The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition advocates for policies at the state and federal level which serve to better meet the critical housing needs of Maine people. For more information about our State and Federal policy priorities contact MAHC or review below.

2022 Maine Legislative Session Summary

The work of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition this legislative session was marked with some major victories that will pave the way for more affordable housing for all Maine families. The power of the coalition was shown with a couple major victories:

Our top priority bill, LD2003 sponsored by Speaker Fecteau, was the product of the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions. Our outreach led to hours of testimony and hundreds of emails being generated to lawmakers in Maine. Despite efforts by the Maine Municipal Association to block passage, the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition worked with a diverse coalition that ultimately led to the passage of an amended bill that will allow for ADUs in all Maine towns, allow for up to four units on a single family lot, create density bonuses, and will create support for towns and municipalities with zoning and use ordinances to promote more housing development.

In the first session, LD201 introduced by Senator Nate Libby, was passed by committee and both chambers but ultimately ended on the appropriations table going into the second session. The bill was critical for development, as it extended the historic tax credit to 2030. With MAHC’s support, the bill was moved off the table and gained unanimous support from the legislature in the final days of the legislative session. Governor Mills signed both bills into law on April 27, 2022.
2022 Legislative Round Up

2021-22 FEDERAL POLICY PRIORITIES

• Advocate for New Housing Infrastructure Resources to grow Maine’s supply of safe, affordable homes.
•  Increase Rental Assistance Resources and Protect Low-Income Renters by increasing appropriations for rental assistance programs, adequately funding program administration and protecting vulnerable renter households from harmful program changes.
• Preserve Federally Assisted Housing Stock by engaging with members of Congress and federal officials to promote healthy housing and to preserve housing units, including those funded through HUD and USDA Rural Development programs.

2021-22 STATE POLICY PRIORITIES

• Support the Allocation and Effective Deployment of Key Housing Resources such as state and local fiscal recovery funds, the state affordable housing tax credit, green affordable housing bond proceeds, HOME Fund dollars and federal housing programs. Advocate for policies and programs which will strengthen and grow Maine’s construction workforce and reduce housing development costs.
• Support Reforms to Land Use and Zoning Laws so as to create more housing opportunities for Maine people.
• Improve the Quality of Maine’s Housing Stock by advocating for policies and interventions that support key connections between housing, health and energy efficiency/climate concerns.
• Support Programs and Services That Promote Housing Stability by supporting improvements to and continued funding for essential state programs such as eviction prevention, foreclosure prevention, General Assistance, mental health services, Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) and other residential assistance programs supported by MaineCare and the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Actively Collaborate with MaineHousing and other state agencies to create efficiencies, promote flexibility and transparency, and enhance partnerships, including timely, effective use of housing resources, development of an effective preservation policy, and improving the housing development process, including the state Qualified Allocation Plan.

Examples of past MAHC legislative advocacy include:

• Maine Senior Housing Bond
• Green Affordable Housing Bond, representing the largest single state investment in affordable housing in Maine history. For more information about the bond, please click here.
• And many more…