Power to the People! And affordable housing for all.

What hysterics and real estate lobbyists call a housing “crisis” some observers of the economy call a “shortage.” There is no doubt a shortage of homes for sale or rent for young families wanting to enter the real estate market and older persons looking for a comfortable off-ramp.

There are vaults stuffed with public money to address the crisis/shortage — but all the government subsidy is directed only to real estate developers, despite evidence that zoning laws are in large part the biggest barrier in the suburbs to more housing. With zoning changes that allow for more density, accessory dwellings and apartments should come programs that empower families and assist in social mobility.

California recently passed SB9 that allows landowners to build up to four housing units on most single-family lots and many communities including my own of Cape Elizabeth, Maine are exploring ways to create more housing opportunities. With these efforts should come loan programs that mirror incentives given to large-scale developers of “units” who are racing to put up the gigantic buildings you see popping up all over the landscape while the getting is good.

If there is any doubt free government money is an incentive look no further than the results of Maine’s Low-Income Tax Credit — a program lauded for its intent to aid indigents people but in fact enables the further accumulation of wealth in the upper echelons of society.

Suddenly the only “affordable housing” being built in Maine is low-income housing — why? Because it’s eligible for lucrative tax breaks. A coincidence perhaps but suddenly too there is a well-financed campaign rolled out by activists paid by lobbyists of real estate associations to pump out reports about the “crisis” they say can only be solved with low-income housing monstrosities and before you know it everywhere you turn towns are being guilted into supporting projects they can’t afford and don’t want for good reason.

Why not give financial incentives to regular people instead of just corporations and developers? Make interest-free or forgivable loans to homeowners who create housing for families in their communities. Citizens currently prohibited by restrictive zoning ordinances to “do their fair share” to address the “crisis” can’t afford to lobby or present awards to policy-makers like the Maine Speaker of the House, who sponsored Maine’s Low-Income Tax Credit and got a “policy award” from the industry trade group.

Regular citizens can’t afford the property tax increase these subsidized low-income housing projects cause in addition to the tax credits developers receive for building ugly buildings who also demand TIF’s, loans, exclusive management contracts and consulting services … all the trappings of a program that in Cape Elizabeth would have cost taxpayers $13.5 million to to build a tenement assessed at $4 million that would not pay taxes for 30 years nor provide housing for our workforce because of the very low income restrictions. And the project would pave over a public skating rink. Regular residents would pay an exorbitant amount of money to build something we don’t want or need.

If the problem is a housing shortage, and the solution is to build more homes, and there’s a TON of public money floating around to throw at the problem — then any policy-maker who touts themself as “out for the little guy” and oh so progressive should put their money where their mouth is and give power to the people instead of accommodating poverty and enriching the rich.