The housing affordability crisis is a legislative priority in the Pine Tree State.
"Data from MaineHousing shows more than 57% of all renters in Maine do not make enough money to afford the median cost of rent and utilities for a two-bedroom unit," reports Ross Ketschke for WMTW.
According to the article, a "surging population and a highly competitive market" are to blame for the state's worsening housing affordability challenges. "Despite flurries of developments throughout the state, housing advocates have seen demand far out-pace available supply of affordable units," writes Ketschke.
The MaineHousing report also estimates that "49.1% of all renters are cost-burdened by housing expenses, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income paying for a place to live," adds Ketschke.
The report was presented to Maine legislators with policy recommendations intended to counteract rising housing prices, including zoning codes that increase residential density—in the form of fourplexes and accessory dwelling units—similar to increasingly common reform laws in other jurisdictions.
Maine is certainly not alone in its struggles to supply housing that most residents can afford. As detailed in a recent Planetizen blog post, the "America’s Rental Housing 2022" report published in January by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (HJCHS) presented evidence rising rents and vanishing supply all over the country in 2021.
FULL STORY: Report suggests changes to local zoning to expand affordable housing
Small Cities Relax Accessory Dwelling Units Regulations Too
A city of about 40,000 residents across the Puget Sound from Seattle has relaxed zoning regulations to entice more homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.
APA Announces New ‘Housing Supply Accelerator’ in Partnership with the National League of Cities
The American Planning Association and the National League of Cities have announced a new partnership to find and implement solutions to the national housing affordability crisis.
Fourplexes on the Legislative Agenda in San Francisco
San Francisco, the poster child for runaway housing costs and displacement of existing residential populations, could be on the cusp of a change of plans.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
U.S. Transit Agencies Face a Financial Crisis
Transit providers around the country are scrambling to find new sources of revenue to replace lagging ridership and reorienting their systems to a future less dependent on daily commuters.
California Rejects Six-State Colorado River Plan, Proposes Its Own
State officials claim a proposal agreed upon by the other six states using Colorado River water disproportionately impacts California farmers.
Washington Focuses Road Safety Efforts on Individuals, Neglecting Design
Legislative efforts to reduce traffic deaths could move the needle toward Vision Zero, but state leaders failed to commit infrastructure funds to making structural improvements.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
York County, Human Resources
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
