MAINEHOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN

MaineHousing is an independent quasi-state agency that bridges public and private housing finance, combining them to benefit Maine’s low and moderate-income people. MaineHousing brings hundreds of millions of new private and federal housing funds to invest in Maine to create safe, affordable, and warm housing.

Our Mission Empowering staff and partners in helping Maine people afford safe, high-quality housing as a foundation for healthy communities.

Our Vision
All Maine people have the opportunity to live in quality housing that is affordable.

CORE VALUES

MaineHousing’s core values define what we stand for as agency guide our decision making, how we serve the people of Maine, and works together both internally and externally. They provide a shared foundation that shapes our culture, builds trust, and ensures our actions align with the agency’s mission and purpose.

At its core, MaineHousing is a problem-solving agency and our combined departments, full of dedicated, motivated, and caring people, do the important work of creating and preserving safe, warm and affordable housing for Maine people — day in and day out.

Integrity & Accountability

Collaboration & Comunication

Innovation & Creativity

Caring

STRATEGIC PLAN FOUNDATIONS

MaineHousing’s Strategic Plan provides details about how we intend to pursue our Mission over the coming three-year period. It identifies 10 long-term goals and the core strategies for pursuing each goal. The Plan is updated annually to incorporate the annual priorities agreed on by the Board of Commissioners, which include input from MaineHousing leadership and staff.

THE FOUR PILLARS & STRATEGIC GOALS

The pursuit of MaineHousing’s mission implies four primary objectives that represent the pillars of our operations. These four pillars are individually necessary to and mutually support the furtherance of our mission and realization of our vision. Each Strategic Goal operationalizes a component of one Pillar.

First Pillar

To Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities.

Strategic Goal 1 - Increase the number and quality of First Home loans.

MaineHousing’s First Home loans are a cornerstone of affordable homeownership in Maine. These loans are paired with educational courses to help prepare buyers for the responsibilities of homeownership.

Strategy	Description
1.1	Offer a mortgage product that is highly competitive.
1.2	Develop and offer mortgage products tailored for subpopulations with identifiable barriers to homeownership.
1.3	Streamline and improve the mortgage purchase process.
1.4	Utilize conventional advertising and community-based marketing to continually increase awareness among new generations of eligible home buyers.
1.5	Develop and maintain a post-purchase counseling program to address the needs of first-time borrowers.
1.6	Monitor and review delinquency and default metrics to identify opportunities to address root causes.

Strategic Goal 2 - Increase affordable housing development to respond to housing need and policy objectives.

MaineHousing uses creative financing strategies to fund as many affordable homes across Maine as possible.

Strategy	Description
2.1	Maximize the affordable housing pipeline through the efficient use of public resources and leveraged private investment.
2.2	Target housing development in communities that offer opportunity and long-term sustainability.
2.3	Continually assess housing need throughout the state and encourage production at the scale and of the type appropriate to each population and geographic area.
2.4	Optimize the use of Project Based Vouchers (PBVs) in the Development pipeline.

Second Pillar

To Preserve and Improve the Quality of Housing in Maine.

Strategic Goal 3 - Ensure the long-term sustainability of MaineHousing’s multifamily portfolio.

MaineHousing oversees more than 850 multifamily properties that house 24,000 Maine households. These housing units are critical to the stability and affordability of the housing market

Strategy	Description
3.1	Maintain and improve the condition, accessibility, and energy efficiency of multi-family projects.
3.2	Balance affordability with financial sustainability of the property management business model.
3.3	Continually update policies and processes to increase efficiency in the management and preservation of housing assets.
3.4	Explore opportunities to extend affordability covenants whenever financially viable.

Strategic Goal 4 - Ensure Maine people are safe and warm in their homes and apartments.

Maine has some of the oldest housing stock in the nation and one of the coldest climates. Therefore, MaineHousing programs that provide fuel assistance and regular improvements, especially those that improve home energy efficiency, are critical for the people of Maine.

Strategy	Description
4.1	Effectively administer state and federal energy assistance and home improvement funds.
4.2	Help Maine’s homeowners and landlords maintain quality and accessible homes.
4.3	Improve the safety and energy efficiency of housing in Maine.
4.4	Maintain high inspection standards for all units supported by MaineHousing programs.

Third Pillar

To Increase Housing Stability for All Maine People.

Strategic Goal 5 - Reduce the length of time and number of people unhoused.

MaineHousing is committed to best practice approaches to reducing homelessness. It is our goal to ensure that the experience of becoming unhoused in Maine is rare, brief, and never without access to shelter.

Strategy	Description
5.1	Lead the implementation of the Home for Good initiative.
5.2	Dedicate 60% of available Housing Choice Vouchers annually to homeless applicants.
5.3	Provide operating and performance incentive funding to homeless shelters.
5.4	Provide technical support and improve the quality and scope of data and research to inform funding decisions and policy development.
5.5	Provide effective training and professional development to homeless providers.

Strategic Goal 6 - Improve the housing stability of Maine.

MaineHousing programs that offer support to households experiencing housing insecurity are intended to provide stability and prevent homelessness.

Strategy	Description
6.1	Maintain Housing Choice Voucher Program utilization.
6.2	Provide support to programs that offer efficient stabilization or diversion for at risk individuals and households.
6.3	Offer programs that support our first-time homebuyers during periods of instability.

Fourth Pillar

To Provide Leadership in the Housing Field.

Strategic Goal 7 - Grow awareness of housing issues, policy solutions, and program availability.

Public awareness and engagement with MaineHousing programs is fundamental to our Mission in helping all Maine people afford safe, high-quality housing.

Strategy	Description
7.1	Increase marketing and outreach to underserved communities and increase program awareness.
7.2	Develop a storytelling practice that markets our programs while sharing our Mission and reinforcing our employees’ connection to our core values.
7.3	Maintain and expand program- and department-level engagement with partners, communities, and organizations.
7.4	Shape media and public narratives around housing issues through positive and engaged relationships with media and public figures.
7.5	Provide information, data, and leadership, where appropriate, in public conversations and policy discussions.
7.6	Foster public awareness and appreciation of the work that MaineHousing does for homebuyers, homeowners, renters, landlords, and communities.

Strategic Goal 8 - Lead and support creative efforts to address Maine’s housing needs.

MaineHousing delivers its Mission in collaboration with many partners. We strive to be open, responsive, and transparent with partners to develop innovative, creative, and effective solutions.

Strategy	Description
8.1	Support strategies for internal workflow efficiencies and interdepartmental collaboration.
8.2	Actively engage with partners to continuously improve the effectiveness of program delivery.
8.3	Collaborate with partners on initiatives that test and examine the effectiveness of new approaches to addressing housing needs.
8.4	Embed a culture of continuous improvement by empowering staff to analyze internal processes and align them with program goals.
8.5	Provide policy expertise for legislative committees and partners to develop and promote equitable and effective policy.
8.6	Improve the quality and scope of data and research available to inform service and funding decisions.

Strategic Goal 9 - Ensure the long-term financial viability of MaineHousing.

Ensure long-term financial viability in order to continue MaineHousing’s Mission through careful, strategic, and efficient financial management.

Strategy	Description
9.1	Achieve an annual minimum profitability level in the Mortgage Purchase Program that sustains MaineHousing’s operations and ability to accomplish its mission.
9.2	Be prepared to respond to changes in federal and state funding to ensure programs operations are sustainable.
9.3	Maintain appropriate working capital liquidity in the general fund.
9.4	Maintain annual combined operating and administrative cost increases at a maximum of 5%.
9.5	Continually identify and respond to the agency’s business risks and opportunities.
9.6	Assure the agency responsibly administers all public funds and remains fully compliant with federal and state laws, regulations, and program requirements.

Strategic Goal 10 - Grow as an efficient organization that people want to work for.

Promote a culture that leads to higher employee engagement by encouraging open communication, fostering a supportive work environment, and prioritizing the growth of MaineHousing employees.

Strategy	Description
10.1	Cultivate an employee-centered workplace by harnessing the input of every employee to achieve outcomes with shared investment.
10.2	Promote our employees through recognition methods to acknowledge and celebrate their accomplishments.
10.3	Promote efficient communication, community building, engagement, and a positive work environment through a coherent and adaptive Internal Communications Plan.
10.4	Maintain a high-performing and dedicated workforce through continual attention to their evolving needs and outside opportunities.
10.5	Cultivate a positive employee experience through onboarding, training and the Performance Coaching Program
10.6	Sustain a healthy and safe work environment.

26 Edison Drive, Augusta Maine 04330
(800) 452-4668 | (207) 626-4600
Fax: (207) 626-4678 | Maine Relay 711