housing to own and maintain one or more common household pets. This could create challenges based on pet size and insurance for certain breeds.
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LD1232 - Public Hearing Notice - Apr. 4
This bill requires new buildings of at least 25,000 square feet to reserve 40% of applicable roof space for future installation of a solar energy system. Read bill language here. Prior legislation, LD1656, goes into effect January 1, 2024 and requires solar conduits to the roof, but doesn't require 40% of roof space. For housing developments, there are other design and system elements that limit remaining space for solar. |
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NLIHC Recap of 3/20 Homelessness and Housing First Webinar - “Housing First Serves Veterans and Promotes Recovery”
Housing First webinar hosted by NLIHC, the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) provided an overview of how the Housing First approach has resulted in deep reductions in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness across our nation and how Recovery Housing fits into the Housing First approach. Read more.
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Check Out NLIHC’s The Home Front Podcast
Broaden your knowledge of housing policy and advocacy with NLIHC’s The Home Front podcast. Focusing on housing policy priorities and ways to elevate the conversation about America’s housing crisis, The Home Front gives listeners an in-depth look into housing advocacy for the most marginalized and lowest-income communities. From ballot measure initiatives and tenant organizing efforts to the connections between housing and healthcare and the nitty gritty of disaster housing policy, The Home Front’s podcasts cover a broad spectrum of issues central to housing policy, while bringing together a wide range of experts to help listeners get the low-down on the latest in the fight for affordable housing. Explore the Home Front Podcast
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MAHC Developer Pipeline & Construction Capacity Survey Results
MAHC sought input over the last month to understand the pipeline of affordable housing development at different stages across Maine. The good news is, there's 2,405 units in the pipeline across all the planning stages, throughout Maine. Of those, 700 are shovel ready. That was only responses from 34 developers, so there's many more in the works across Maine.
On the construction side, there's capacity to build 1,134 in the next two years. That was from only 5 construction companies, so we know there's significantly more construction capacity from companies we didn't hear from. So what's the hold up on many of these projects? Funding. That's why MAHC is advocating in this session for additional funds for housing development in the Budget Part 2, in Rep. Rebecca Millett's bill proposing $200 million for housing, and in Sen. Daughtry's proposed $100 million bond for housing.
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Find a New MAHC Member? Get a Gift.
We are launching a new MAHC membership promotion. If you help MAHC recruit a new member in 2023, you can get a free MAHC water bottle, and the sincerest thanks from the MAHC Board, and the thousands of Maine people that need a home.
Check out our membership list here and reach out to let us know who is missing that might be interested in a MAHC membership.
You can invite them to try out membership by attending a MAHC member event with you. Simply let MAHC know who you will be bringing here.
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