Women to Watch: Victoria Morales matching quality housing with those in need
August 7, 2023
Published by Mainebiz | By Alexis Wells
In recent years, Maine’s shortage of affordable and workforce housing has gotten even more challenging as real estate values have soared. Victoria Morales created partnerships between landlords and nonprofit agencies to help house individuals that have experienced homelessness and or housing insecurity. Morales started the Quality Housing Coalition in 2018. She also served as a state representative from 2018 to 2022, representing South Portland. In her time in the Legislature she helped write and pass 16 state laws focused on housing and family safety.
Published by Portland Press Herald by Hannah LaClaire
Chip Curry is a state senator representing District 11 and serves as co-chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Housing and Economic Development. Victoria Morales is the executive director of Project Home, a Maine nonprofit working to expand housing stability and prevent homelessness. Maine is currently facing a housing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our communities. While there is a consensus that we must build the 84,000 units of housing needed to stabilize our market, that process is estimated to take 20–30 years. Maine families, seniors, and children living on the brink of displacement cannot wait two decades for a roof over their heads. To prevent a catastrophic surge in homelessness today, Maine must continue to fund and prioritize the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), a statewide initiative that helps renters avoid eviction and remain stably housed.
Peace Mutesi, Director of Economic Opportunity at Quality Housing Coalition, has been named to Mainebiz's 2024 40 Under 40 list. Now in its fourth year, the program recognizes Maine's up-and-coming leaders—the next generation shaping the state and its economy.
A new report from Harvard University shows that for the first time, more than half of Portland renters are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. More than half of Portland tenants are struggling to afford rent. According to a new report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, almost 52% of renters in the Portland-South Portland area are “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing. And more than 24% are “severely” cost-burdened, meaning that more than half their income goes to housing. It’s a new record for the area but one that affordable housing advocates say is unsurprising, given rent increases that have outpaced wage growth, a competitive buyers market, recently sluggish new construction and an uncertain federal policy environment. The increase distills what advocates, along with policymakers, municipal and state officials and developers have been saying for years: Maine needs to build more housing . Last year, about 45% of Portland-area renters were considered cost-burdened and just under 24% were severely cost-burdened. Maine's increases mirror the national picture. Across the country, 50% of renters are cost-burdened, including 27% of renters who are severely burdened, according to the report. It's the third consecutive record-setting year. "It's just a monstrous problem," said Victoria Morales, executive director of the Quality Housing Coalition.
