Priorities

Affordable Housing

The beauty and exceptional quality of life along the Maine coast has made it a special place that is becoming increasing attractive to affluent seasonal residents, driving up both home prices and property taxes.

In This Section

Our People

Some of our talented people working in this area.

	Chris Wolff Community Development Director
	Mary Terry Casco Bay Affordable Housing Fellow

Essential to Sustainability

Affordable housing is essential to the sustainability of vibrant year-round island and working-waterfront communities. Young families looking for a ‘starter-home,’ represent the future and elderly retirees on a strict and limited budget provide a connection to the past. Both of these groups, however; and many other residents with significant ties to the coast, are finding it more and more difficult to purchase an affordable, year-round home, Due to the appeal of coastal-Maine real estate to affluent seasonal residents, the people residents who perform jobs and services essential for a year-round community to function, and who often do so as volunteers, find that they cannot bridge the gap between their income and the average price of a home. Without affordable housing, these special communities will lose their connection to the past, as well as to their future.

The Island Institute has identified the creation of affordable housing for year-round residents as a major priority. Through a number of strategies, including the provision of funds, technical support and grant streams, and through our role as a convening organization, the Island Institute has taken a lead role in addressing the need for affordable housing in Maine’s year-round island and working-waterfront communities.

News

Jun 28, 2010 \|	Snowe, Lautenberg, Whitehouse, Cantwell Introduce Coastal Jobs Creation Act of 2010
Jun 28, 2010 \|	Maine Islands Coalition Meeting Minutes June 11, 2010
Jun 11, 2010 \|	Maine Islands Coalition launches the 2010 Affordable Housing Initiative for Maine Islands

Publications & Resources

	Island Institute 2009 Annual Report
	Island Indicators 2008
	An Extra Set of Hands
	Maine Housing Coalition Reports
	Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
	No Island is an Island - Maine's Island Housing Groups Collaborate (PDF, 97 KB)