Like many cities around the country, Portland, Maine is faced with rising costs for housing as demand outpaces supply.
Stephanie Bouchard reports on the actions taken by officials in the city of Portland to respond to the city's tightening housing market.
Bouchard's coverage begins by comparing the city of Portland's housing market to the situation in the rest of country, citing research by the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies and case studies provided by housing programs in Boston and Connecticut.
Portland has taken action to address its housing shortage by hiring Jack Kartez, emeritus professor of community planning and development at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service, to produce a report currently under consideration by the city's housing committee. The policy recommendations under consideration include:
- "placing a moratorium on no-cause evictions"
- "improving the rules for accessory dwellings in existing properties"
- "working with partners such as Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate city-owned tax-acquired properties to turn them into affordable housing"
FULL STORY: City acts to ease Portland housing shortage
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