What’s the problem?

Many more Mainers need access to affordable housing than houses exist, than are on the horizon to be built, or that can be feasibly created through public programs to address the problem within the next 20 years. Yikes.

That means many more friends and neighbors under stress. Less inventory to buy or rent. Families living in increased risk of mental health issues. Higher numbers of un-homed individuals living in streets, parks, and shelters. Or people moving out of our already dwindling-population state.

These are challenging realities for legislators, public housing entities, developers, investors, and philanthropists to address. Especially since they all need to work together to arrive at actionable plans.

Meantime, we can do our bit at a personal level if we so choose. Here are some insights — and some paths to action.

Data point about the gap and the 20 years needed to fill it
Shortage, and trends
Summary of entities working on it, and the associated challenges (funding, regulations, “soft costs”

What’s affordable to whom?

Let’s face it. We’re not looking at renting assets to visitors for fun. We’re here because the income is important to us. It helps us afford more of what we want or need in our lives.

On the flip side of the equation are the renters of these assets, whether for short- or long-term stays. We know what’s affordable to us; what’s affordable to our guests or tenants? That answer may be less simple than it sounds.

These questions are vital to consider when setting your rates, targeting your audience, evaluating how you’ll intersect with your community, and considering viability in the first place.

“Affordable housing” used to equal “low income housing.” In some sectors, it still does. But the composition of Mainers who need access to housing they can afford is broader now — and more so since the pandemic:

Multi-income working families at every level, who hold anything from service-oriented, to self-employed, to professional jobs
College graduates, upon whom, together with young workers, Maine sets its sites to build and sustain future businesses, as well as to help reverse our aging population trend
People who would be first-time home buyers if not for the high interest rates and housing shortages that make home ownership increasingly out of reach — a trend not limited to Maine, but is nationwide
These groups have now joined the people already seeking access to housing they can afford, in addition to low income earners, the unemployed, disabled folks, and un-homed people in Maine.

Compare that number — of over 300,000 Mainers who have a need — to the state’s identified housing shortage of 22,000+/-. Even at the rough average occupancy of 2 people per housing unit, there’s still a gap of more than 150,000 people who need better access to homes they can afford.

We, who own additional assets, second homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), the ability to hire at fair wages, or simply the ability to petition or vote, can and should help close the gap.

What’s the problem?

What’s affordable to whom?

Let’s face it. We’re not looking at renting assets to visitors for fun. We’re here because the income is important to us. It helps us afford more of what we want or need in our lives.

On the flip side of the equation are the renters of these assets, whether for short- or long-term stays. We know what’s affordable to us; what’s affordable to our guests or tenants? That answer may be less simple than it sounds.

These questions are vital to consider when setting your rates, targeting your audience, evaluating how you’ll intersect with your community, and considering viability in the first place.

“Affordable housing” used to equal “low income housing.” In some sectors, it still does. But the composition of Mainers who need access to housing they can afford is broader now — and more so since the pandemic:

Multi-income working families at every level, who hold anything from service-oriented, to self-employed, to professional jobs

College graduates, upon whom, together with young workers, Maine sets its sites to build and sustain future businesses, as well as to help reverse our aging population trend

People who would be first-time home buyers if not for the high interest rates and housing shortages that make home ownership increasingly out of reach — a trend not limited to Maine, but is nationwide

These groups have now joined the people already seeking access to housing they can afford, in addition to low income earners, the unemployed, disabled folks, and un-homed people in Maine.

Compare that number — of over 300,000 Mainers who have a need — to the state’s identified housing shortage of 22,000+/-. Even at the rough average occupancy of 2 people per housing unit, there’s still a gap of more than 150,000 people who need better access to homes they can afford.

We, who own additional assets, second homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), the ability to hire at fair wages, or simply the ability to petition or vote, can and should help close the gap.

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