MAHC ONLINE MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM HERE
Renew Your Membership- July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Create your directory listing with logos, additional contacts and more.
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.
|
|
|
|
NLIHC Releases 2023
Even amid slowing rent growth, low-income renters are facing the effects of a long-standing trend in which rents have risen faster than wages and decent, affordable housing remains out of reach. Like past reports, this year’s report also provides a “Housing Wage” – an estimate of the hourly wage full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at fair market rent without spending more than 30% of their incomes. Nationally, the 2023 Housing Wage is $28.58 per hour for a modest two-bedroom rental home and $23.67 for a modest one-bedroom rental home.
 |
|
|
|
Take the MAHC 2024 Priorities Survey - 1 minute
MAHC is encouraged by the positive steps in the 2023 legislative session on our policy priorities below. The MAHC board is now looking ahead to plan its advocacy, research and member engagement efforts. We need your input to help support the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Maine over the long term. 2023 Priorities:
- Increase funding to build affordable housing. There is $80 million proposed in the supplemental budget; and a bill with unanimous support from the Housing Committee to provide that level of ongoing funding through 2028. Final votes expected in late June.
- Enable effective implementation of LD2003 and expand ADU development. These bills have moved through the Housing Committee. Votes pending in the next few weeks.
- Support the use of underutilized developed property for creating affordable housing. Our bill providing property listings to the new Maine Redevelopment Land Bank passed last month; and we have testified in support of other related bills.
|
|
|
|
Maine Eviction Filings Increase In 2023
From Maine Public: Eviction filings in Maine have increased by more than 50% in the first few months of this year. According to data from Maine's judicial branch, more than 2,000 eviction cases were filed across the state from January through April. That's 55% higher than during the same period last year, and the highest number over that four-month period in at least 15 years. Read More
|
|
|
TOPIC OF INTEREST: AFFORDABLE HOUSING & THE ELECTRIC MARKET IN MAINE
|
|
|
|
LD2003 Updates and MAHC's Bill - LD1706 An Act to Clarify Statewide Laws Regarding Affordable Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units.
LD 1706 has passed both Chambers with a 2/3 majority and is expected to be signed and go into effect upon the Governor's likely signature next week. It updates LD 2003 by:
- Changing the definition of “affordable housing development” to provide that an affordable housing development is a development in which a household whose income does not exceed certain level can afford 51% or more of the units in the development without spending more than 30% of the household’s monthly income on housing costs; and
- Clarifying that an accessory dwelling unit must comply with shoreland zoning requirements established by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and municipal shoreland zoning ordinances, except that a municipality may not categorically prohibit accessory dwelling units in the shoreland zone that would otherwise meet shoreland zoning requirements established by DEP and municipal shoreland zoning ordinances.
- Extends the implementation date to January 1, 2024, for municipalities that enact ordinances by municipal officer without approval of voters during town meeting. For all other municipalities, the implementation date is July 1, 2024.
Funding Update: The Housing Opportunity Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development has multiple funding opportunities to support municipalities with LD 2003 compliance.
- Service Provider Grants: These grants will provide service providers with funding to support municipalities with technical assistance, ordinance development, and community housing planning services. The Housing Opportunity Program anticipates that these grants will be open for application submission in late June.
- Funding to Municipalities: The Housing Opportunity Program has funding to reimburse municipalities for the mandated costs of complying with LD 2003. The Housing Opportunity Program anticipates more information will be available in late June about the process, timing, and amount of funds available to communities.
- Municipal Grants: These grants will provide municipalities with funding to support with technical assistance, ordinance development, and community housing planning services. More information will be available about these grants in the fall.
Questions? Please contact us at housing.decd@maine.gov.
|
|
Stop Proposed Federal Cuts of More Than 25% to HUD Programs – Take Action TODAY
|
|
|
Appropriators in the U.S. House of Representatives released topline allocations for fiscal year (FY) 2024 spending bills. The House is proposing to cut more than $22.12 billion from the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) bill, which funds crucial HUD rental assistance, homelessness assistance, and community development programs – a cut of more than 25% from FY23-enacted levels.
|
|
|
|
Should Others in Your Organization Be Receiving MAHC Emails?
|
|
JOIN MAHC Today - Click here.
Find a New MAHC Member? Get a Gift.
If you help recruit a new member, you can get a free MAHC water bottle!
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.
Next member meeting is June 6.
|
|
|
|
