AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted Thursday to enact LD 830, sponsored by Rep. Daniel J. Hobbs, D-Wells, which would direct the Maine Community College System to study providing more housing on its campuses.
"This bill will aid the Maine Community College System in their efforts to ensure campus housing is more accessible for students across Maine," said Hobbs. "In a tight housing market, on-campus housing should be more available to all students, so that finding off-campus housing is not added to the list of challenges students already face."
This bill would direct the system to study housing construction costs, the cost to students, the availability of space on campuses, other infrastructure and staff necessary to support housing, alternate housing options and any other issues the system feels are appropriate.
Currently, five of the seven community colleges have residence halls. Both York County Community College (YCCC) and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) do not have residence halls. YCCC is currently lodging some students in a local hotel and KVCC is exploring housing options.
The bill faces further votes in the Senate.
Hobbs is serving his second non-consecutive term in the Maine House, representing a portion of Wells. He serves as a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Hobbs], c. 305-965-2744