Maine Eviction Prevention Pilot Program Set To Open

Meant To Help Low-income Renters Who Are Facing Eviction This Pilot Program Funded With $18 Million From The Maine Legislature Opens Monday

AUGUSTA, Maine — MaineHousing is pleased to announce the Eviction Prevention Pilot Program will be open for applicants beginning Monday, October 21 at 10:00 a.m. 

This new, eviction prevention program is meant to help tenants who may be facing an eviction and the loss of their housing. The program, which is funded with a one-time, $18 million allocation from the State of Maine earlier this year,  will be administered by the Quality Housing Coalition (QHC) under a contract with MaineHousing.

QHC was selected in a competitive process that included six different proposals from organizations both inside and outside of Maine.

"We are pleased to launch this pilot program and are excited to see it work to help those who are facing housing instability, so they will be less likely to face eviction again in the future,” said MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan. “We have the right partners in place to deliver a quality program that will help Mainers in need stay housed this winter, avoid eviction, and improve their economic condition.”

HOTB, an online software developer, has also been awarded a contract to create and manage the online portal and application processing for those who are working with QHC to apply for help through the program.

“We are thrilled to partner with MaineHousing and HOTB, and our legal service and community partners in all 16 counties, on this first-in-the-nation initiative to prevent evictions and stabilize the housing of hundreds of children, older adults, and our workforce who are at risk of losing everything," said QHC Executive Director Victoria Morales.

It is hoped that this pilot program, while helping prevent evictions for vulnerable Maine households, will also be an opportunity to gain insight, ideas and information on how rental aid can be effectively and efficiently delivered to those who are struggling with historically high rental prices in an extremely difficult housing market.

Starting Monday, applicants will be able to apply online, by phone, or by making an appointment in person. 

Applications will be processed according to the following priorities: 

Eligible households who have received a forcible entry and detainer notice/summons from a court ordered eviction notice for non-payment of rent, and

Eligible households who have received a notice to quit. 

Once applications are complete, they will be processed on a first come first served basis. 

According to the state law that provides funding for the program, eligibility is also limited to households earning less than 60 percent of local area median income and to those paying no more than 125 percent of fair market rent for the area in which they live. Households currently receiving rental assistance through  a federal housing subsidy or who live in subsidized public housing are not eligible for this program. 

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.