A measure sponsored by state Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, to establish a stakeholder group to investigate the challenges facing renters in acquiring and utilizing housing vouchers, was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on April 2.
As amended, L.D. 2158 will direct the Maine State Housing Authority to form a committee of subject matter experts, including those with experience working within housing authorities, rental navigation programs, municipal general assistance, and the legal field, to convene over several months to discuss and study the state’s housing voucher system.
The group will work to outline fair market rental requests from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and collaborate with landlords to ensure that rental assistance and housing vouchers are utilized to the fullest extent. They will then compile their findings and report their recommendations to the legislative committee with jurisdiction over housing by Jan. 15, 2025.
“This bill takes a positive step forward in Maine’s fight against the housing crisis,” Golek said. “Too many folks struggle to access and use rental assistance programs like Section 8 housing. The waitlist for this program is around 20,000 or more, and some have ended up waiting as long as seven years to access rental support. This is unacceptable, and we can do better. We have the flexibility at a state level to make this lifesaving program work better than it currently is. We can reduce our waitlists and the number of expired vouchers while helping more residents secure housing.”
The new law will go into effect 90 days after the current session of the Legislature adjourns.
Golek, a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Housing, is serving her first term in the Maine House. She represents Harpswell and part of Brunswick.
