Local employers are worried
“I cannot underscore the importance of affordable housing for low and middle-income families in our community. This not only has an impact on our ability to hire teachers and administrators but also contributes to declining enrollment in our schools.
Very few young families can afford to move to the Camden/Rockport area due to the high cost of housing and the overall limited availability. This has a domino effect on the vitality of our entire community. We are desperate for more housing options at various price points.”
Maria Libby, Superintendent, MSAD 28 / FiveTown CSD
“The lack of affordable housing is a significant workforce issue. Workers who don’t already have a domicile within commuting distance find that their compensation is not sufficient to afford local housing. This means recruiting is limited to workers already living in the area. We need more housing, particularly priced for those in the middle-income range.”
Barrett Brown, CEO, CedarWorks
“There is a significant shortage of housing for employees in our region. Some of our staff commute 45 minutes or more each way just to work here. We often encourage candidates from outside the area to research the housing market before accepting a position, and, unfortunately, too often that search alone is enough to deter them. Our region needs a full range of affordable housing options, including supportive housing, low-income units, and moderate-income homes for professionals who can’t afford a $450,000 home.
The growth of seasonal rentals has further reduced the already limited year-round housing stock available to local workers. This lack of housing doesn’t just make it difficult to hire and retain employees—it strains the entire community, including our child care, public school, emergency response, and healthcare systems.
The sooner we invest in preserving and creating affordable housing,
the sooner we can stabilize our workforce and preserve the vibrancy,
cohesion, and long-term resilience of our communities."
Whitney Files, CEO, Penobscot Bay YMCA
“The lack of quality, affordable housing is a major issue when trying to find and retain employees. Some are willing to drive up to 1 hour to work; commuting distance and the lack of affordable housing are major deterrents to accepting job offers. It is also difficult to get applicants from within our community since the area is not affordable for working-class people and families. We’d like to see more ownership and rental opportunities for 20- to 30-year-olds in the greater Mid-Coast area.”
Thomas Kennedy,
VP/Director of Business Development, Steel-Pro Inc.
