City Of Auburn Wins Grant For ADU Development

AUBURN – The City of Auburn has secured a $250,000 Community Solutions Grant from the Maine State Housing Authority to help homeowners add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties.

The funding will be matched with $225,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding available to the city and is meant to spur the creation of at least 15 new residential units of housing for the city. 

The new program adds to the Auburn's ongoing and comprehensive efforts in responding to the shortage of affordable housing units in Auburn and Maine. 

These modest units, no larger than 800 square feet, will be offered at affordable rates to low-to-moderate income residents.<

“Solving the current housing crisis is an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque said.  “This program effectively puts another tool in the hands of Auburn residents. One they can use to not only help the greater housing effort, but also to put much-needed passive rental income in their pockets.” 

This program, originally proposed by the Mayor on August 1, provides incentives to qualified residents for up to 15% of actual construction costs, with a maximum of $30,000 per new unit constructed. 

MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan said Auburn's proposal was directly in line with the purpose of the Community Solutions grant program.

"It’s also particularly encouraging to see Auburn putting some of its federal pandemic relief funding towards housing,” Brennan said. “To build the housing inventory we need in Maine we need to see more municipalities stepping up the way Auburn is by putting their focus and financial resources towards adding safe, warm and affordable housing units for their citizens.”