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NEWS & UPDATES

Read our organization's latest statements, view updates, and access information on today's trending topics and news stories.

  • 11 Aug 2023 4:09 PM | Anonymous

    August 7: South Portland leaders hear from residents about issues in city 

    On Monday, the city of South Portland held listening sessions all day with residents. The city's last comprehensive planning sessions were held over ten years ago. Affordable housing was a major point of discussion. 

    Read the full article.   

    August 7: Women to Watch: Victoria Morales matching quality housing with those in need 

    Mainebiz recently interviewed Quality Housing Coalition founder Victoria Morales for their Women to Watch series. Victoria notes how Quality Housing Coalition partners with 38 rental providers in five counties and has "provided over 600 households for approximately 1,400 adults and children" through these partnerships. 

    Read the full article below. 

    August 7: Instead of sweeping homeless encampments, Portland is trying a new housing-focused approach 

    The city of Portland aims to offer everyone at the Fore River Parkway Trail encampment shelter or housing by September 6th. The city of Portland is currently utilizing an Encampment Crisis Response Team as a "more compassionate option" to respond to encampments after the city "cleared an 80-tent encampment on Bayside Trail" in the spring.   

    Read the full article here.  

    August 9: As deadline to close Portland Expo shelter looms, about 200 asylum seekers still need housing 

    The Portland Expo will no longer function as a shelter as of August 16th. The city of Portland is currently trying to find housing for the 200 asylum seekers who have been at the Expo since April. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 04 Aug 2023 7:00 PM | Anonymous

    July 30: Some renters may get relief from biggest apartment construction boom in decades, but not all 

    The U.S. is currently experiencing its largest construction boom since the 1970s. Some economists project that rents “will be down modestly this year” after rising by nearly “25% over the past four years.” Much of this new construction is concentrated in select job-growth areas, with most units being considered luxury apartments. 

    Read the full article here.

    August 1: Saco to Host LD 2003 Housing Ordinance Revision info session Aug. 14 

    The City of Saco is holding an informational session to discuss and provide an overview of the housing ordinance revisions needed to comply with the LD 2003, which goes into effect on January 1st. The City Council and Planning Board arecurrently reviewing the ordinance revisions. 

    Read the full article here. 

    August 1: A new program gives low-income Maine mothers monthly cash. Will it help lift them out of poverty? 

    The Quality Housing Coalition has started a pilot program called Project HOME Trust. The program recently selected 20 single mothers from a lottery and is giving each individual a cash payment of $1,000 a month to spend without stipulations to increase their financial security. Some program participants reported using the funds so far on housing, groceries and childcare. A report on the program is expected next October. 

    Read the full article here.

    August 2: MaineDOT to close part of Portland park-and-ride with large homeless encampment 

    The Maine Department of Transportation is sectioning off part of a park and ride-along near Franklin Street in Portland. A growing homeless encampment has been in the lot for a few months. Maine DOT says this is temporary, and the encampment will eventually be removed. 

    Read the full article here. 

    August 2: ME family struggling to find affordable housing rented a backyard with an app 

    An app initially used for unique outdoor experiences is now being used to find temporary affordable housing. Some are using the HipCamp app as a way to stay in people’s backyards. 

    Read the full article here. 

    August 2: Affordable housing is the focus of grants from Maine Association of Realtors' charitable arm 

    The Realtor Affordable Housing Fund has awarded $80,000 to 11 organizations addressing housing needs. Five organizations each received grants for $10,000, and six organizations each received grants for $5,000. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 28 Jul 2023 5:30 PM | Anonymous

    July 24: Lewiston breaks ground for government-financed affordable housing project  

    On Monday, a large affordable housing project in Lewiston broke ground. The Wedgewood project will consist of 82 apartments in 9 buildings. Sixty of the apartments will be reserved for affordable housing. Majority of the projects financing is from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development “Choice Neighborhoods” grant.  

    Read the full article here. 

    July 24: Bath Housing announces 3 new board members 

    Bath Housing and Development Corporation announced three new members to its board – Roberta Jordan, Toby Gabranski and Erik Nelson. 

    Read the full article here. 

    July 25: Influx of new senior apartments will help ease Bangor’s housing shortage 

    BangorHousing is currently developing an affordable housing project for seniors. On Monday, Bangor city councilor approved $2 million in pandemic relief funding to support future endeavors.  

    Read the full article here. 

    July 27: Housing projects in downtown Waterville with a total of 84 units set to move forward 

    The Waterville Planning Board gave its final approval this week for the Head of Falls Village housing project and a housing project for 155 and 165 Main Street. The Head of Falls Village project will include 63 apartments and commercial space. The 55 and 165 Main Street housing project plans to develop a combined 21 apartments across the buildings. 

    Read the full article here.

  • 21 Jul 2023 4:59 PM | Anonymous

    July 18: Portland city council postpones citizen initiative reforms indefinitely 

    On Monday night, the Portland city council voted to postpone reforms on the "citizen initiative" referendum process. This indefinite postponement comes after several local referendums in the past election cycles. 

    Read the full article here. 

    July 19: Maine enacts new law to provide tenants with additional notice of rent increases 

    A new law signed by Gov. Mills will now require rental housing providers to notify tenants 75 days in advance if rents are being increased by more than 10%. The new law will go into effect on October 4th.    

    Read the full article here.  

    July 19: Biden administration lauds new Maine law limiting rental application fees 

    This week, a White House news release praised Gov. Mills' new bill that limits rental application fees. Last month, Gov. Mills signed a bill that prevents l rental housing providers from charging fees exceeding the actual cost of screening a tenant or charging for more than one screening yearly.   

    Read the full article here.  

    July 20: First of its kind Maine housing relief program expanded 

    The Project HOME program from Quality Housing Coalition has expanded! Project HOME is a first-of-its-kind program that launched six years ago and partners with rental housing providers to offer high quality supportive housing for individuals and children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing housing insecurity and/or homelessness. 
     
    Read the full article below and learn more about QHC (our 2023 Community Partner of the Year!) and donate to their cause at www.rhamaine.org/rha-foundation. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 19 Jul 2023 8:35 PM | Anonymous

    July 9: Hospital to housing: Former site of Northern Light Mercy nears a rebirth 

    The former Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland will be the site of 260 new apartments that started preleasing this week. The apartments range from affordable apartments to luxury townhouses. The first residents are expected to move in this October.   

    Read the full article here. 

    July 10: Kennebunk Savings Bank plans to donate land for affordable housing 

    Kennebunk Savings Bank plans to donate 12 acres of land to Avesta Housing for affordable housing for older residents. Kennebunk residents will vote on approving the contract zone likely in November. Avesta Housing plans to construct a 70-unit community on the land. 

    Read the full article here. 

    July 11: Advocates praise Housing First program created under Mills budget 

    On Tuesday, Governor Mills signed a new bill that includes a “Housing First” budget. Funding will help create 12 to 15 “site-based Housing First buildings across Maine,” with the first 10 operating possibly in the next five years. 

    Read the full article here. 

    July 13: For development of multifamily housing, Maine is still on pace for a good year 

    Last year was a 20-year peak for the number of building permits issued and the number of housing units approved in Maine. Maine is predicted to approve 72 building structures totaling over 1,150 multifamily units this year. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 07 Jul 2023 12:01 PM | Anonymous

    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. 

    Read the full article here. 

    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.   

    Read the full article here. 

    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. 

    Read the full article here. 

    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.” 

    Read the full article here. 

    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. 

    Read the full article here. 

    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. 
    Read the full article here. 

    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. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 30 Jun 2023 8:55 AM | Anonymous

    June 27: South Portland, state agree to provide transitional housing for asylum seekers 

    A temporary shelter will be set up at the Howard Johnson Hotel by MaineHousing and Catholic Charities. Three hundred sixty-seven homeless people will be moved into the Howard Johnson Hotel from five hotels across South Portland. The state of Maine has agreed to fund services through June 30, 2024. The agreement is estimated to cost “$4.5 million to $5 million in all.” 
    Read the full article here. 

    June 28: Developer of Portland's new asylum seeker shelter also building Brunswick apartments  

    Construction is underway on a 60-unit apartment building in Brunswick being built by Developers Collaborative. The new community is designated for asylum seekers, with MaineHousing covering the rent. 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 28: 'We need help:' Asylum seekers share frustrations after months living in Portland Expo 

    On Wednesday, asylum seekers at the Portland Expo protested current living conditions. The City of Portland leaders spoke with protestors for over an hour and a half inside the Expo.   

    Read the full article here. 

    June 28: Lewiston Housing hopes to turn Ramada Hotel into transitional housing 

    Lewiston Housing is considering purchasing the Ramada Hotel with plans to convert it into a transitional housing project. The projected project would create approximately 117 affordable housing units. MaineHousing intends to help fund the project “with a $3.7 million grant from the state.” 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 29: Proposal to exempt smaller landlords from Portland rent control qualifies for ballot 

    A third citizen-initiated referendum is likely to be on the November ballot. The proposal will exclude landlords with nine or fewer units from the rent control ordinance in Portland.  

    Read the full article here. 

    June 29: Maine's Accessory Dwelling Unit Law Requires Prompt Community Planning 

    Maine towns and cities faced a July 1st deadline to write rezoning laws for accessory dwelling units – such as in-law apartments. The legislature passed, and the governor signed, emergency legislation extending the deadline. Listen to learn why the extension was deemed necessary, why ADUs remain controversial, and what the law aims to accomplish – from hoping to make a dent in the affordable housing crisis, to possibly changing communities. 

    Read the full article here. 

    July 1: Electric vehicle charging is an obstacle for NH renters and landlords 

    NH Landlords & Tenants grapple with the increased need for EV charging stations at rental properties. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 23 Jun 2023 4:35 PM | Anonymous

    June 20: Hotel group scoops up Saco dorm to help with workforce housing 

    The Migis Hotel Group recently purchased a 6,076-square-foot student dormitory to offer workforce housing for its professional restaurant employees at Higgins Beach Inn and Black Point Inn. The space currently includes 11 rooms, which the Migis Hotel Group plans to convert over the winter into six two-bedroom units. 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 20: Portland on track to reach goal for new housing units, report finds 

    According to a new study, Portland approves more housing than larger major cities, including Boston and New York City. The City of Portland currently aims to add 2,557 housing units by 2027. Portland is set to meet this goal by 2025 and exceed it by over 1,000 units come 2027. 

    Read the full article here.

    June 21: Preble Street to create new transitional housing for teens in Biddeford 

    Preble Street received a grant from MaineHousing for $348,000. They plan to use the funding to create transitional housing units in Biddeford for youths. The additional housing will support up to 12 youths. Preble Street plans to remodel an existing building for the project. 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 21: Brunswick approves new affordable housing rules amid ‘crisis’ 

    On Tuesday, the Brunswick town council approved new rules requiring new apartment developments with at least 15 rental units to have 15% of their units priced affordably. The ordinance also gives developers a “density bonus to build more apartments than are typically allowed, as long as the apartments are priced affordably to households earning up to 120% of the region’s median income.” 

    Read the full article here.

    June 21: Rhode Island company invests $8.4M in Portland affordable housing 

    CVS Health, Community Housing of Maine, the Portland Housing Authority and Boston Financial are partnering on a new project that will provide affordable housing for older adults. The Project Winter Landing is redeveloping the former Northern Light Mercy Hospital’s State Street building and parking lots. Fifty-two units will be designated affordable housing for adults aged 62 and over. The entire project is made up of 250 mixed-rate apartments and commercial retail spaces. 
    Read the full article here.
  • 16 Jun 2023 6:00 PM | Anonymous

    June 13: Housing complex planned for aging members of Maine's LGBTQ+ community

    The Equality Community Center has a campaign to build a 54-unit affordable housing complex tailored toward the LGBTQ+ community. The Equality Community Center has raised $3 million in capital so far. 

    Read the full article here.

    June 13: Portland residents make voices heard about city's growing homelessness crisis

    On Tuesday, the City of Portland heard from Portland residents about the growing number of homeless encampments around the city. The city council approved a new emergency shelter expected to house 180 asylum seekers in the Riverton neighborhood. 

    Read the full article here.

    June 13: Portland voters reject rent control changes 

    RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was interviewed by News Center Maine regarding this week's referendum vote, "Ironically, this result most punishes small mom-and-pop landlords who will exit the market leaving only large corporate landlords and conversions to condos, all of which reduced options for renters."

    Read the full article here. 

    June 13: Portland voters decide to keep current rent control ordinance 

    RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was interviewed by Fox 23 regarding this week's referendum vote, "The issue is we need good housing policy," Vitalius said. "Good policy is ultimately good for tenants and for landlords. And what we have right now is suffocating the housing market, which is going to bad for tenants in the long run." 

    Read the full article.

    June 14: Landlords, tenant advocates react to defeat of referendum to weaken rent control

    RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was interviewed by WMTW regarding this week's referendum vote, "It was an overwhelming victory for the socialists and their version of housing policy in Portland," said Brit Vitalius, the president of the Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine, which put the referendum forward. "We're disappointed that housing policy is discussed in terms of tenants versus landlords, and landlords are seen as part of the problem. We'd like to be part of the solution." 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 14: Portland voters keep current rent control rules, opponents call it 'socialism' 

    RHA President, Brit Vitalius, was interviewed by WGME regarding this week's referendum vote, "Unfortunately, I think a lot of the smaller landlords are going to leave the market," Rental Housing Alliance President Brit Vitalius said. "This was meant to be a policy change that we thought both sides could support, but instead, the narrative was tenants versus greedy landlords, must be bad, throw it out."

    Read the full article here. 

    June 15: Vacant Portland office building to become housing 

    Ocean Gate LLC is turning a former office building at 511 Congress St. into a 107-unit housing complex, including 27 affordable units. Construction is expected to take 18 months and start in early 2024. 

    Read the full article here. 

  • 09 Jun 2023 5:12 PM | Anonymous

    June 3: Letter to the editor: Rent control? Focus on inadequate housing supply 

    James Cloutier, former city councilor of Portland, wrote a letter to the editor in support of Question A. Cloutier tells readers, “the problem is inadequate housing supply. Backward, ham-fisted regulation doesn’t work. As the research shows, it makes the problem worse. Portland’s experience may be different, although no reason that it would be is obvious. Competition for apartments is already brutal. Question A will fix a little of this. Vote “yes.” 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 5: Last day for new shelter guests at the Portland Expo 

    Monday was the last day for new guests to arrive at the Portland Expo for shelter. The shelter will be closing in August. City officials will help asylum seekers currently as the Expo find new housing options over the coming weeks. 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 5: Landlords, realtors ramp up spending ahead of rent control referendum 

    Central Maine covered Portland landlords raising over $200,000 to support our referendum. RHA President Brit Vitalius notes in the article, “I think people are tired of campaigning for housing policy. This is our fourth rent control campaign in six years. It’s exhausting and a terrible way to make policy, but the current ordinance is so bad we’re imploring folks in the community to support the campaign because it’s the only way we can get the word out.” 

    Read the full article here.

    June 5: Portland forms response team to address homeless encampments 

    The City of Portland is forming an encampment crisis response team with the encampment along the fore river parkway as its first official focus. The crisis team “will be action driven and focused on protecting public safety by finding housing for the unhoused.” 

    Read the full article here.

    June 6: Acadia to commission design for workforce housing development 

    Acadia National Park received federal funding to design a development offering affordable housing for year-round and seasonal employees. The development would accommodate 60 beds  

    Read the full article here.

    June 7: Portland voters should amend ordinance, but rent control is a bad policy 

    Matthew Gagnon, Opinion columnist for Bangor Daily News, wrote an article supporting Question A. Gagnon notes, “This is what Question A seeks to address. When a tenant voluntarily leaves a property, the landlord would now have an opportunity to recoup some of the lost income that the rent-controlled unit had held back. That makes it possible for them to afford the repairs and do the upgrades they would ordinarily want to do.” 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 7: Construction on tiny home park in Bangor begins 

    Walls have started going up on Bangor’s new tiny home park development. The site plans to hold 34 tiny homes, with construction finishing by mid-summer. 

    Read the full article here. 

    June 6: Towns prepared for enactment of new law designed to increase housing stock 

    Cumberland, Yarmouth and Falmouth are tweaking their ordinances to comply with Maine’s new affordable housing law, LD 2003, which goes into effect in July. Cumberland has been working over the past few months in preparation for LD 2003 so has Yarmouth. Falmouth could see a slight residential density increase from LD 2003. 

    Read the full article here.

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