affordable housing

U.S. Agriculture Department mortgages for some 7,600 additional rental properties throughout Maine are reaching maturity and are at risk of being lost to the private market.

The rise in construction costs may be leveling off, but MaineHousing suggested recently proposed tariffs would increase the costs of building materials.

Residents of the Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park voted over the weekend to purchase their community for $8 million.

Supporters say the measure is needed because some landlords have been reportedly charging tenants numerous fees that can drive up monthly costs hundreds of dollars.

As Maine scrambles to build new affordable housing, it’s also a challenge to prevent the loss of existing units. In Maine, there are more than 7,600 affordable apartments that rely on rental assistance from USDA mortgages.

Multi-year state funding for housing initiatives has become a top priority for developers and some lawmakers who are trying to make a dent in Maine's 80,000 unit housing shortage.

Supporters of the measure said hotel developers have not contributed enough to Portland's efforts to add more affordable housing since new inclusionary zoning requirements were approved in 2019.

The proposed, six-month moratorium would not apply to projects that have already submitted applications. Supporters of the proposal say it would give city officials time to review Portland's inclusionary zoning requirements, which were approved in 2019.

The program previously served older Mainers living in Androscoggin County but will eventually reach 150 additional homes in Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec and Oxford Counties.

The top four floors of the six-story building would house 60 apartments, with 80% designated as affordable. The bottom floors would be the home of the service provider, Youth & Family Outreach, and provide childcare and pre-K to 110 children.