After much consideration and outreach regarding potential fiscal sponsors and organizational models for MAHC, the board has mapped an exciting path forward for MAHC and seeks member input.

Membership votes on these items will be held at our August 1, 9-10:30 am Member Meeting at the Portland Public Library via the rear entrance on Elm Street, Portland. Or members can be email beforehand to info@mainehousingcoalition.org and board chair Amy at acullen@szantoncompany.com.

1. VOTE 1: As you know, MAHC was looking for a new fiscal sponsor this spring. Upon evaluating this approach and the limited options, the board is recommending that MAHC incorporate as an independent 501c4.
    
2. VOTE 2: To move forward becoming an independent 501c4, MAHC needs to update its bylaws. With legal support from Curtis Thaxter, the board is sharing a revised version of the draft bylaws for member approval. Please email your input to: info@mainehousingcoalition.org. Draft Bylaws.
    
3. VOTE 3: MAHC's bylaws prescribe a membership vote on annual policy priorities. We have two priority bills being carried over from this year to next year (Incentivizing ADU development; Funding for Housing Development from 2025-2028). We seek your input in this survey to finalize our priorities (we sent this out before, but only 21 people have responded). We will workshop these ideas further and share a final before the vote on August 1. MAHC 2024 Policy Priority Survey Results:

1. Long term funding plan with consistent, predictable funding levels.
2. Continued funding for housing development
3. Ongoing funding through 2028
4. Specific funding proposal for special needs populations - large families (4+ bedroom units), intergenerational housing (mixed housing for older persons and families with children), and young adult cooperatives (for homeless youth, former foster youth, and working community college student). Also, would seek advocacy around Fair Housing (are new and existing units accessible for BIPOC and persons with disabilities) and better planning around the geographic location of housing.
5. Maintain ongoing budgeted funding to meet gaps; increase focus on 30% AMI households; support regional planning for affordable housing needs; beginning conversation of how housing investments can become carbon negative
6. To ensure that every single project that meets MSHA criteria and is only awaiting funding can be built. If that means additional supplemental funding (on top of the $80M just secured) then "so be it".
7. Continued focus on markedly increasing the supply of affordable housing. Continued focus on actualizing LD 2003.
8. Loan program for workforce housing. State provides 0% funds to banks to lend at 2.5/3.0%.
9. Support homeless in recovery, job training, and employment.

1. State Oversight Board of Appeal of Local Zoning that is in conflict with LD2003, 2. Expansion of LD2003 to remove minimum zoning of 3 or 5 acres for house lots. 3. Legislation that authorizes the State to mandate minimum Affordable Housing TIF requirements and unit production
2. Continued implementation of LD2003, especially the affordable housing density bonus
3. After focusing on more money, we should also look at policies that circumvent NIMBYism. Examples such as 40B in Massachusetts or the bill recently proposed at the State House where zoning for a project is cemented at the time of application so as-of right projects can not be undercut after a planning board application has been submitted
4. Parking reform
5. incentivizing development, zoning reevaluation and recodes that encourage density and development.
6. Addressing the complexity/differences from town to town on Land use planning
7. Building more new housing.

1. Rebates for landlords for renting to housing vouchers and bonuses for landlords that take on more housing voucher program participants and referrals
2. Rental assistance and anti-discrimination - the goals of LD 1710

1. Focus on preservation/improvement of existing affordable rental stock, specifically older properties

1. partner with organizations focused on transit, trails, and greenspace to make sure that those are planned for before significantly changing laws to make density easier to built.
2. Expanding use of shared equity models and supporting those who use them. Talk to Anne Gass re: Maine Community Equity Housing Network. Expanding professional development programs in order to train more folks in being shared equity housing developers. Pre-development R&D funding for early stage projects/organizations. Work with Maine Law, Muskie School, and Maine Association of realtors to develop a training program where law students and real estate students (or established professionals) can learn side by side how to build legal frameworks and pursue property sales for shared equity models. Advocate that all affordable housing subsidies in Maine be used for projects that are affordable in perpetuity, not just for a finite amount of time. And bring down the cost of construction by advocating for incentives for contractors to work with affordable housing developers (especially shared equity projects) so that these projects can better compete for contracts that don’t blow up their budgets and eliminate the ability to rent/sell to low income people.
3. Laws that make it easier for small developers and groups of residents to build and own housing