Community Resources

As Maine communities grow and change, towns and cities across the state are facing new challenges and opportunities. One of the most urgent is our housing shortage—a lack of affordable, attainable homes for workers, families, older adults, and young people. Local leaders and residents are often the key to unlocking the solutions. That’s why we created this resource: to empower you with facts, tools, and guidance to support well-planned housing development in your community.

How to Support a Housing Project in Your Community

Housing projects succeed when local leaders, neighbors, and developers work together. Here are ways your community can make housing a success:

  • Get Informed: Learn what types of housing are being proposed, who they will serve, and what public benefits they will bring (e.g. senior housing, workforce housing, or mixed-income developments).
  • Engage Early: Attend planning board and council meetings, review project details, and ask questions. Early engagement allows for collaboration and problem-solving.
  • Promote Local Tools: Support zoning updates, density bonuses, reduced parking requirements, streamlined permitting, and credit enhancements like TIFs or bonds that make housing feasible.
  • Speak Up: Community voices matter. If you believe your town should welcome more neighbors, say so at public meetings, in letters to local officials, or in op-eds.
  • Partner with Local Organizations: Nonprofits, regional housing authorities, and state agencies often provide resources and support. MAHC can help connect you.

Myth vs. Fact: Addressing Common Concerns about Housing Development

We understand some community members may have concerns when new housing is proposed. But let’s look at what the data actually shows—and how we can maximize the benefits of housing in your town.

Concern: “New housing will cause traffic problems.”

The Truth: Thoughtfully planned housing near job centers, transit, or walkable downtowns actually reduces traffic congestion. Source: According to the Transportation Research Board, compact, infill housing generates 20–40% less traffic than conventional suburban development (TRB, 2012). Smaller developments—especially senior or affordable housing—often have fewer cars per household than market-rate homes.

Concern: “Housing will overcrowd our schools.”

The Truth: Most new housing—especially 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, senior housing, or workforce units—adds very few students. Source: A Maine study found that affordable rental housing produces fewer than 0.3 school-age children per unit—far lower than single-family homes (MaineHousing, 2020). And schools in many communities need more students to keep enrollment sustainable.

Concern: “New housing means more crime.”

The Truth: There is no evidence that affordable or workforce housing increases crime. In fact, stable housing reduces crime by providing economic security and reducing homelessness. Source: Research from the Urban Institute shows that well-managed affordable housing developments do not increase neighborhood crime rates (Urban Institute, 2017). Good design and professional property management matter more than the income level of residents.

Concern: “This kind of housing doesn’t ‘fit’ in our town.”

The Truth: Maine has a long tradition of diverse housing types—duplexes, townhomes, apartments over stores. Today’s housing crisis calls for more of what already works in our communities. Source: According to AARP, communities with mixed housing types are more resilient, more economically vibrant, and better able to support aging in place (AARP Livable Communities, 2021).

Remember: Housing is for Our Neighbors

Housing developments are not abstract. They are homes for:

  • The teacher hired at your local school
  • The EMT living on-call down the street
  • Your grown children moving back to raise a family
  • A retired neighbor who wants to downsize but stay in town

Maine’s housing future depends on every town doing its part to be welcoming, forward-thinking, and community-minded. Together, we can create places where people of all ages and incomes can thrive.

Need Help?

MAHC offers connections to housing experts, municipal technical assistance, and trusted developers. All Maine communities can grow housing in their neighborhoods.

Ways Towns Can Change Land Use/Zoning to Support Housing

Zoning Solutions: How Local Ordinances Can Unlock Housing

Maine towns have immense power to shape their housing future through local ordinances. Here are proven zoning and land use strategies your community can adopt.

A. Allow More Units by Right

  • What it means: Adjust zoning so multifamily or duplex housing is allowed without special permits in certain zones.
  • Why it works: Reduces risk and delay for developers while ensuring predictability for communities.
  • Tip: Start in areas near transit, downtowns, or public infrastructure.

Policy Note: LD 2003 (2022) already requires some of this statewide—but towns can go further to meet demand.

B. Reduce Minimum Lot Sizes and Parking Requirements

  • Why it matters: Large minimum lot sizes make housing more expensive to build and maintain. Excess parking drives up costs and reduces walkability.
  • Local Action:
    • Allow smaller lots for infill development
    • Reduce parking minimums for senior housing or near transit

Research: A Brookings Institution study found that lowering parking minimums can reduce housing costs by 10–20% per unit (Brookings, 2021).

C. Encourage Adaptive Reuse and Mixed-Use Zoning

  • What to do: Update zoning to allow the conversion of commercial or underutilized buildings (e.g. former schools, churches, mills) into housing.
  • Why it’s great: Saves money, preserves character, and revitalizes neighborhoods.

Example: Biddeford’s mill revitalization created hundreds of new homes, many affordable, through adaptive reuse and flexible zoning.

D. Legalize Missing Middle Housing

  • What it is: Enable duplexes, triplexes, cottage courts, and townhomes in areas traditionally zoned for single-family homes.
  • Why it matters: Provides more diverse, lower-cost housing options—especially for young families, seniors, and first-time buyers.

AARP supports this as a key strategy to build age-friendly communities (AARP, 2023).

E. Create a Local Housing Overlay or Special District

  • What to try:
    • Designate “Housing Opportunity Zones” with relaxed zoning and expedited approvals.
    • Offer density bonuses for affordability or green design.

Example: Waterville’s downtown overlay zone helped create mixed-use, mixed-income housing options and revived the core of the city.

Take the Next Step: Not sure where to start? MAHC can get you connected with regional planning experts and housing development experts. Your town can build homes that match your values and needs.

Funding Tools for Towns & Cities

Local Funding Tools to Support Housing Development in Maine

Every Maine town has the power to be part of the solution to our housing crisis. Whether you’re a select board member, planner, or engaged resident, you can use local funding tools to make new homes possible in your community. Here’s how to make it happen.

A. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for Housing

What it is: A tool that allows towns to earmark new property tax revenue for development-related costs.
Use it for: Public infrastructure (water/sewer), sidewalks, planning, or gap financing for housing.

Example: Brunswick used a TIF to support infrastructure that enabled new housing near downtown.
Learn more: Maine DECD TIF Program and Grow Smart Maine’s TIF Community Guide

B. Credit Enhancements and Loan Guarantees

What it is: The town pledges part of future tax revenue or takes on limited risk to make a project more financeable.
When to use: Projects that serve seniors, veterans, or low/moderate-income families but lack traditional financing.

C. Municipal Housing Trust Funds

How they work: Local funds, often backed by ARPA dollars or transfer fees, used for:

  • Pre-development grants
  • Land acquisition
  • Down payment assistance

Example: Portland and South Portland have active housing trust funds supporting local priorities.

D. Local Bonding for Housing

What it is: Towns issue bonds for infrastructure or to support affordable housing.
Why it matters: Shows long-term commitment; can unlock state/federal matching funds.

Did you know? Maine’s LD 1912 proposes a $200 million state bond—municipal action can complement these funds.

Developer Tips for Implementation

  • Use funding strategically to support housing in priority areas.
  • Pair funding with zoning reform to maximize impact.
  • Build partnerships with mission-driven developers and regional housing authorities.

Need Help Designing a Local Housing Strategy? MAHC can connect you with experts to provide technical assistance to get you started.

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