Happy Fall!
As the pumpkins are coming out of the gardens and making their way to front porches, MaineHousing staff continue to help manage Maine’s COVID-19 response and move our other initiatives forward.
Over the last week, we began winding down our COVID-19 Rent Relief Program. In partnership with the Mills Administration and Maine’s Community Action Agencies, we have helped well over 14,000 households pay their rent over the last five months. We’re hopeful that Congress allocates additional federal money to help cover the range of Maine’s significant COVID-19 related needs, including rent relief.
We have been preparing for spruce tipping and wreath making season for just over a month. (Not something we thought that we as an agency would ever prepare for, because while wreaths make wonderful home decorations.... But hey - it's COVID times and we've got to be nimble!) Over 400 workers will begin arriving the first week of November. In partnership with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, we are working to support COVID-19 testing and housing of wreath season migrant farm workers who may need to isolate or quarantine. By providing quarantine housing, medical and cultural support services, we are prepared to respond as needed to migrant farmers and their employers.
The Statewide Homeless Council’s work on the redesign of Maine’s homeless system continues as the Corporation for Supportive Housing, consultants who are supporting the Council’s work, wrapped up stakeholder listening groups. The listening groups are an initial component of the redesign process. A leadership team has been formed to advise the redesign process and workgroups will soon be established to focus in on key elements of the redesign.
As always, if you have comments or questions about our work, please send them our way! In the meantime, enjoy fall and we hope you and yours are healthy and safe.
The MaineHousing Team