AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature voted Tuesday to advance a proposal from Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, to address the state's worsening housing crisis. The measure earned initial approval "under the hammer," or by unanimous consent, in both the House and Senate.
LD 1540 would create the Stable Home Fund, a state program to provide low-income families with temporary rental assistance paid directly to their landlords.
"In order for Maine children and families to succeed and thrive in school, at work and as members of their communities, they first need a safe, secure place to call home," said Millett. "Right now, too many families are struggling to pay the rent or the mortgage if they can find a place to live at all. Those families are at greater risk for food insecurity, poor health outcomes, lower academic achievement and homelessness. We must get serious about investing in affordable housing to promote Mainers' health and economic security."
Access to affordable housing is a problem across the state. According to the Maine State Housing Authority, the average home price is unaffordable to an average income household in every county except Aroostook. The Fair Market Rent, a federal measurement of housing rental costs, for a two-bedroom unit is unaffordable to the average renter household in every area of Maine.
Research shows that people facing housing instability and homelessness are at risk for poorer health and food insecurity. Students who are homeless or have unstable housing are more likely to miss school and score lower on exams than their peers.
"As I've sat on my local school board and served in the Legislature, I've heard from educators about how they are faced with some of society's most difficult problems-problems that can't be solved in the classroom, as much as they wish they could," said Millett. I see solving our affordable housing crisis from that perspective. These issues are all interconnected, and to address them, we need to start with a strong foundation at home.
The bill faces additional votes.
Millett is serving her second term in the Maine House and previously served eight years in the Maine Senate. She is a member of both the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and the budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee. She is also the founder and co-chair of the Legislature's Children's Caucus.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Millett], c. 305-965-2744