Brunswick Housing Committee releases $50K to Habitat, hears housing data

The Brunswick Housing Committee voted unanimously to release the second $50,000 installment of its critical home repair grant to Habitat for Humanity Seven Rivers. Members also heard updates on the Hawthorne School redevelopment, the rental registry, and a Tedford Housing presentation on rising homelessness and shelter demand.

Key points

• The committee voted unanimously to release the second $50,000 installment to Habitat for Humanity Seven Rivers for critical home repair, after Executive Director Ian Tovel reported 50 completed repairs and 18 jobs in the pipeline.
• Chrissy Adamowitz reported the Town Council awarded the Hawthorne School redevelopment to developer Dooryard, which proposed 26 affordable units at 80 to 100 percent area median income and may request $100,000 from the affordable housing support fund.
• Staff said the rental registry mailed 233 unregistered properties in August, with 80 already registered, 64 identified as exempt, and about 10 violations found; a new records management specialist was hired to help.
• Tedford Housing Executive Director Andrew Lardy said a statewide study projects 17,000 Mainers will experience homelessness this year and that the system is roughly half the size needed, with Brunswick accounting for about a third of Tedford's clients.
• Ben Gaines announced MaineHousing's eviction prevention program opened Monday, offering up to $9,600 in rental arrears and up to $800 in forward rent, with 350 applications already filed against $11 million in funding.
• The committee discussed whether Brunswick's zoning allows single-room occupancy or transitional housing, with members suggesting the topic return for future discussion.

Next steps

• A community meeting on the Hawthorne School project is planned for around October 20, with details to be confirmed.
• The rent review board will hold its first hearing on October 13 at 5 p.m. regarding a Bay Bridge request for an increase above the allowed threshold.
• Staff will invite Dorian Fournier of United Way to a future meeting to present on the ALICE data.
• The committee plans to revisit inclusionary zoning and possible zoning changes for transitional or SRO housing.
• Ben Gaines will email MaineHousing eviction prevention program materials to the chair and staff for distribution.

Read the full transcript