|
|
It's back to school time, and there are enough trainings happening around here that you may as well call us MaineHousing University!
Our staff have been organizing and providing training on a number of different fronts, including Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) changes to the application process and a whole new database, weatherization for manufactured homes, and heat pumps (more on heat pumps soon!).
We've also been busy preparing for our Affordable Housing Conference - many fabulous workshops await attendees, including innovative housing services for older adults, housing after incarceration, destigmatizing manufactured housing, and more! Make sure you register soon - spots are filling fast!
| |
|
| | Important Changes for Housing Choice Voucher Plan
| |
There has been a change to MaineHousing’s administration plan effective August 2, 2019 that affects families housed through our Stability Through Engagement Program (STEP). STEP is a program that provides short term rental assistance to rapidly re-house people who are homeless.
This change creates a process where STEP temporary voucher holders who have successfully completed 18 months of the program can transition to a long-term Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) if they are rent burdened and an HCV is available. Rent burdened means that the person or family spends more than 30% of their income on their rent.
The change comes in response to concerns that many homeless shelter providers have noted, where it was clear that some people or families may still need rental assistance after going through STEP. We are glad to update our policies so people who need support to remain stably housed don't fall through the cracks.
| |
| |
MaineHousing Offers Manufactured Housing Weatherization Training
| |
MaineHousing’s Energy & Housing Services Department recently provided a week-long field and classroom training on manufactured housing weatherization to 29 attendees.
Weatherization installers, Community Action Agency crews, program managers, energy auditors, quality control inspectors, company owners, production managers, and state monitors worked together throughout the training. All got a taste of the many management and technical skills that go into providing high quality weatherization installations in different types of manufactured homes. Cal Steiner, manufactured home expert, brought a wide range of knowledge to the table. Facilitator Brandon Kjeldon has extensive installation and program management experience.
Topics covered included learning several new methods for adding insulation, heat duct sealing, special considerations for auditing and inspecting, and more.
| |
Manufactured homes in Maine vary widely in age, construction type and condition, so it’s important for our Weatherization network to know all the different methods for conducting an accurate energy audit, adding insulation, air sealing and heat duct sealing. We had access to several different training houses and gained valuable hands-on time in the field.
We were pleased that Cal and Brandon could witness the high level of skill and dedication of our weatherization network. Thanks and kudos go out to everyone who participated!
| |
| |
Building Our House of Lean: Lean System Summit
| |
Four years ago, Lean/Continuous Improvement was introduced to a handful of staff within our agency. The energy of and successes experienced by the early adopters gave others the desire and encouragement to invest in Lean/Continuous Improvement.
Jamie Johnson and Alison Dyer, our Lean Team Leaders, shared MaineHousing's experience during their presentation at the 2019 Lean Systems Summit. They discussed MaineHousing's Lean successes and challenges, and talked about creative ways to instill Lean/ Continuous Improvement in organizational culture.
Following the summit, Jamie and Alison plan to lend their knowledge to a group of Maine state department staff who are interested in implementing Lean. We're proud of our Lean Machines' work and dedication to keeping us Lean!
| |
| | Mobile Home Replacement Success!
| |
MaineHousing’s Pre-1976 Mobile Home Replacement Initiative provides income-eligible Maine residents with an opportunity to replace the pre-1976 mobile home they own and occupy as their primary residence with a new ENERGY STAR ® certified manufactured home.
The photos above, from a Sagadahoc replacement done in partnership with First National Bank, is a great representation of the impact of this program.
As of August 1, our Homeownership Department has done 14 mobile home replacements this year.
| |
| | MaineHousing Welcomes New Staff!
| |
Melissa Ames, Housing Choice Voucher Intake Assistant
Melissa comes to us from the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter and brings years of experience working as a Navigator assisting homeless families to find stable housing. Her knowledge of our programs and dedication to our mission will make her a great addition to MaineHousing.
| |
Christopher Anderson, Property Preservation Coordinator
Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Education with an emphasis in Business, Psychology and Communications from Aquinas College. Chris comes to us with extensive experience in customer service, property preservation and maintenance, and financial oversight. His prior experience with owning and operating an inn, his knowledge of civil construction, home building, home repair, and maintenance will make him a valuable member of our team.
| |
Katharine Holzwarth
Loan Administration Assistant
Katie started her career at MaineHousing as a temp in EHS at the beginning of May and transitioned into her permanent position in our Finance Department at the end of July. She is a Senior at the University of Maine Augusta, working toward a B.A. with concentrations in Business, Education, and Social Sciences. Katie came to us with experience in non-profit work, where she has previously travelled with a team to Costa Rica and Guatemala to build houses for people in need. She currently resides in Windsor with her 2 year old bulldog, named Moose.
| |
Christina Reekie, HCV Intake Assistant
Chrissy is a world traveler and a recent graduate with a double major in Cultural Anthropology and Photography. Chrissy moved to Maine from Utah in April and started working for MaineHousing as a temp and fell in love MaineHousing. Chrissy has been lucky enough to have had jobs and fields of study that have allowed her to travel the world; her favorites have been touring the U.S with musicians while working for a nonprofit and studying Ethnoelephantology in Cambodia.
| |
Sharon Sliva, HCV Intake Assistant
Sharon comes to MaineHousing with a vast customer service background. She has lived and worked in the Gardiner/Augusta community her whole working career and has developed a great working knowledge of the area.
| |
|
September Board Meeting
MaineHousing's Board of Commissioners will meet on September 17 at 9 am in the MaineHousing Board Room at 353 Water Street, Augusta.
| |
| MaineHousing Homeownership
(as of 8-22-19)
Purchases: 605
The total value of the loans purchased so far is $80,639,771.
There are 378 units in
the pipeline at $53.6 million in value.
Maine Home Sales
In July 2019, 1,866 units were sold, which is up 0.16% from July 2018.
Median sales price was $230,000, which is up 2.22% from July 2018.
There were an estimated 9,480 single family units listed for sale as of August 14, 2019, which, based on June sales numbers, would be 5 months of inventory.
| |
| HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP)
As of August 15, 2019 for FFY2019 (10/1/18 - 9/30/19):
Total applications:
50,924
Households Served: 39,017
Total Benefits:
$27,628,618
| |
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits grew at
an unadjusted rate of 421 units in June. This is
down 9.9% from June 2018 and down 2.3%
from May 2019.
Single-family authorizations in June were at an unadjusted rate of 348. This is down 17.1% from June 2018. Multi-family authorizations were at an unadjusted rate of 73. This is up 55.3% from June 2018.
| |
|
| Do you follow us on social media? Click below to find out what we're up to witness all the fun and excitement in real time!
| |
|
|
|
|
