The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided $1.9 trillion to state, county and municipal governments to counter the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, at least $12.7 million of more than $505 million in ARPA funding that’s coming to Maine’s counties and municipalities has been allocated to projects and programs targeting homelessness and the housing crisis.
The city of Portland and Cumberland County have earmarked portions of their $46 million and $57.3 million ARPA allocations, respectively.
Gov. Janet Mills also has dedicated $50 million for housing initiatives as part of her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to spend more than $1 billion in ARPA aid to the state.
Here’s a rundown of ARPA housing funding so far:
• $6.5 million for Portland’s planned $25 million, 208-bed homeless shelter and services center ($3.5 million from the city; $3 million from the county)
• $3.6 million available through the federal Home Investment Partnerships Program, administered by the city of Portland
• $1.5 million from the county to help Tedford Housing build a $7 million, 64-bed emergency shelter for adults and families in Brunswick
• $1 million from the city of Portland for projects and programs to increase affordable housing
• $106,000 from the county to study the need for emergency shelter and other services for homeless and at-risk residents in the Lakes Region
• $40 million in state-funded affordable housing programs to be announced later this year
• $10 million in state-funded forgivable home construction loans available through MaineHousing to build affordable single-family homes
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