Housing Policy and Solutions

No matter our race, income, or zip code, we all want a safe, affordable place to live.

Housing Policy and Solutions

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Our Vision

Homes are where we find opportunities to learn, work, and build a life.

Everyone who calls Maine home should have a safe and affordable place to live. When Maine families can afford safe and accessible housing, the benefits impact entire communities. It helps people achieve financial stability, builds our workforce, strengthens our schools, and provides opportunities that power our economy.

Maine has plenty of space and resources for everyone to thrive, whether they recently immigrated or have lived here for generations. 

We envision a world where there are enough homes, enough support for families to afford them, and where tenant rights are respected and protected. In the Maine Legislature or in Washington, D.C., we champion solutions that put homes in reach for more Maine families and individuals.

Current Campaign: Rent Relief NOW!

The Housing Opportunities for Maine Act (LD 1710) would ensure more Maine families have safe, affordable homes

Maine has seen a pandemic, skyrocketing rents, the end of pandemic rental assistance, and a 25% rise in evictions. We urgently need to pass policies to help more families afford to stay in their homes and communities and protect renters from discrimination.

LD 1710 would target rent relief to the families who are at the greatest risk for housing instability, putting more homes in reach for Mainers in every part of our state and helping to end the Section 8 waitlist. It would also increase legal protections for renters facing voucher discrimination and modernize consumer debt protections for renters who have faced extremely high costs. 

The HOME Act would make it possible for eligible renters to apply for rent relief once per year to create more stable support and shift these needs away from the General Assistance program, which was not designed to provide for ongoing housing needs. It would also make support more accessible statewide, so families in cities and towns everywhere could count on finding more safe, affordable homes.  Learn more about the HOME Act with our fact sheet.

Wins: Successful Housing Campaigns

Protecting renters' rights and affordability!

In 2022, we worked with Mainers who have experienced housing insecurity, legislative leaders and community partners on bills to address the housing problems we face as a state:

Zoning and affordable housing: We worked on housing related zoning bills that would take steps to improve Maine’s zoning laws to encourage housing affordability and help reverse segregation and exclusion in our cities and towns.  LD 2003 sponsored by Speaker Ryan Fecteau and LD 1673 sponsored by Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross. LD 2003 was signed by the Governor and LD 1673 is expected to become law without the Governor’s signature. 

Housing vouchers: LD 473, sponsored by Rep. Victoria Morales, which would provide state housing vouchers to 1,000 households and institute a housing navigation program, passed the House and Senate! We are hopeful that MaineHousing will fund the programs outlined in LD 473. 

Tenant Blacklists: We are very happy that LD 913 sponsored by Rep. Tavin Hasenfus, was signed into law. LD 913 will protect Mainers from unfair use of court data around evictions. 

General Assistance: LD 910, sponsored by Rep. Michael Brennan, was partially funded with a $10 million appropriation for municipalities to fund their General Assistance programs and help low income families facing economic emergencies to stay housed, fed and able to afford the medicine they need. 

  • "Listening to people who are desperately looking for housing call in to the hotel is like listening to the apocalypse on the radio. Their whole lives are shattered and there's nothing I can do. You can't pay rent when you aren't making money. People haven't gotten help with the rent in time and now they're homeless. The housing crisis is bigger and so many renters need help."

    Michael, Lewiston hotel worker

  • "Me and my husband are doing our best, learning English, and participating in training, while we wait to get work permits. I have used General Assistance (GA) to help pay for housing since becoming an asylum seeker in Maine. People in my community are scared, not only about whether they will keep their housing but about how they will be treated each time they go to their GA office. GA should be easier to use and workers should be sensitive to what families are going through."

    -Selma Tinta, advocate and mother, Westbrook

    Do you need help paying for rent, mortgage payments, or utilities?  

    See Housing & Utilities

    Maine Equal Justice focuses its work on many of the issues that affect people’s daily lives – access to adequate health care, housing, transportation and childcare; food and income security; and higher education and training. Maine Equal Justice is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 04-3346273. 
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