MaineHousing program receives national recognition

Photo / Courtesy MaineHousing MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan, left, with Erik Jorgensen, MaineHousing's director of government relations and communications.

Write a Comment

By Tina Fischer

MaineHousing’s Affordable Homeownership Program was recently recognized during the National Council of State Housing Agencies' annual conference in New Orleans.

The program used $20 million in state funding to subsidize construction of 276 homes offered at prices affordable to middle-income households. The program, known as AHOP, was highlighted for its simplicity, innovation, and successful execution.

Single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums were included in the program.

Dan Brennan, director of MaineHousing, said the program was an example of “trying something new, making it work and then making it better still.”

Brennan said the initiative was supported by Gov. Janet Mills and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who have been advocating for affordable housing development across the state.

“MaineHousing’s work is about helping the people of Maine to the best of our ability with housing, and fostering homeownership for as many households as possible," Brennan said.

“Many of these new homeowners have also been able to use a MaineHousing low-interest mortgage product and down payment assistance to finance their AHOP purchase, which significantly compounds the affordability of their new home.”

Patricia Harriman, MaineHousing's director of homeownership added: “These homes are not only there for those starting out but may be the right size for an older couple to size down to, freeing another home to the market for purchase by a larger household.”

During a presentation on AHOP following the award, Harriman noted that in one development that was financed under AHOP, 12 of 18 affordable homes offered for sale were purchased using a low-interest MaineHousing First-Time Homebuyer mortgage.

The award for program excellence is the second in two years for MaineHousing’s development department, which was recognized in 2024 for its Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program.