BRUNSWICK

Part 2 of a two-part series

John Hodge, executive director of the Brunswick Housing Authority, recently asked the town council for a letter of intent to apply for a community development block grant of $1 million from the federal government. The grant would be used to fix and replace roofs, siding and windows in Perryman Village — a 50-unit row of public housing townhouses owned by the housing authority.

The housing authority owns and manages about 300 total units, including residences in Lisbon and Topsham. Eight new apartments are being built in Topsham. Hodge estimates the authority serves 700 to 900 people.

To qualify for affordable housing, an applicant cannot earn more than 80 percent of median income. Hodge said a majority of those in affordable housing are below 30 percent of the median income, and two-thirds of those are elderly or disabled and living on a fixed income. According to Housing and Urban Development statistics from 2016, the median family income for Brunswick was $71,000. Families of four eligible for assistance make between $24,000 to $57,450 on the highest end.

Families working low-wage jobs certainly need assistance in finding a decent, affordable home, Hodge said, and the housing authority offers several different types of housing, including subsidized housing owned and managed by BHA and built by the federal government. Renters pay 30 percent of their income monthly.

Section 8 housing refers to privately owned housing rented to people who receive a voucher from the government to pay rent. A federal subsidy is supposed to cover the housing costs that rent does not, but housing authorities are generally are not reimbursed for the amount they need, said Hodge.

“That’s why we need to borrow money for improvements,” Hodge said. “Nationally, there is a backlog needed in public housing and Congress appropriates $1.9 billion a year. That’s what’s so hard for us here in Brunswick, we get $240,000 for all the units.”

Hodge said some of that money must be used for administrative costs, leaving very little for capital improvements.

“You do what you can, but eventually it will catch up to you,” Hodge said, adding that in recent years he has been forced to lay off employees.

Three years ago, the housing authority hired an independent engineering firm to study what needed to be done at Perryman Village specifically. At that time, the firm identified $1.5 million in immediate capital needs.

“At $240,000 a year from the federal government, it would take five years to do that work, and by then it would cost even more,” Hodge said, citing inflation and additional maintenance problems that have accumulated.

Congress and the Housing and Urban Development Administration recognizes the need, so the capital funding finance program was created so a local authority can borrow money up front from a bank, then pay off the debt annually. The Brunswick Housing Authority has also applied for a loan through this program to help with the costs of the Perryman Village upgrade.

However, the future for funding looks bleak. The Trump administration has announced cutting $1.3 billion out of the $1.9 billion capital fund program, along with deep cuts to the entire department. Hodge said this budget proposal is not a done deal, but that it could jeopardize the effort to restore Perryman Village.

If the Housing and Urban Development fund was to face the proposed 10 to 15 percent reduction in the budget, public housing in Brunwsick would lose $60,000, and the Brunswick Housing Authority would be plunged into debt, Hodge said. He plans to meet with Maine’s congressional delegation March 28 to discuss the proposed cuts to the program, and said Republican Sen. Susan Collins — who serves on the appropriations committee and on the Housing and Urban Development subcommittee — has been a strong representative for public housing.

Hodge said the housing authority works closely with Tedford Housing, which provides shelter, housing and programs for the homeless. The authority often refers people on the housing wait list to Tedford Housing for assistance. For a Section 8 housing voucher, it could be a substantial wait as only 30 vouchers are issued a year, Hodge said. For public housing, the wait list time also varies because the housing authority works to fit a family’s size with available units, depending on how much space each family needs. Hodge said there are thousands of people across the state in need of housing assistance.

Hodge said the housing authority needs to make an investment in Perryman Village, and that the community development block grant is the last option available. If the housing authority does not get the community development block grant, Hodge said they will continue onward and prioritize what work most urgently needs to be done.

“But, with the grant, we could get more done, more quickly, and make it more efficient and livable,” Hodge said.

jlaaka@timesrecord.com