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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 F E B R UA R Y 4 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E Boston also have affordable housing challenges, but some have probably done a better job with the human ser- vice delivery system. We really need to do a better job in helping homeless folks here in Maine," he says. at's a tall order given a statewide housing crunch felt most acutely in Maine's biggest city, the state's priciest for renters. Disparity between wages and rents A 2018 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition in Washington points to a shortage in Maine of affordable rentals for low- income households, many of whom spend more than half their income on housing. It notes that they are more likely to sacrifice other necessi- ties like food and health care to pay rent, and to experience unstable situ- ations like evictions. Among households with extremely low income — with incomes below the poverty guideline or 30% of their area median — a third are disabled, 31% are seniors and 30% are in the labor force. Single caregivers and oth- ers make up the rest. e report compares rents and wages nationally and in every state, county and city. To afford a two-bedroom rental in greater Portland without paying more than 30% of income, a worker would have to earn $25.92 an hour, or what's known as the housing wage, more than twice the $11 an hour minimum wage as of Jan 1. York County is nearly as expensive. Other data, from the Maine State Housing Authority, shows that in Portland where there are more than 18,000 renter households, close to 60% can't afford the $1,107 monthly average for rent and utilities on a two- bedroom place. A victim of its own economic suc- cess, Portland's growing attraction to tourists and out-of-state transplants Portland, ME dunhamgroup.com 207.773.7100 Local Knowledge. Regional Focus. Global Reach. download your 2019 copy at dunhamgroup.com Maine's only comprehensive study and inventory of the Greater Portland Industrial Real Estate Market. greater portland industrial market survey Creating a custom design for success. When Steve White needed a non-typical financing package for a large project, other banks didn't understand. But Bar Harbor Bank & Trust was familiar with this non- standard loan structure. We looked beyond the typical solutions and created a custom product to meet Brooklin Boat Yard's needs. To see this and other success stories, go to www.bhbt.com/success-stories. Call 207-669-6811 today to connect with our Commercial Banking team. We help businesses write their own success stories. Member FDIC Personal Banking · Business Banking · Wealth Management Over 50 locations in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont " Tim, our banker, understands what we want, how we work, and what we're trying to do." —Steve White C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » We need a long-range plan to make sure the city is livable, not just for the gentry, but for different levels of income. — Joseph McDonnell Muskie School of Public Service

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