Sen. Curry joins bipartisan national gathering to explore housing solutions

Housing Policy Academy focuses on expanding homeownership, affordable rentals and housing supply

AUGUSTA — Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, joined a bipartisan group of state legislators from across the country for the Council of State Governments’ Housing Policy Academy, held Sept. 23-24 in Washington, D.C. The gathering brought together lawmakers and housing experts to examine approaches to making housing more affordable and accessible for working families.

“People who work in Waldo County should be able to afford to live here, raise a family and put down roots,” said Sen. Curry. “The shortage of affordable housing is a national problem, and states have an opportunity to learn from one another. This academy brought legislators from both parties together with people who research, finance and build housing to discuss practical solutions. I’m focused on bringing those ideas back to Maine to help more people find a home they can afford.”

The Academy brought together legislators, researchers, developers, advocates and representatives from government agencies to discuss promising housing policies being pursued nationwide. Discussions explored ways to expand access to homeownership, finance multifamily apartment buildings and preserve existing affordable housing.

Other topics included zoning and land use reform, manufactured and modular housing, building codes and the effects of changes to federal housing policy and funding.

Sen. Curry’s participation builds on his work as Senate chair of the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee. This year, legislation he sponsored became law to reduce certain residential construction costs and strengthen municipal support for housing development, including training and technical assistance for local code enforcement officers and standards for modular construction.

Sen. Curry is serving his third term representing the 26 rural, coastal and island communities of Waldo County in the Maine Senate. He serves as Senate chair of the Housing and Economic Development Committee and is a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, in Washington, D.C., where he attended the Council of State Governments’ Housing Policy Academy Sept. 23-24.

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