This dashboard displays actions and investments taken under the Mills Administration to expand the supply of affordable housing in Maine. All data visualizations were created by GOPIF, in partnership with the Maine State Housing Authority. The locations of certain housing projects have been omitted from the dashboard to ensure the privacy and safety of their at-risk resident populations. Total investment numbers include all public and private development costs, where available.
How to Use This Dashboard
- Use the dropdown menus at the top of the dashboard to filter by project status, project category, county, subsidy source, and/or program year.
- Hold the “Control” key while using the dropdown filters to select multiple options.
- Click the back arrow in the top right corner to reset all filters.
- Hover over the dots on the map for more information about each project.
About the Data
Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) is an independent authority that administers a number of federal housing-related programs, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the Section 8 Rental Assistance programs, the Emergency Solutions Grant Program, the Weatherization Program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and others. Such programs reduce the costs associated with housing for Maine people.
MaineHousing considers housing “affordable” if the household spends no more than 30% of its income on housing-related costs (mortgage or rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, and maintenance). The program years used in the dashboard tool refer to the year that each project applied for funding. Housing construction projects often take several years from application to completion.
MaineHousing leverages a range of state and/or local subsidies to help developers make affordable housing projects financially viable:
- Housing Bond Refi – In October 2021, Governor Mills announced that her administration, working closely with the Legislature and MaineHousing, had freed up $38.6 million in funding for affordable housing as a result of refinancing existing bonds and purchasing new bonds at lower interest rates.
- Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan (MJRP) – The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan (MJRP) is Governor Mills’ plan, approved by the Legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds to improve the lives of Maine people and families, help businesses, create good-paying jobs, and build an economy poised for future prosperity.
- Senior Affordable Housing Bond – In 2019, Governor Mills signed into law a $15 million senior housing bond, which has resulted in nine new senior housing developments across Maine that provide nearly 300 affordable apartments for Maine seniors.
- State Affordable Housing Tax Credit - A refundable credit, administered by the Maine State Housing Authority, that is available to individuals or corporations who invest in affordable housing.
- Other - This category includes other federal funding programs:
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) – Federal tax credit to developers of affordable rental housing, divided into two separate funding programs:
- 4% Tax Credit – Fund for the acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation and new construction
- 9% Tax Credit – Fund for new construction and substantial rehabilitation
- HOME-ARP – Funding for the new construction, adaptive reuse, or acquisition and rehabilitation of housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
- National Housing Trust Fund – Grants to states to produce and preserve affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households.
- Supportive Housing Program – Funding for developers to create housing for persons with specific housing needs at 30% of Area Median Income (AMI) or less.
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) – Federal tax credit to developers of affordable rental housing, divided into two separate funding programs:
Last updated – September 5, 2023