MaineHousing conference: Innovation key for affordable housing industry

a crowd in a conference hall with a panel of five people way in the background on a stage

Photo / Maureen Milliken More than 500 attended Tuesday's MaineHousing 2019 Affordable Housing Conference in Augusta.

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By Maureen Milliken

MaineHousing, the state's housing authority, may have been celebrating its 50th anniversary Tuesday at its biennial conference, but the focus was on the future and how innovation and collaboration will play a part.

More than 500 housing advocates, developers, real estate brokers, and other stakeholders attended the day-long 2019 MaineHousing Affordable Housing Conference, held at the Augusta Civic Center.

“The number of people here today speaks volumes about the importance of making sure all Mainers have safe homes they can afford,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “We’re excited about the possibilities and are looking ahead to the future — the future of our state, the future of our affordable housing needs, and the new and innovative ways we’ll need to think and act to meet those needs.”

The theme, "Shaping Our Housing Future," created a solutions-based framework for the day, MaineHousing officials said, "where the importance of safe, affordable homes for all Mainers wasn’t discussed as an unsolvable crisis — but instead, a challenge to be met with innovation, perseverance and hope."

Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council for State Housing Agencies, who opened the conference, told those gathered that the work they do is vital "in a critical moment in our nation's history."

"Rural housing is an issue in a number of states like Maine," he said as part of a panel discussion that included state Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-District 14; state Sen. Matt Pouliot, R-District 15; and state Rep. Mike Sylvester, D-District 39. "For decades, we’ve underinvested in rural housing. We need to elevate rural needs in the broader national affordable housing conversation."

How to increase housing access in rural areas, as well as urban areas, and for the state's growing senior population, as well as create quality housing as an economic driver to attract new residents and business, was the overarching theme of the day.

The government's role

Williams, in opening remarks, said that while some federal housing programs may get some tweaks, most will maintain the status quo, and help for weatherization may even get a bump.

He said one big thing to watch is the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which strengthens Low Income Tax Credits rules and could add 1.9 million units of affordable housing nationwide over the next decade, advocates say.

Williams said there's growing momentum for the bill in Congress.

During the panel with Bellows, Pouliot and Sylvester, he said that in general, funding levels and innovation need to ramp up efforts to solve the rural housing crisis and increase investment.

Pouliot said that there also must be participation on the state level, something he hopes to see in the next legislative session.

Bellows, who grew up in Hancock, Down East, in a house without running water or electricity, said affordable housing is the foundation for a person's success. Without it, it's difficult to find employment, to go to school, and more.

Sylvester grew up in Lewiston's Little Canada, and said that while his family didn't have money "we never felt poor." Now, representing Portland, he often hears that those seeking affordable housing feel stigmatized and have to prove "that they're poor enough."

Developers who build affordable housing, too, are often made to feel "somehow suspect," because they're not maximizing profits from their development.

When MaineHousing began 50 years ago, people felt it was part of the government's responsibility to help house the state's people. "What it's sort of slipped to is 'What are they trying to get away with?'" he said.

It's not a partisan issue to believe "housing is a basic human right," Sylvester said.

Bellows said the focus on finding housing also should start in communities, it should be an agenda item for every town council or select board. "Make it vivid, make it real," she said.

Photo / Maureen Milliken

A University of Maine Augusta Architecture School student project on innovative housing design was featured at the 2019 MaineHousing Affording Housing Conference in Augusta Tuesday.

Tiny houses, passive houses and big plans

Solutions beyond the standard housing development are being explored on many fronts.

David Libby, CEO of Town & Country Federal Credit Union, spoke about his organization's collaboration with Tiny Homes of Maine to help fund developments for "tiny homes," which are 800 square feet and less, and often mobile.

The credit union, as well as some other lenders, are finding ways to navigate state laws that make funding for tiny homes difficult, Libby said.

Smaller homes that have universal design, originally developed for accessibility reasons, can also help make new homes affordable. Such homes have moving partitions that create bedrooms at night out of living rooms during the day, adjustable counter heights and more.

The state's aging population, as well as changing demographics as far as who is living in homes — for instance, 27% percent of the state's homeowners live alone — "are redefining the meaning of home."

"Overall, there's just less need for single family homes," he said, particularly large ones.

Also featured at the conference were the results of a University of Maine Architecture School affordable housing project that challenged students to come up with innovative, efficient affordable housing for three lots in Augusta. The project was pitched to the architecture school by Amanda Olson, director of the Augusta Housing Authority, said Eric Stark, director of UMA's architecture program.

The projects had to be innovative and use passive house or high performance construction, as well as be affordable. Their projects were on display in the main conference hall, and also the subject of a panel discussion.

While the designs are theoretical, and not intended to become actual housing, those who reviewed them as part of the process "felt we would not be shocked if they came across our review desk," said said Keith Luke, Augusta's deputy director of development services.

Ryan Kanteres, of Scott Simon architects, who also was a reviewer in the program and was on Tuesday's panel, said the projects highlight the growing demand for passive house and high performance construction in Maine.

"There's a moment happening here in Maine," he said. The number of passive house projects "is really remarkable for a small state our size."

From innovation to community

Other topics Tuesday were community housing options, mass-production technologies, ending homelessness among veterans, heat pumps and co-generation, expanding broadband access, housing after the corrections system, understanding the Rural Development 515 Multi-Family Housing Transfer Process; and the Treehouse Community, a housing program that promotes permancy for children in the foster care system.

The Aroostook County Action Program's Whole Family Approach also presented on its collaborative effort to include housing, energy, transportation, workforce, and early care and education when dealing with families seeking housing. The program was one of 10 recognized nationally by the Community Action Partnership.

The Millinocket Housing Initiative was also a topic — the program by the Northern Forest Center has bought and renovated six distressed houses and multi-family houses and turned them into needed rental property.

Lunchtime keynote speaker journalist Jessica Bruder, author of "Nomadland," a book about itinerant Americans, said urged those present to make a difference.

"I'm not a Ph.D., I'm not a sociologist, but I've encountered many of the same people you do," she said.

The high cost of health care and other issues contribute to making it difficult for people to find a place to live. She said she encountered a woman at her hotel that morning with serious health issues who can't find housing.

Aside from the "big plans and dreams" that many would come away from the conference with, Bruder said, "Maybe we can change one life."

Closing out the conference were the stars of "Maine Cabin Masters," a DIY network show featuring Chase Morrill of Kennebec Property Services in Wayne and his crew.

On their show, they renovate camps and cabins, and Tuesday discussed how they do what they do with a small budget, as well as how they involve the community.

MaineHousing also named Cyndy Taylor, of Housing Initiatives of New England, as its Stephen B. Mooers Award winner.

Taylor was instrumental in the renovation of Augusta's former city hall building and the Cony High School flatiron building into senior housing.

"Not only has Cyndy worked hard to preserve these buildings in this great city for multiple generations to come, she has provided warm, safe housing for our most valuable citizens in their golden years," Brennan said. "As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in our home of Augusta, and as Maine celebrates its 200th anniversary we are proud to honor a historic preservation leader, who also embodies the core of our mission."