Avesta CEO Dana Totman sees Maine's affordable housing need as greatest in 50 years

Courtesy / Avesta Housing Dana Totman, is an avid hiker and was the first person from Maine to solo hike the entire Appalachian Trail.

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By Jessica Hall

Dana Totman, who will soon retire as president and CEO of affordable housing developer Avesta Housing, on Wednesday said the need for such homes in Maine is at a historic level — and big changes in zoning, funding and attitudes are critical.

“The need for affordable housing is far greater than any time in Avesta’s 50-year history,” said Totman, who was the keynote at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues event. “The mismatch [in housing and incomes] we have today is far worse than what we had 50 years ago.”

Totman, who recently announced his plans to retire this year, said the housing need is most critical for senior citizens, who are in dire need of affordable assisted living units, and the homeless, who need more shelters and assistance. New Mainers and first-time home buyers need help too.

Totman said public discussions over affordable housing have gotten more combative in recent years, and the “nimby-ism” in areas such as Cape Elizabeth, where an affordable housing project failed, has gotten more intense.

In December, the Szanton Co., based in Portland, dropped plans for a proposed a $13.5 million, 49-unit apartment building that would have been Cape Elizabeth's first affordable housing project in 50 years. The reason, Szanton said at the time, was opposition and a referendum signed by some local residents.

“Part of our society is less welcoming,” Totman said. “I think many, many of us have a home to go to at night. We’re blind to those whose living situation is not like ours.”

“We must build housing. It’s not going to just occur."

To solve the affordable housing crisis in Maine, Totman said the state needs philanthropic help, volunteerism, private investment, creative ways to use voucher programs and zoning changes to encourage more density and encourage multi-unit dwellings. He also cautioned that municipalities should minimize the loss of housing units to VRBOs and Airbnb short-term rentals.

“We need to make affordable homes a priority,” Totman said. “Affordable housing is as important as clean lakes and rivers. We need the state to jump in more.”

In 2021, 454 new affordable homes were created under Maine Housing, compared to a need of as many as 25,000 units, Totman said.

“We need more homes, we need smaller homes. We need homes in Cumberland County,” Totman said. “We’re not going to convert a four-bedroom house in Aroostook County into efficiency apartments in Portland. Housing is often in the wrong location.”

Totman said the pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis as the prices of houses have surged, inventory became tight and few first-time buyers or low-income families could afford the bidding wars.

“A healthy housing market must have movement. Ours is a mess. Since the pandemic started, if people can’t buy, they can’t vacate a rental unit and open that unit up for someone who needs it,” Totman said.

The pandemic also slowed the development and construction of new units, he said.

“The pandemic really affected us in major ways. The supply chain problem and labor problem has driven up costs and slowed our speed,” Totman said.

As for his next steps, Totman said he didn’t know what his retirement life will look like.

“I’ll miss working with great people. I’ll miss working on this cause. I’ll miss the great people at Avesta." But Totman said he would not miss early morning meetings. “I don’t know what I’m going to do next, but I hope to spend a little time outdoors.”