AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to pass a bipartisan joint resolution recognizing the struggle of Maine residents with housing costs and the inadequacy of Maine's housing stock. The resolution, sponsored Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, states that Maines shortage of affordable housing has a direct impact on the health and welfare of Maine people.
"It is critical that we, as elected officials, recognize the urgency of addressing Maine's housing crisis," said Cloutier. "I am pleased that we have passed this resolution and have gone on the record saying that our housing situation is unacceptable. But this is just one step, and there is a significant amount of work left ahead of us."
Members of the Legislature's Housing Working Group, advocates and members of the public held a press conference on Tuesday outside of the State House to shed light on Maines housing crisis. Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland, and Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, attended the event and spoke about how the housing crisis is affecting their communities.
"In my district, residents of South Portland are fearful of losing their homes because the coincidence of reassessment and the pandemic is placing a great burden on property taxpayers. At the same time, young families across Maine are struggling to find affordable housing," said Carney. "I'm proud to stand with legislators from all corners of our state who are making affordable housing a priority."
Housing advocates and members of the public also attended the press conference. Craig Saddlemire, cooperative development organizer with Raise-Op Housing Cooperative, Courtney Allen, policy director with Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, Emily Flinkstrom, executive director of Fair Tide, Oriana Farnham from Maine Equal Justice and Kathy Rondone, an Augusta resident who has firsthand experience with housing insecurity, all spoke at the press conference.
"We are all just one illness, one death, one lost job away from facing foreclosure, eviction or even homelessness," said Rondone. "I am here today to ask Gov. Mills and the Maine Legislature to take significant action to address the housing crisis on all fronts. There needs to be a safe and affordable place to call home for all of us, not just the wealthy few. We need this now. People can't wait."
The Housing Working Group has identified three policy areas in addressing Maine's housing crisis: support for emergency shelters and transitional housing, measures to improve housing stability for low-income Mainers and legislation to build and fund more affordable housing options. Members of the group have submitted over 40 pieces of legislation aimed at addressing these issues.
Photo: Rep. Traci Gere, D-Kennebunkport, speaks at a press conference hosted by the Legislatures Housing Group at the State House on Tuesday. From left to right, she is joined by Courtney Allen, policy director with Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, Craig Saddlemire, cooperative development organizer with Raise-Op Housing Cooperative, Rep. Victoria Morales, D-South Portland, Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, Oriana Farnham from Maine Equal Justice, Kathy Rondone, Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, and Rep. Chris Kessler, D-South Portland.]
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Cloutier, Gere, Gramlich, Kessler, Mathieson, Morales, Sachs], c. 812-1111
Lisa Haberzettl [Carney], c. 251-3548