Applications for affordable housing with Avesta Housing, the largest nonprofit affordable housing provider in northern New England, increased by double digits in 2022 over the previous year, exemplifying the increasing need for safe, quality, affordable housing in Maine and New Hampshire.

Applications for homes with Avesta Housing in 2022 revealed the following data:

• Total applications for affordable housing increased by 26% (8,836 vs. 6,975) from 2021 to 2022, and almost doubled since 2020.
• The average household income for applicants on waitlists for housing was $18,579. This is only slightly higher than the federal poverty level for a family of two ($18,310).
• Almost half of all applicants (43%) identified as being homeless.
• As of Dec. 31, 2022, Avesta had 4,879 households on its housing wait lists.
• Avesta was able to house 354 households via a combination of new units in its property portfolio and turnover in existing housing, or less than 4% of all applicants. This represented a decrease from 7.8% in 2021 and 9.2% in 2020.

Avesta Housing is responding to the housing crisis by growing and preserving the affordable housing supply in its property portfolio and advocating for policies and resources at federal, state, and local government levels that promote affordable housing and resident services. During the past five years, Avesta has doubled its real estate development pipeline to more than 700 new units. At any given time, there are a dozen or more multifamily properties in various stages of development.

“I am often asked how we can tackle the affordable housing crisis,” said Avesta Housing President & CEO Rebecca Hatfield. “While the full answer to the question is multifaceted and complex, the simplest version is: build more housing. Industry-wide, we simply don’t have enough homes for the number of people who need a place to live, and we are not creating new affordable homes fast enough.”

But, Hatfield emphasized, Avesta cannot do the work alone. Reversing the housing crisis requires a concerted, strategic effort of affordable housing developers, partners, and community leaders. It also requires funding and legislation at all layers of government.

“We have much work to do, but we are in a good position to do it,” Hatfield said. “We remain steadfast in our mission, and we continue to seek innovative ways to address the growing challenge of providing affordable housing and resident support services.”

PHOTO: Avesta Housing President & CEO Rebecca Hatfield addresses members of the Avesta Housing Board of Directors and the 75 State Street Board of Directors at Avesta Housing’s annual meeting on March 23, 2023.