Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend Public Law 99-420 to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in the State of Maine for use for affordable workforce housing, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill provides for the use of certain federal land in Maine for affordable workforce housing to benefit the towns on Mount Desert Island. Currently, the land is available for use as a solid waste transfer station. The bill also permits the Department of the Interior to retain no more than 15 acres of the land, to be used for housing and administrative facilities to support the purposes of Acadia National Park.
Sponsors: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Target Audience
Population: People in Maine needing affordable workforce housing
Estimated Size: 20000
- Maine has a population of around 1.3 million people, and housing issues are often prominent in local communities.
- Approximately 10% of Maine's residents are below the poverty line, indicating a significant portion of the population that could benefit from affordable housing.
- Assuming this bill impacts all towns in Maine, it could potentially affect numerous households across the state, especially those struggling with housing affordability.
- Workforce housing is typically aimed at families and individuals with moderate incomes who do not qualify for traditional affordable housing but still need assistance.
Reasoning
- The population affected by this policy is primarily individuals and families in Maine who need affordable workforce housing, many of whom have moderate incomes that may not traditionally qualify for low-income housing programs.
- The policy must be designed to provide significant short-term assistance while ensuring sustainable impact over a 10-year period given the budget constraints.
- Not everyone in Maine will be directly impacted. Only approximately 20,000 people, based on the target reasoning, might experience changes pertinent to this policy.
- Given the budget limitation, the policy will focus on maximizing benefits for those most in need, primarily impacting residents in towns that elect to utilize this federal land for housing.
- Maine's relatively small population and existing need for affordable housing highlight a significant impact potential if efficiently implemented across willing communities.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Portland, Maine)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could drastically change my life by making housing more affordable while keeping me close to my workplace.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Construction worker (Bangor, Maine)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding affordable housing has been incredibly tough, this policy would mean less financial stress for my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Park ranger (Bar Harbor, Maine)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This would directly help me as housing near the park is limited and expensive, and could stabilize my living conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired nurse (Augusta, Maine)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Though workforce housing isn't typically aimed at retirees, any addition to affordable housing could ease overall demand and benefit me indirectly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Local business owner (Lewiston, Maine)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- From a business standpoint, ensuring affordable housing helps keep my employees stable and reliable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Graduate student (Bangor, Maine)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would be life-changing to have more affordable housing options as a student struggling to make ends meet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Nurse (Brunswick, Maine)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're not in dire conditions, but it would ease financial burdens if more housing options were accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Software developer (South Portland, Maine)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might not personally need the help, but supporting affordable housing strengthens the entire community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Factory worker (Rockland, Maine)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be an essential change, I'm afraid of losing my home if prices keep rising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
University professor (Orono, Maine)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I am stable, the policy could greatly benefit students and staff who are less well-off.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5200000 (Low: $4200000, High: $6200000)
Year 3: $5400000 (Low: $4400000, High: $6400000)
Year 5: $5800000 (Low: $4800000, High: $6800000)
Year 10: $6800000 (Low: $5800000, High: $7800000)
Year 100: $8500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $9500000)
Key Considerations
- The provision of land in Maine for affordable housing is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and collaboration with local governments.
- Environmental impact assessments may be needed to ensure that the conversion of land use from industrial to residential does not harm local ecosystems.
- The retention of land for Acadia National Park purposes could bolster tourism and improve park facilities, influencing local economies positively.