April 17: Maine cities and towns struggle to implement pioneering housing law 

On July 1st, housing law LD 2003 will go into effect, and smaller cities and towns are struggling to implement the changes to their town ordinances in order to comply. As a result, lawmakers are considering a proposal to delay the law. 

Read the full article here. 
 

April 18: Legislators move to create housing subsidies for homeless students 

The Legislature’s Committee on Housing voted unanimously in favor of LD 1422, a bill that aims to connect the Maine State Housing Authority and school district homeless advocates to help homeless students. The bill is endorsed as an “emergency so that it would take effect immediately once approved by at least two-thirds of the Legislature and signed by the governor.” 

Read the full article here. 

 
April 20: South Portland enacts new ordinances related to homelessness 

Two new ordinances have been enacted in South Portland relating to people experiencing homelessness. South Portland will now allow for the establishment of homeless shelters under one of the new ordinances. The other ordinance requires hotels operating as homeless shelters to return to normal business operations. 

Read the full article here.