Maine faces many challenges when it comes to affordable housing, including one of the highest gaps in the nation between what people earn and what rental rates they pay. Economic development experts see this as a top priority to attracting young people to Maine. Parts of Maine, like Portland, are seeing huge surges in housing prices, while other areas are stagnant. We’ll look at the causes of the affordable housing shortage in Maine and learn about some possible solutions.
Guests
Mary Miller, vice president, Androscoggin Bank
Erin Oldham, Realtor, Vitalius Real Estate Group based in Portland
Denise Lord, senior director of communications and planning, Maine Housing Authority
Greg Payne (by phone), director, Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
Resources
- Eviction: Life Unpacked
- MaineHousing Housing Facts and Affordability Index for Maine, 2017
- MaineHousing First Home Loan program
- hoMEworks first-time homebuyer classes
- MaineHousing subsidized rentals
- Maine’s rental market among nation’s least affordable, report says
- Our View: Affordable-housing gap is a problem all over Maine
- Housing Affordability Hits Lowest Point In 10 Years; Here's Where Buying A Home Is Most Out Of Reach
- How Much More It Costs to Own vs. Rent in Your State
- What Is the Cost of Living in Maine?