The Priority Bill to Testify For LD226 - $200 Million for Housing
Apr. 14, 9 am, Augusta/Zoom - SAVE THE DATE
- If you're going to testify for one bill this session, this is it: LD 226, by Rep. Rebecca Millett that puts $200 million over 2 years toward increasing the affordable housing stock.
- MAHC is looking for strong attendance to share that these funds are needed, but more importantly, that the affordable housing development and construction community has the PIPELINE and CAPACITY to build.
- Funding is the primary barrier to addressing our housing crisis, and we need to share examples of projects ready to go, and over time, to meet demand.
- Talking points and testimony submission details coming next week.
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Other Public Hearings Coming Up
April 6th - 1p:
LD 1193 - An Act to Allow Residents of Low-income Housing to Keep Pets: This bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority, a housing authority of a municipality 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. Recommended position: Oppose
Feel free to use our testimony to submit written or zoom testimony here.
April 11th 1:30p:
LD1358 - An Act to Clarify Density Requirements for Affordable Housing Developments: This bill changes the definition of "affordable housing development" in the laws governing affordable housing density to provide that an affordable housing development is a development in which a household whose income does not exceed certain levels can afford a majority of the units in the development without spending more than 30% of the household's monthly income on housing costs. Recommended position: Support
LD1154 - An Act Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Municipal Zoning Ordinances: This bill allows instead of requires municipal zoning ordinances to provide for accessory dwelling units under certain conditions. Recommended position: Oppose
LD665 - An Act to Extend the Date by Which Compliance is Required for Affordable Housing Development, Increased Numbers of Dwelling Units and Accessory Dwelling Units: This bill amends, from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2025, the date by which laws must be implemented regarding affordable housing development, increased numbers of dwelling units and accessory dwelling units enacted by Public Law 2021, chapter 672. (LD2003) Recommended position: Oppose
LD654 - Resolve, Directing the Finance Authority of Maine to Establish a Pilot Program to Encourage the Development of Accessory Dwelling Units. Priority Bill - This resolve directs the Finance Authority of Maine to establish a 2-year pilot program to encourage the development of accessory dwelling units in the State. The program must buy down interest rates to levels below market rates for up to 100 community bank loans for accessory dwelling units until the program ends. The authority must submit annual reports to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters regarding the usage of the program, the first such report to be made no later then. Recommended position: Support
April 14th - 9a:
LD1310 - An Act to Establish a State Emergency Rental Assistance Program: This bill establishes the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to supplement or create emergency rental assistance in order to mitigate the end of the federally funded emergency rental assistance programs established by Section 501 of Division N of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 and Section 3201(a) of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2. (Will update with recommended position next week.)
LD724 - An Act to Expand Workforce Housing in Rural Maine by Funding the Maine State Housing Authority's Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program: This bill provides 10m in one-time funds in fiscal year 2023-24 and fiscal year 2024-25 only to the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program within the Maine State Housing Authority for the development of smaller affordable rental housing projects. Recommended position: Support
LD599 - An Act to Provide Support Services for a Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Persons: This bill provides $1.2m in ongoing funding for support services for a transitional housing program in Portland. (Will update with recommended position next week.)
LD226 - An Act to Address Maine's Affordable Housing Crisis - Priority Bill. This bill provides $100,000,000 in one-time funds in fiscal year 2023-24 and fiscal year 2024-25 only to increase affordable housing stock in the State. Recommended position: Support |
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MAHC Testified in Support of LD2
MAHC, along with a room full of MAHC members, housing providers, and advocates, testified in support of LD2. This bill creates a fund using ongoing Real Estate Transfer Tax Funds in the ~$10 million/year range. It will support the development initially, and then the ongoing support services for housing the chronically homeless with 24/7 services using a Housing First approach. Testimony here. Work session on the bill this Friday, April 7, 9 am. |
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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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News: Avesta Housing Sees Increased Need - MAHC Supports Developing More Housing Across the State
Maine Public article. |
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Falmouth RFQ for Housing - Due April 27
The Town of Falmouth, Maine is seeking proposals to identify a developer to develop workforce housing on a parcel of land located at 2 Marshall Drive, Falmouth, Maine. The available land is part of a 25-acre tract that includes the Falmouth Police Department, which will remain. The Town, through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), is soliciting concept proposals for the feasible development of one or more work force housing projects which will be beneficial to the community. Read more here. |
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MAHC Member Event Presentation by Todd Rothstein, Avesta Housing - Members can Email for Slides
Almost 50 people attended MAHC's member event where Avesta shared an updated version of their operational building performance statistics based on practical construction techniques. This presentation will lead into collaboration in addressing the implementation of LD1665 that seeks standards of housing construction to reduce climate impacts by January 2024.
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New MAHC Member Thank You
We appreciate the support of recent new MAHC members:
3i Housing of Maine
Catholic Charities Maine
Cross Insurance
Ducas Construction, Inc.
Hebert Construction
Maine State Building & Construction Trades
Midcoast Regional Housing Trust
PM Construction Co.
Penobscot General Contractors
Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine
Scott Simons Architects
St. Germain
Town of Falmouth
Winton Scott Architects
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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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