Where we live may be the foundation for our success. This principle has been a driving wheel for many "housers" the professionals who serve housing needs in Maine through housing authorities, developers, banks and government officials. Multiple streams of work have been gathering speed toward one goal; to get Maine people into homes where they are warm, comfortable, and happy!

There are currently many initiatives happening toward this goal and, the facts that Maine has the third oldest housing inventory in the country, that housing is becoming more scarce and less affordable and that Federal monies have been changing and becoming less available are bringing housing to the front burner in Maine people's "hot button" issues.

Most recently, the various groups working on the issue worried about state budgetary issues. Would the Governor leave The Home Fund intact? (Home Fund Background) You can read the background of the Home Fund at the link above.

In fact, upon release of the Governor's budget on Friday January 5, this fund was left intact. In years past, the first $7.5 million collected for the Fund has been rolled into the General Fund, the state coffers that fund the majority of state programs. Kate Brennan, a housing organizer with Maine People's Alliance said Friday that "calls, letters and emails to the Governor preserved the Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund in the biennial budget![It is] a short term goal which will set us up to further strengthen and broaden the HOME Fund this session and beyond and place the preservation and construction of **truly** affordable housing as a priority in Maine!" A "Housing Committee of Maine Peoples' Alliance, made up of members and supporters of housing needs, has been meeting regularly and has actively been seeking public support for housing monies. You can find out about this work on their website at http://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org/affordable_housing.html

Mainers from other groups were also calling and writing to the Governor about housing. Some people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and housing providers were quite busy. Cullen Ryan, Executive Director of Community Housing of Maine, offered "Congratulations to the group for a hearty email/letter writing campaign to the Governor." More information about the Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services can be found in "a brief document of the history and purpose of our Coalition" at Coalition History In fact, as this piece is being produced there is a meeting of the Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services happening. The meeting, on January 8 from 11 to 1:30, according to Ryan, "will involve strategic planning for the group and the second half of the meeting will focus on housing, advocacy, and a general discussion by the group. This is an important meeting as it will lay out our agenda for the upcoming months."

Coming agenda? Next stop: the legislature. Budgets created by the Governor must be approved by the legislature. This long, drawn out process becomes the next advocacy test for the HOME Fund allocation and we mustn't forget that old saying, "The Governor proposes, and the legislature disposes," often quoted during budget deliberations at Maine's state house. Your personal involvement, advocacy, and legislative contact will be important through the upcoming budget times. Stressing the importance of housing for mainers who have low income and people with disabilities will be critical in keeping housing a priority issue.

Of course, The Maine Housing Authority continues its work toward providing affordable home ownership and rental opportunities. Dale McCormick, director of the Authority, released this information after the Governor's press conference. Read the Press Release

Other initiatives on the governmental side include work by Maine's Office of Adult Mental Health Services to "unbundle" supports from housing, as required by the newest court approved consent decree plan. A committee of housing providers and consumers of services is currently working toward this objective.

There is also a working group charged with multiple issues, including creating an easy to use housing source list kept up to date on a state database. This workgroup is also being manned by consumers, state officials and housing providers.

If all of the legislation about housing offered in this upcoming session was listed here, it would be obvious just how many differing viewpoints there are about housing in Maine. AbilityMaine will update with those potential laws as soon as there is sufficient information to do so. Meanwhile, there are immediate ways for us to be involved in this ongoing process to protect the HOME Fund. We must write to our legislators conveying the importance of affordable and accessible Housing. People with disabilities have much to gain from all of this activity. Get contact information below for Maine People's Alliance and Community Housing for Maine! Ask questions, attend meetings, and make your voice heard! This is how real effective change happens.

IMMEDIATE RESOURCE

Here is some information about programs for people with disabilities happening at Alpha One. Landlords, renters and homeowners will find accessibility assistance at their web site which asks, "Do you need to make your home accessible?"

Home Accessibility, Access Design, and Apartment Hunting at "Adapted Home", Maine's largest database of current and available adapted homes, all can be found when you Launch Adapted Home http://www.adaptedhome.org

Get involved by using any of the following Housing Contacts

Cullen Ryan, Executive Director
Community Housing of Maine
207–879–0347
cullenr@maine.rr.com

Steve Hoad
Advocacy Initiative Network and
Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods
207.445.2141
mainefun40@hotmail.com

Kate Brennan
Statewide Housing Organizer
Maine People's Alliance
office: (207) 782–7876
kate@mainepeoplesalliance.org

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