Portland city councilors received the final report of the city’s Social Housing Task Force Monday, concluding a year-long effort examining whether the city should play a larger role in creating permanently affordable, publicly owned housing.
Councilor Kate Sykes presented the report to the City Council, outlining a proposal that could eventually add social housing to Portland’s existing collection of affordable housing programs.
Over the past year, the task force held 18 public meetings and educational sessions while examining social housing models used in other communities, potential financing mechanisms and the use of city-owned land.
Sykes said the group’s work focused on determining how Portland could create permanently affordable housing that would remain a public asset rather than eventually returning to the private market.
“The report recommends that Portland add social housing to the tools that we already have that we’re using to address our housing,” Sykes told the council.
She stressed that the proposal is not intended to replace the Portland Housing Authority, nonprofit housing organizations, private developers or the affordable housing programs already operating in the city.
Instead, the task force examined whether Portland could leverage its borrowing capacity and publicly owned assets to construct mixed-income housing while retaining public ownership.
Under the concept outlined by Sykes, value generated by publicly owned housing could then be reinvested into the development of additional housing.
The presentation marked only the introduction of the task force’s final recommendations and did not require the council to make an immediate policy or funding decision.
Sykes said councilors will have an opportunity to examine the recommendations in greater detail during a workshop scheduled for Sept. 28. Members of the task force are expected to attend the workshop and answer questions from councilors.
The Social Housing Task Force included 13 members of the public, along with Sykes and Councilor Sarah Michniewicz. The group also received input from housing experts, city staff and community members throughout its work.
https://www.portlandmaine.gov/social-housing-task-force
Sykes thanked the task force members and those who contributed to the process, including task force co-chair Jon Fetherston and Michniewicz.
Editor’s note: Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston, who reported this story, served as a co-chair of Portland’s Social Housing Task Force.
Mayor Mark Dion also recognized the work of Sykes and the committee following the presentation, thanking members for the time and effort spent developing the recommendations.
https://portlandme.portal.civicclerk.com/event/9572/media
“I want to make a special note,” Dion told Sykes. “I appreciate the passion, the vision, work you did.”
Dion also acknowledged the work of the task force’s co-chairs and noted the importance Sykes had placed on the initiative.
“I know this has been a significant goalpost for your work, and I appreciate it,” Dion said.
The report now moves into the next stage of council consideration, with the Sept. 28 workshop expected to provide the first detailed public discussion over whether, and how, Portland could move forward with a municipally backed social housing model.
Any eventual implementation would require additional council action, including decisions involving financing, city-owned property and the extent to which Portland would assume a direct role in developing and owning housing.
