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Chip Curry is a state senator representing District 11 and serves as co-chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Housing and Economic Development. Victoria Morales is the executive director of Project Home, a Maine nonprofit working to expand housing stability and prevent homelessness.
Maine is currently facing a housing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our communities. While there is a consensus that we must build the 84,000 units of housing needed to stabilize our market, that process is estimated to take 20–30 years. Maine families, seniors, and children living on the brink of displacement cannot wait two decades for a roof over their heads. To prevent a catastrophic surge in homelessness today, Maine must continue to fund and prioritize the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), a statewide initiative that helps renters avoid eviction and remain stably housed.
The data reveals a stark reality for Maine renters. There is currently a shortage of 20,307 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income households. Consequently, 65% of these households are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half of their limited income on housing alone. This leaves little room for other necessities. Many are forced to sacrifice healthy food and health care just to keep their lights on.
The pressure has intensified rapidly. Median rents for new leases in Maine have surpassed national trends, rising by 32.1% between 2019 and 2025. Today, a Mainer making minimum wage would need to work 78 hours a week just to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Without intervention, these economic pressures lead directly to the courtroom. In 2023, eviction filings in Maine rose to 6,012 cases, surpassing pre-pandemic averages.
Launched in 2024 and administered by Project Home, a Maine housing nonprofit, in partnership with MaineHousing, the state housing agency, EPP serves as a critical bridge. In its pilot year, the program provided assistance to 1,280 renter households with an average income of just $17,005. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people. Half of the program’s applicants were parents or guardians raising children, while 37% were seniors and 22% were adults with disabilities.
The human toll of housing instability is profound. Among EPP applicants, 81% reported that housing concerns caused most or all of their stress, and seven out of ten rated their mental health as “poor” or “fair.” Before receiving help, families were forced into desperate measures: 69% cut back on food, 60% skipped utility payments, and 61% went without needed medical care because they couldn’t afford it.
This Waldo County EPP recipient says it plainly: “We would have most likely been homeless if the EPP hadn’t helped us. It was literally life-changing in so many ways, and I can’t say enough that this is a program that people NEED and should be treated like a priority in an era where so many people are struggling with housing.”
EPP has proven to be a successful, accessible solution. Survey results show that seven out of eight participants maintained their housing after engaging with the program. Furthermore, 70% of applicants found the process easy to navigate, praising the straightforward instructions and helpful staff.
Building 84,000 units is the necessary long-term cure, but EPP is the life-saving emergency care we need right now. We cannot allow thousands of our neighbors to fall into homelessness while we wait for new construction to catch up. By continuing to fund the Eviction Prevention Program, Maine can ensure that “home” remains a reality for our most vulnerable families today, even as we build for tomorrow.
A useful way to understand Maine’s housing crisis is to think of it as a massive wildfire. Building 84,000 new units is like planting a new forest to replace what was lost — a vital, long-term project that takes years to mature. EPP, on the other hand, is the fire department on the scene right now, putting out the flames before they consume the homes and the people inside. We must plant the trees, but we cannot stop fighting the fire.