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Rick Bennett represents District 18 in the Maine Senate. He is an independent candidate for governor.
Today, experts from across the state are gathering in Bangor for the Maine Affordable Housing Conference to discuss the future of housing. It could not come at a more urgent time.
Everywhere I go, Mainers tell me the same thing: Life is getting too expensive. From groceries to heating oil to child care, the cost of living has become a heavy burden. But nothing looms larger than the cost — and the shortage — of housing.
The numbers don’t lie. Too many young people can’t put down roots here. Seniors can’t downsize without paying more for less. Families looking for stability are too often shut out of the market. Employers frequently can’t hire because workers can’t find a place to live. In a state where we pride ourselves on taking care of each other, housing is out of reach for too many of our neighbors. There simply aren’t enough affordable homes to meet demand; we need to double the rate of housing coming onto the market.
I’m running for governor because I believe Maine needs leaders who answer only to the people of Maine, not to political parties or special interest groups. And on housing, we don’t need more political talking points — we need action.
That’s why I sponsored LD 1912, a bipartisan housing bond that would put real resources into tackling this crisis. The bill invests in rebuilding Maine’s once-thriving factory-built housing industry — reviving shuttered plants, creating good-paying jobs, and building thousands of affordable homes right here in Maine. It invests in Maine’s aging housing stock, making unsafe houses livable again through repairs, accessibility upgrades and weatherization. And it supports innovation and first-time homebuyers by funding new technologies to bring more homes online quickly and affordably.
This isn’t theory, it’s proven. In Colorado, factory-built housing went from nearly nonexistent to thousands of new homes per year once the state invested in innovative solutions. Maine can do the same, and I’ve already spoken with companies ready to expand here if we provide the right incentives.
Another one of my bills under consideration is LD 1419, which would level the playing field for Maine’s factory-built housing industry by fixing an outdated and unfair sales tax on off-site construction. For decades, modular homes have been saddled with a tax structure that drives up costs and makes them less competitive with traditional site-built homes.
After meeting with industry leaders and Maine Revenue Services, I put forward a solution to cut this burden in half — helping Maine-made housing compete, grow, and most importantly, lower costs for buyers. Rebuilding this industry means more affordable homes for Maine families and good jobs for Maine workers.
I also sponsored LD 1453, which created the Housing Production Innovation Working Group. This bipartisan group is already bringing together experts, regulators and builders to examine modular, panelized and 3D-printed housing as part of the solution. These innovative homes aren’t just more affordable; they’re also built with less waste and are highly energy efficient, making them a smart solution for both families and our environment.
As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development, I have heard some argue the housing market will fix itself if the government gets out of the way. But zoning reform, sensible building codes and smarter regulation are real issues and must remain a critical part of the conversation. The reality is that the market alone can’t solve this problem, and families can’t wait. We need to build, and build, and build.
As governor, I will make housing a top priority and work with Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike to pass bold, practical solutions. I will keep pressing my fellow lawmakers to take decisive action, because Maine’s ambitious housing goals can only be met if the state, our towns, and the private sector work together — urgently and steadily.
Our children and grandchildren deserve the chance to live and thrive in Maine. Our economy demands it. Our communities depend on it. And I am determined to get it done.
