Sen. Duson proposes bill to create transitional housing

AUGUSTA — On Friday, Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland, introduced a bill to help address the housing crisis. LD 1721, “An Act to Create Transitional Housing Communities for Homeless Populations in the State,” would establish a new program to create transitional housing statewide that is stable, cost effective, and connected to all necessary services and supports. LD 1721 was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on Housing.

“Currently, unhoused people rely on municipal General Assistance, along with associated nonprofit organizations and volunteer networks, to find transitional housing and shelter,” said Sen. Duson. “But local assistance is under-resourced. Networks and organizations are under tremendous stress. Our current approach is insufficient to meet increasing demand. Stop-gap measures like using hotels for transitional housing have proven extremely expensive, and problematic for some host communities. With the end of federal pandemic funding, we are facing a crisis that demands new solutions.”

This legislation would create 400 units of transitional housing for families and 500 units for single individuals, with at least one transitional housing community for each population within each of the nine homeless response service hubs already established by Maine Housing. The bill would also allocate funding for support services for residents of transitional housing. These services include health care, financial literacy, housing navigation, language learning, legal support, transportation assistance, and job training.

According to a study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies, 41.4% of renters are cost burdened and 19.7% of renters are severely cost-burdened. Cost-burdened renters are defined as those who pay more than 30% of their income for housing, including rent, utilities, and condominium or mobile home fees. Those who are severely cost-burdened have zero or negative income.

The Maine Mayors Coalition testified in support of the bill. The Maine Mayors Coalition includes Jason Levesque of Auburn, Mark O’Brien of Augusta, Alan Casavant of Biddeford, Carl Sheline of Lewiston, Kate Snyder of Portland, Louise MacLellan-Ruf of Rockland, William Doyle of Saco, Becky Brink of Sanford, Kate Lewis of South Portland, and Michael Foley of Westbrook.

“As mayors, our most immediate concerns are providing housing and essential support to people who need it,” said the Maine Mayors Coalition. “Creating a program to develop housing and offer services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to assist them in their transition to permanent housing, as proposed in this bill, will help us address both these concerns. It also will alleviate some of the pressures now placed on our staffs as well as on our budgets for general assistance, first responders, school systems and other critical services.”

Duson worked closely with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) on this legislation and has the support of Community Housing of Maine.

LD 1721 faces further action in committee.

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