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Poll results

Sponsored by: GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider

As Mainebiz reports this week in our new issue, the housing crunch is affecting communities throughout the state. 

Single-family homes are drawing record bids, and other extreme measures.

But no single solution seems to be a cure-all.

Is the situation going to get better? Got an idea to address the challenge? Let us know. We've been racking our brains.

Will Maine's shortage of housing, especially affordable housing, improve by the end of 2022? Or will we face more of the same?
The housing shortage will lessen (7%, 19 VOTES)
The housing shortage will stay about the same (37%, 94 VOTES)
The housing shortage will grow worse (56%, 142 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider

As Mainebiz reports this week in our new issue, the housing crunch is affecting communities throughout the state. 

Single-family homes are drawing record bids, and other extreme measures.

But no single solution seems to be a cure-all.

Is the situation going to get better? Got an idea to address the challenge? Let us know. We've been racking our brains.

  • 255 Votes
  • 10 Comments
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10 Comments

  • Thomas Dumont
    May 5, 2022

    The housing shortage will ebb and flow - over the years it changes as demand changes. As more people have moved to the state because of the pandemic it has made the problem worse along with more refugees coming to the state that need safe and affordable housing as well, there just isn't enough supply and there never will be enough - and I don't know how people are paying the prices for rents and still have money left over for food and clothing. And the problem isn't unique to Maine - it is all over the country. Yes rents may be lower in others parts of the country but so isn't pay and/or rents may be higher but pay is higher - so there isn't any right answer.

  • Jim Nesbitt
    May 4, 2022

    Aroostook County has affordable housing. Payments relative to income are low!

  • Craig Wetmore
    May 4, 2022

    Supply and demand will ebb and flow in the housing market. The scariest words we can hear are "we are the government and we are here to help." The labor shortage coupled with rising prices and people relocating due to the ability to work from home will keep this trend going for a while.

  • May 2, 2022

    When speculation in rental housing drives people out of options rent controls are sure to follow.

  • Christopher Flury
    May 2, 2022

    To name just a few reasons for the demise of affordable housing (current cost/supply chain issues aside): zoning, propensity for NIMBY (not in my back yard) mentality for new developments, city/town planning bureaucracy, and excessive energy and life-safety codes (I'm sure there will be pushback on the last one...). I wonder how many of those who advocate for such codes/regulations spend the dollars to retrofit their own houses if not compliant? Guessing it's an incredibly small percentage. But it's OK to force it on new construction. And this isn't taking into account "push codes" that certain municipalities implement. If you want affordable housing, you can't regulate it out of existence.