AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, introduced legislation before the Joint Select Committee on Housing that would amend local zoning regulations to allow manufactured houses on single-family lots.
A study released by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies cited that most Americans still view homeownership as a means to build social and economic equity. LD 337 would provide homeownership opportunities for low- to modest-income Mainers, providing another avenue to create wealth.
"There is an antiquated stigma against manufactured housing that is baked into local zoning codes, preventing the development of these affordable housing types," said Golek. "Today, not only are they indistinguishable from site-built homes in quality, but they are much quicker to build. This bill would amend current lot restrictions and provide folks with a more accessible avenue to purchase a home."
Several advocacy groups supported the bill at its public hearing, including the Maine Association of Planners, the Maine Center for Economic Policy and the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition.
"Producing new affordable housing is vital, and we need the state to support options that residents can build, such as manufactured housing, because federal and state-subsidized programs can only go so far," said Laura Mitchell, executive director of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition.
The bill faces further consideration in committee in the weeks ahead.
Golek, a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Housing, is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents Harpswell and part of Brunswick.