July 3: Portland urges Mills to endorse Unity campus as transitional housing for asylum seekers
The city of Portland has asked Governor Mills to support a transitional housing plan and use the Unity Environmental University campus as a space for transitional housing or to activate the National Guard to set up a new shelter for asylum seekers.
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July 5: Portland moving forward with new asylum seeker shelter as closure of largest temporary site looms
Developers Collaborative purchased a former beverage warehouse space with plans to convert it into a 180-bed emergency shelter for asylum seekers. The project receives funding from the state agency MaineHousing. The Shelter should be ready for occupancy by November.
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July 5: Howard Johnson hotel to be run as shelter by state
On June 27th, the South Portland City Council decided the Howard Johnson Hotel in South Portland would serve as a temporary housing shelter until next year. Three hundred sixty-seven people will be moving into the hotel from six other hotels throughout South Portland. Catholic Charities will provide social services, and MaineHousing will operate the hotel.
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July 5: Representative advances bill limiting tenant application fees
Governor Janet Mills signed a bill put forth by Representative Christopher Kessler of South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. LD 691 “prohibits landlords from charging potential tenants a fee to submit a rental application.”
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July 5: Portland officials, advocates work to find solutions for asylum seekers
As the Aug 16, 2023 deadline approaches, city officials and advocates are working to find short and long-term housing solutions for those seeking asylum.
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July 6: Evernorth’s $54M affordable housing fund will invest in five projects in Maine
Evernorth, a nonprofit based in Portland, ME and Burlington, VT, has raised $54.05 million in equity from 14 investors. The funds will be used to invest in 10 developments, five of which will be in Maine. The five Maine projects will create 188 affordable housing units combined.
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July 6: Legislature limits how much landlords can charge for rental applications
A new state law will limit how much landlords are allowed to charge for rental application fees. An early version of the bill faced initial opposition from several landlords. But Dan Bernier, with the Central Maine Apartment Owners' Association, says his organization is mostly satisfied with the amended measure, and that it shouldn't affect many landlords' current practices.
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