First of its kind Maine housing relief program expanded
COURTESY / AVESTA HOUSING
Maine needs more affordable housing such as Bartlett Woods, an affordable senior housing complex in Yarmouth co-owned by Yarmouth Senior Housing and Avesta Housing.
An expanded program in greater Portland will provide landlords and homeowners guaranteed rent and recommendations for people in need of housing.
The Project HOME program was a first of its kind program in Maine that launched six years ago to offer guaranteed rent and year-long housing support to landlords willing to rent to families and individuals seeking housing.
This week, the program was expanded to offer the same guarantees to homeowners willing provide a bedroom, entire home, apartment, short-term rental or accessory dwelling unit for the same purpose.
The program is a collaboration between the Quality Housing Coalition, the Greater Portland Council of Governments and the city of Portland.
“When individuals and families have stable and supportive housing, they are able to access the benefits of education, health and well-being, and are better positioned to attain their professional goals,” said Victoria Morales, executive director of the Quality Housing Coalition. “When we solve for permanent affordable housing, everything else falls into place — individuals, families, and children experience less stress, gain confidence and self-agency, and thrive.”
Project HOME provides landlords and home share providers with tenant preparation and recommendations, and guaranteed monthly rent.
Project HOME staff will serve as liaisons to facilitate communication between landlords/homeshare providers and tenants to prevent and resolve all rental matters on a 24/7 basis.
“We are hopeful that this program will help us find housing opportunities for the families currently staying at the temporary emergency shelter at the Expo as that space will be closing on Aug. 16,” said Danielle West, Portland’s city manager.
Homeshare providers sought
The Project HOME program is seeking homeshare providers and landlords who have extra space they don’t need right now, whether it be a bedroom, accessory dwelling unit, apartment or short-term rental.
“The city of Portland is doing a tremendous amount of work in providing emergency shelter space, wrap-around services and access to housing opportunities, but we need help in locating additional housing opportunities,” said Portland Mayor Kate Snyder. “I am hopeful this program will be another piece of the puzzle.”
Elements of the program are similar to the Host Homes program, which the Greater Portland Council of Government and the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition launched in 2019 to house 148 asylum seekers sheltered at the Portland Expo.
In 2019, homeowners who took in asylum seekers were not paid rent and committed to share their homes for only three months. Under Project HOME, homeowners will have the assurance of guaranteed rent for one year.
“The guaranteed rent and support services are key,” said Greater Portland Council of Governments Director of Strategic Partnerships Belinda Ray.
Quality Housing Coalition was founded in 2018 by nonprofit and for-profit landlords to create new solutions to housing insecurity and homelessness in Maine. Through a community needs assessment with community service organizations, housing advocates, tenants, local governments, and property managers, Project HOME was launched. After six years, over 600 households and 1,400 adults and children were housed with 38 landlord partners in five counties.
According to the Maine Housing Authority, Maine needs over 20,000 new housing units to meet the current and future needs of employees to live and work close to their jobs.
In addition, 41% of 154,000 renters can’t afford the rent, 17,000 households are on the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers, and the statewide homeless population exceeds 4,000 people.
Quality Housing Coalition, a charitable nonprofit, was created in response to the challenge to open new pathways to stabilize and access housing by working with municipalities, housing authorities, state and local leaders, housing and homeless advocates, nonprofit and for-profit housing developers, tenants, landlords, property managers and community members to create housing forward policies.
More information
To learn more about the program, click here or contact QHC Program Manager Lucas Schrage at 207- 321-1276 or lucas@qualityhousingcoalition.org.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments