Maine Eviction Prevention Pilot Program Moves To Waiting List

AUGUSTA - In response to high application volume the Eviction Prevention Pilot Program,which opened on October 18, MaineHousing and its partners are moving to a waiting list procedure for new applications.

As of Monday, November 18, more than 1,400 program applications had been received by the Quality Housing Coalition (QHC), which is administering the program under a contract with MaineHousing. Additionally, more than 500 landlords or property mangers have agreed to accept funds from the program and are moving to end eviction proceedings against tenants who had fallen behind on their rent.

Starting today, Tuesday, November 19, new applicants to the program will be placed on a waiting list and will be served, if eligible, as funding allows.

"We know this program is going to help keep thousands of Mainers stably housed this winter and are grateful to the Legislature and Governor Mills for making these resources available," said MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan. "As a pilot program, we knew at the start of this program that funding would go quickly given the very difficult housing market Maine is grappling with."

Brennan said that while the program aims to alleviate housing instability in the short term, a more lasting result of the program will be utilization of data gathered about circumstances that lead to eviction filings, to identify strategies and policy changes to reduce evictions.

"As a pilot we opened this program with our eyes wide open, knowing two things: the money would go quickly because the existing demand for housing help is so high; and there would be lessons to be learned and changes that would be necessary to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of these very limited and valuable resources," Brennan said. "The move to a waitlist process is going to ensure continued fairness and that we are not providing false hope to those that the reach out to this very popular program."

QHC, working with software developer HOTB, has created a responsive and robust network that is reaching people in all 16 Maine counties and into a broad range of demographically unique household types.

"The fact that so many households are at imminent risk of eviction reaffirms my conviction that preventing evictions is a necessary crisis prevention strategy, particularly when we have limited housing available for them to move to if they were to be evicted," said QHC Executive Director Victoria Morales. "What I know for sure is that because of this pilot program, 2,000 to 3,000 adults and children will not have the stress of losing their homes this year. That is a very good thing."

The EPP was funded with $18 million approved by the Maine Legislature and Governor Janet Mills earlier this year. MaineHousing and QHC estimate the program will serve approximately 1,000 households with support for past-due rent payments and forward rent supplements.

Full details on eligibility, income and rent limits can be found on the program page on MaineHousing's website.

Applicants will be able to begin the application process by visiting www.mainehousing.org.