Local Information for Maine

Maine is the north-eastern most state in the United States, facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is the 23^rd state of the U.S. since March 15, 1820. It has an estimated population of 1.33 million (as of 2014) and its people is known as Mainers. Its state capital is Augusta and its largest city is Portland. Maine’s major industries include agriculture (especially potatoes), ship building, fishing (especially lobsters), footwear, machinery, electronics, and tourism. The state’s major rivers are the Androscoggin River, Kennebec River, Penobscot River, and St. John River. Its major lakes are Lake Moosehead and Richardson Lakes.

The state is known for its rocky coastline, long maritime history, and abundant parks and reserves, including the famed granite and spruce islands of Acadia National Park. Several of its popular places are Casco Bay, Portland Headlight, Old Port, Portland Museum of Art, Bar Harbor, Old Orchard Beach, Rangeley, Ogunquit, Bangor, York, and Boothbay Harbor. It is also said that moose are plenty in Baxter State Park and lakes Sebago and Region are popular for fishing.

Maine experiences humid continental climate with warm humid summers. During winter, it is cold throughout the state especially in the northern parts.

Affordable Housing in Maine

The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) is a coalition composed of more than 120 private and public sector organizations, including developers, architects, engineers, builders, investors, Community Action agencies, public housing authorities, housing and service providers, advocates and others committed to ensuring that all Mainers are adequately and affordably housed.

The coalition makes reports of the analysis of the housing needs of the state’s older population and an assessment of housing affordability. It also looks after the state’s effectiveness of the Housing Choice Voucher Program in its communities, the impacts of affordable housing to their economy, and the structure of governance of the Maine Housing Authority.

The coalition is a dues-paying membership organization that meets every first Tuesday of the month. It is governed by 12 board directors who meet regularly so as to set priorities and do follow-ups on the coalition’s activities.               

Rental Assistance in Maine

Maine’s rental assistance is known as Housing Resources - BRAP (Bridging Rental Assistance Program). This has been designed to assist people for up to 24 months or 2 years until they will be awarded a Housing Choice Voucher (aka Section 8 Voucher). This was also established as a recognition to the idea that recovery only begins in a safe, healthy, and decent environment that can be called home. The assistance favors much of those with psychiatric disabilities since they are most often the ones who are unable to afford to rent housing of their choice in the community.

It was made sure that BRAP funding meets the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Quality Standards and Fair Market Rents. Initial BRAP recipients are encouraged to follow a first model but are not required to accept the provision of services to go with the voucher. Participants of the program pay 51% of their income for rent while BRAP subsidizes the remaining amount of the rent up to the Fair Market Rent.

To find out more about your rental options, solution and affordable rental deals, go check online. You can easily find it online and your Maine dream house is just a click away.