Earlier this month, we were proud to attend the signing of LD 1645, An Act To Create Affordable Workforce and Senior Housing and Preserve Affordable Rural Housing. This law provides
$80 million in state housing tax credits. The tax credits will result in 1000 new affordable housing units in the next 8 years and help preserve existing affordable housing units. 
This legislation is a substantial and critical investment in building a Maine where everyone can afford a safe, stable home. At a time when the housing choice voucher waitlist is over 20,000 people – this is a true game changer.

And while we all know the need is significant, and we know the numbers are stark, it’s important to remember that innovative people across Maine are working on solutions to address our affordable housing challenges through construction, preservation, repair, and modification. This legislation is central to move many of those solutions forward.

We are excited to help build this key piece of Maine’s future. We are grateful to Governor Janet Mills, Representative Ryan Fecteau, the bipartisan group of cosponsors, the Maine legislature, and everyone who worked so hard to pass LD 1645.
As Governor Mills noted at the bill signing, "I hope [this legislation] will allow us to say to thousands more Mainers, 'Welcome Home.'"

Census 2020 - You Matter
The Census helps shape our state in many ways. Census numbers help determine federal funding for important programs. Information from the Census helps agencies like MaineHousing make data-informed programmatic and policy decisions. Census data also helps determine our representation in Congress. 
The 2020 Census is easy to complete. You will answer a simple questionnaire about yourself and everyone who is living with you on April 1, 2020.
The data you provide to the Census Bureau is protected - it is kept anonymous and only used for statistical purposes.
Your participation matters. Learn more about the different ways you can answer the Census, what kinds of questions are asked, how your data is protected, and more. You matter, so stand up. Be counted. Spread the word. 

MaineHousing Annual Accomplishments
We are proud to present our 2019 Accomplishments. This document outlines our 2019 programmatic successes by the numbers. This includes 781 completed multifamily units, our investment in 1,119 first-time homebuyers, lead abatement of 232 homes and apartments, and helping 31,122 households with home energy assistance costs. 
Our Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Department inspectors traveled 192,723 miles from Madawaska to Camden and conducted over 5,500 inspections. The HCV Department also provided vouchers to 314 new families who found homes.
Our Homeownership Department helped 27 households replace a pre-1976 mobile home. Additionally, we were proud to invest in 70 veterans who purchased a home MaineHousing. Over 95% of people who received a MaineHousing loan in 2019 used our Advantage program, which provides $3500 in downpayment and closing cost assistance. 
Our Community Aging in Place funding helped 258 households with low-cost, high-impact home repairs and modifications. The average cost per household was $2,016. We're looking forward to increasing the service area of this program in the coming months. 

New MaineHousing Landlord Program
We are excited to offer a new program that we hope will help increase landlord participation in our Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Private landlords are key to the HCV Program's success. With over 18,000 Mainers (2,000 from outside of Maine) on Maine's centralized HCV waitlist, MaineHousing staff consistently seek ways to increase private landlord participation. 
As a result of many conversations with current landlord partners and hearing concerns from potential landlords, we created the Landlord Damage Reimbursement Program. 
This program is now offered to landlords whose unit is damaged beyond normal wear and tear by a voucher holder. Damages must exceed the amount covered by a security deposit. If you have questions about becoming a landlord partner, or if you want to learn more about the program, please contact us!

MaineHousing is Hiring!
MaineHousing has a few different positions open, including a Multifamily Underwriter and a new position - the Youth Homeless Project Coordinator! Learn about all our available positions - and keep an eye out for more opportunities - on our website.
MaineHousing's Board of Commissioners will meet on March 17, 2020 at 9 am in the MaineHousing Board Room at 353 Water Street, Augusta.
MaineHousing Homeownership:
As of February 18, 2020

Purchases: 190  
This is up 16% over February 2019.

The total value of the loans purchased in 2020 is $27,856,570, which is up 40% from the same period in 2019.

There are 202 homes in the pipeline at $28,012,208 in value.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
As of February 21, 2020:
Total applications: 37,915
Pending: 9,735
Confirmed Eligible: 25,261 
New Residential Construction - 2019 Year in Review
Total multifamily authorizations for 2019 were at an unadjusted rate of 1,258. This is 100% over 2018 and is the highest mark since 1988. Increased multifamily construction helps ease affordability problems stemming from tight inventories.
Total units for 2019 were 4,734, which is up 11% over 2018. Single family units dropped 5% to 3,449 from 2018. 

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
353 Water Street
Augusta, ME | 04330 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.