AUGUSTA, Maine — To combat Maine's housing crisis, housing production—particularly affordable housing—will have to increase across the board a newly released report says.
Released by both the Maine State Housing Authority alongside the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the Governor's Office, the report highlights what steps are needed to achieve housing goals in the state of Maine.
State leaders are currently aiming at an ambitious goal of creating 84,300 units to the housing market by 2030. To reach that goal, the report shows housing production will need to increase by 77 to 94 percent each year state-wide.
Based on historical underproduction and future need, the report found that Washington and Aroostook Counties will need to ramp up housing production more than anywhere else in the state.
The report said Washington County alone would need to issue 830 building permits annually over the course of the next 5 years. Currently, it only issues about 60 permits per year.
In Aroostook County, which issues about 90 permits per year, the report says it needs to increase to about 390 permits annually.
The report also outlines strategies to increase housing production, from ways to break down cost barriers, supporting initiatives to increase the amount of construction workers in Maine and ways to shift local attitudes towards affordable housing developments.
The report explains that while some residents might have assumptions based on stereotypes that affordable housing developments will change the character of a neighborhood, public outreach and education initiatives can help to address concerns.
The report is part of a push by the Legislature to understand why Maine is facing a housing crisis, and how to alleviate those needs.