Housing Workgroup

Read our Housing Report – Housing Solutions for Maine’s New Age

Priorities

• Identify the continuum of housing options, both currently available and in development, that can help older adults remain safely in their communities, for instance accessory apartments, shared housing, co-housing, bed & breakfast models, and more
• Convene a charrette – planning conference – with people who influence each part of housing development (i.e. zoning, code enforcement, finance, construction, licensing, etc.) related to each type of housing option to build models that can work in Maine
• Promote built-out models with appropriate associations and municipalities to encourage development of new models

After identifying models that could help older Mainers age in place and in their communities in 2016, the Housing workgroup began planning a charrette – planning conference – on these housing models. The conference, Housing Solutions for Maine’s New Age was hosted in Belfast, Maine on May 30, 2018.  This facilitated planning conference brought together a diverse group of housing, planning, and finance professionals with municipal and community leaders to learn about and plan to develop emerging housing models that help people age at home and in their communities. The conference focused on the following models, integrating concepts of universal design into each: Home Repair & Modification, Accessory Dwelling Units, Small Homes and Shared Housing. The day was broken down into two parts: in the morning plenary sessions, experts will present information on these models and solicit feedback from participants. After lunch, invited planning teams worked collaboratively to plan out different aspects of the four types of housing, including model ordinances, design aspects, code issues, finance and legal issues. Each team emerged from the planning process with recommendations which will form the basis of a conference report and plan of action.  Click here to read the conference report.