Thank you to Members for supporting MAHC's evolution. As the preeminent advocate for housing for all people in Maine, MAHC will now be an independent 501c4 organization with our board of directors leadership under the newly approved bylaws. Special thanks to Curtis Thaxter for their expertise during this transition. 

MAHC has been an unincorporated association under the wing of Avesta Housing and we are so grateful to Avesta for keeping MAHC under their roof for this long. By September 30, 2024 they can officially launch us out of their basement like all parents hope to do with their beloved children. The roots of MAHC began from the partnership of many Maine based housing visionaries and we are proud to carry on that legacy today.

Lake City Investments, LLC
Utile, Inc.
ZeroEnergy Design

Manufactured housing holds promise as an affordable form of housing that could expand homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households at a time when house value growth is outpacing income gains in markets across the country (JCHS 2022). Simple comparisons of the cost of manufactured housing to site-built housing find that manufactured housing offers significant cost advantages, derived in large part from greater efficiencies in purchasing, production, and installation. However, recent comparisons are relatively simplistic, comparing the average cost of homes built without considering differences in size, amenities, or the costs of transporting and siting manufactured homes. The goal of this study is to document the cost of comparable site-built and manufactured homes such that these differences are accounted for. To achieve this, we analyze three common types of manufactured homes: single-section, double-section, and CrossModTM. While single- and double-section (known colloquially as “single-wide” or “double-wide”) homes have long been staples of the manufactured housing industry, CrossModTM is a relatively new type of home developed by the industry to make manufactured homes more comparable to site-built homes in their physical appearance, thus broadening consumer appeal, appraised value, and financing opportunities, and reducing community opposition to the siting of these homes. The results of our analysis find that all three types of manufactured homes continue to offer significant cost advantages over site-built housing. These findings suggest that efforts to expand access to manufactured homes hold the potential to increase homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households. Read more.

Recent interview on a story looking at housing access and affordability along with climate change and fossil fuel use. Read more. 

"Because so many leaders across many sectors worked together, important housing legislation was passed that will improve housing stability for Maine renters.  Here is list of reflections on how we got here, the impacts achieved, and what was learned. 
 What Happened:

• From October 2022 to June 2023, a group of 6 leaders came together under this shared result: All renters in Maine have stable housing.
• We convened 20 policy-makers and advocates in January to identify and address the root causes of housing instability in Maine.
• This group identified 5 priority areas for action: (1) availability; (2) affordability; (3) eviction prevention; (4) discrimination and enforcement; and (5) support services.
• 40 stakeholders and advocates then came together in January to move these priorities to action in the legislative session.
• The group forged a collective commitment to support work across all 5 priorities areas and identified 16 key policy proposals for collective action.
• A team of 9 leaders worked to organize a system of shared communication and advocacy. 
• 91 partners and stakeholders signed a Housing Policy Letter (attached) asking policy makers to commit to taking action across all 5 priority areas.  
• The Superintendent of Bangor Schools and the President of Northern Light Acadia Hospital co-authored an op-ed (attached) in support of Maine renters. 
• 170 partners received communications with talking points and general calls to action in advance of hearings and votes. 

Eight key bills supported by the coalition passed: 

1. An Act to Ensure Legal Representation for Residents Facing Eviction: LD 330
2. An Act to Improve Access to Civil Legal Services: LD 564
3. An Act to Prevent Retaliatory Evictions: LD 45
4. An Act Regarding In-court Appearance Requirements for Persons Authorized to Serve Eviction Notices and the Process for Serving a Writ of Possession: LD 347
5. An Act to Increase the Notice Period for Rent Increases: LD 701
6. An Act to Address Maine's Housing Crisis: LD 2
7. Governor's proposed budget: LD 258
8. An Act to Study and Develop Building and Finance Recommendations to Incentivize ADU Development: LD 654

The policy successes achieved this year will:
1. Address Rental Housing Availability:

• Invest $35M each year for two years in the production of affordable housing, with half going toward the Rural Affordable Rental program and the other half to 4% LIHTC subsidy.
• Increase tools for ADU production in the building and finance areas by developing and implementing recommendations from experts in the field

2. Prevent Evictions:

• Provide $4m in one-time state funding to legal aid providers to represent tenants in evictions. 
• Require Judges to announce the Lawyer of Day at eviction court and include increase notice of available resources with service of notice to quit.
• Establish a presumption of retaliation if a landlord moves to evict after tenant asserts their right to notice of rental increase.
• Extend the notice period for rent increases from 45 to 90 days.

3. Expand Tenant Support Services:

• Invest in a Housing First model. Funding emergency shelters and developing longer-term sustainable resources by promoting the transition to low-barrier shelters and non-congregate shelters, and funding shelter operations and best practices.
• Providing funding for 24 hour on site services for individuals in Housing First programs.

 
Two bills failed:

• Ban the Box on Eviction Records: LD 557 
• An Act to Increase the Time Period for Notice to Terminate to a Tenant: LD 804 

 
Three bills were carried over (and need continued support):

• An Act to Address Maine's Affordable Housing Crisis: LD 226
• Housing Opportunity for Maine (HOME) Act: LD 1710
• LD 1426: An Act to Secure Housing for the Most Vulnerable Maine Residents by Amending the Laws Governing Municipal General Assistance"

Thank you to Kara Hay, CEO of Penquis for sharing this summary.

EPA Seeks Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Applicants
EPA seeks applicants to provide environmental justice technical assistance for organizations and communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Grant competition for an "Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center" (EJ TCTAC).  Funding opportunity of up to $10 million to help communities and other environmental justice stakeholders in the New England states access federal assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. "This grant opportunity will create a technical assistance center to empower communities and help them tackle environmental justice concerns in New England," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "While many of our urban, rural and tribal communities have identified solutions to the environmental challenges they face, there is a significant need for resources to achieve results. This center will help build capacity and deliver federal funds for environmental justice projects across our region."  Seeking applications from eligible entities through September 29.   NOFO here.  Webinars here,

$10 million grant opportunity to advance environmental justice in New England
The DECD Housing Opportunity Program is sharing the Municipal Payment Distribution Schedule that provides that municipalities with zoning are eligible to apply for funding, meaning the municipality is divided into zones or districts in which differing regulations and uses apply. However, we understand that there are some municipalities that may not have zoning, but still need to update land use ordinances to comply with P.L. 2021, ch. 672. If a municipality falls into that latter category, we encourage a representative from that municipality to send the Department a letter explaining why the municipality requests funding to comply with P.L. 2021, ch. 672, including a copy of a municipality’s current land use ordinances and/or comprehensive plan. This letter may be emailed to housing.decd@maine.gov.  

NLIHC New Report: Continuing Emergency Rental Assistance: How Jurisdictions Are Building on Treasury’s ERA Program NLIHC and the Housing Initiative at Penn (HIP) released today a new report, Continuing Emergency Rental Assistance: How Jurisdictions Are Building on Treasury’s ERA Program. Drawing on survey data and semi-structured interviews, the report examines which components of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program are being retained by state and local jurisdictions, as well as the factors leading to their retention. The report finds that nearly half of surveyed jurisdictions will continue to provide emergency rental assistance beyond the depletion of Treasury ERA funds. Those jurisdictions not continuing to provide assistance cited lack of a dedicated funding source and lack of staff capacity as barriers. Many jurisdictions that are continuing to provide assistance plan to retain components of their Treasury ERA programs, like flexibilities and court partnerships, in their continuing ERA programs.  Read More and Access the Report

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