For one thousand, one hundred and sixty-nine days, Mainers who voted in support of affordable senior housing have waited for their voice to matter.
That is almost 70 percent of people who went to the polls three years ago who voted for the senior housing bond.
No longer will we wait.
Good morning, I am Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.
Earlier this week I was honored to sign a Financial Order to internally transfer some of the voter-approved $15 million senior housing bond in order to immediately pay for weatherization and home improvement projects so Maine seniors can live safely in their own homes.
I also notified Treasurer Henry Beck that I will authorize the sale of the bond when Maine goes to market in June to fund projects that are ready to be completed.
It is time to build more affordable housing for Maine seniors just as the voters intended.
While the people of Maine authorized this bond nearly three years ago, now we can move proudly forward in our goal of ensuring all Maine seniors can live safely, and with dignity and comfort in the communities they love.
The release of the senior housing bonds would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition, the Maine Council on Aging, the AARP and countless others who have never stopped believing in the power of advocacy to create change.
While the release of the senior housing bonds is an important step, we still need your voices.
These bonds will help build more than 200 affordable units and will fund weatherization improvements for another 100 homes, but we still have more work to do to ensure affordable housing for our seniors.
More than 9,000 Maine seniors remain on a waitlist for safe, affordable housing. Let’s get going.
I look forward to continuing this work with Maine’s advocates, with seniors, and all of you in the coming years.
I am Janet Mills, governor of the State of Maine.
Thank you for listening.