Low Income Housing Information
Importance of Renter's Insurance
Top Benefits for Low Income Housing in Maine
Although it might be a bit much to claim "benefits" associated with any low income housing programs, Maine is certainly a much better state in which to find and get low income housing than many others. More than 90,000 households in Maine will benefit from the wide array of housing assistance programs offered by the state in 2010 and the entire system is much more accessible and user friendly than one finds in many other American states. Beyond the government programs - which are funded from federal and state sources - there is also a well developed nonprofit housing advocacy and assistance organizational structure in the state that provides a lot of helpful information for people in need of housing assistance. People that require - and qualify for - subsidized housing have many options in Maine.
The primary state authority that oversees the federal and state programs is the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA, www.mainehousing.org). Though independent, this organization is an agency of the state government and as such has greater authority than many similar organizations in other states that lack actual power. For example, the MSHA issues it own series of highly rated tax-exempt bonds, which are used to help subsidize both low income mortgages as well as the development of affordable rental units in Maine. The MSHA website is well designed and provides an easy to understand resources for people looking for housing assistance in Maine, explaining what is available, how to qualify and apply, and many other helpful details. The MSHA does not appear to run a statewide directory of affordable housing units and local public housing agencies (PHAs), but otherwise is excellent.
While most local PHAs can be found by visiting the local government website of the locality in question or through the directory listing provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD, www.hud.gov), more information can be obtained by going through the nonprofit resources available. The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC, www.mainehousingcoalition.org) is a statewide umbrella organization representing low income housing advocacy organizations around the state. A quick visit to the MAHC membership directory provides a large - though not all inclusive - list of local affordable housing organizations that are likely to provide additional information and resources to people looking for assistance. Maine residents generally have a full range of assistance available to them, from the state level down to the local one, both governmental and private.
Beyond the basic programs that are offered by the MSHA, they also have a number of educational resources and tools available, which can help people in need develop a better understanding of not only housing concerns, but general financial skills that can help with self-empowerment and self-sufficiency. The MSHA offers not only general knowledge resources - both online and workshops - about housing concerns, but also special programs for people with disabilities, people with limited English skills, along with a list of ways that violations can be reported and addressed by the relevant authorities. In line with Maine's generally liberal outlook, its housing assistance and education resources are designed to not only help those who needed it, but to empower them to help themselves.