Research
At the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, evidence drives our advocacy. We periodically commission and publish original research to uncover the root causes of Maine’s housing shortage, evaluate policy solutions, and guide strategies that expand access to safe, quality, affordable homes for every Mainer.
Can Off-Site Construction Improve Housing Affordability? (2025)
Can changing how we build make housing in Maine more affordable? With fewer than 1,000 affordable homes built per year, our new report explores how innovative construction techniques could lower costs for private developers and stretch public housing subsidies further?
Why is it so Expensive to Build Affordable Housing? (2024)
What drives the cost of building affordable housing in Maine? This research explores this complex question through three statewide case studies in Madison, Rockland, and Waterboro. Drawing on developer interviews across different subsidized funding models, this paper showcases real-world cost ranges, best practices, and key lessons learned.
Workforce & Affordable Housing in Maine (2023)
Can design innovations and smart policy unlock market-rate workforce housing? This Shaw Innovation Fellowship report analyzes the gap between local wages and housing costs in Maine, offering practical strategies across construction, zoning, and finance to make middle-income homes achievable.
Tenant Interview Project (2021)
What is it really like to navigate Maine’s tight rental market? This report gathers direct insights and personal accounts from tenants across the state—examining affordability struggles, housing stability, and landlord-tenant dynamics to ensure community voices shape future housing solutions.
Evictions in Maine (2021 Update)
Building on MAHC’s initial September 2020 eviction study, this update tracks pandemic-era filing trends, shifting causes for eviction, and growing rent arrears across Maine’s busiest district courts. It underscores a critical finding: represented tenants were 85% less likely to receive an eviction order.
Evictions in Maine (2020)
MAHC’s foundational report on rental instability during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing filing records across six Maine counties, this report established the state’s first comprehensive eviction tracking database—exposing non-payment trends, severe legal representation imbalances, and the urgent need for emergency housing stabilization.