Housing
Housing in Washington County
Stable, attainable housing is foundational to the economic health of Washington County. When residents can find homes they can afford in the communities where they work, raise families, and build businesses, the entire regional economy benefits. When they cannot, employers struggle to hire, young people leave, older residents face hard choices, and community vitality erodes.
SCEC’s Role
Sunrise County Economic Council works alongside developers, lenders, municipal leaders, social service providers, and housing organizations to advance practical solutions to the county’s housing challenges.
SCEC convenes the partners, practitioners, and decision-makers working on housing across Washington County. We also connect communities to the tools, financing, and expertise they need to move projects forward.
QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact Elaine Abbott, Program Manager for Broadband and Workforce Housing
Phone: 207-255-0983
Email: eabbott@sunrisecounty.org
Washington County Housing Summit: From Strategies to Solutions
Join regional leaders, housing experts, and community partners in Machias on May 21, 2026 for a full-day event focused on addressing the county’s most urgent housing challenges.
BACKGROUND
Washington County is facing the sharpest housing pressures in decades. Home prices have reached historic highs and continue to outpace wages, pricing out residents across income levels. New construction is not keeping pace with demand, particularly in rural communities where development costs are high, infrastructure is limited, and available units are scarce.
The pressures show up in interconnected ways across the region:
Workforce housing shortages. Small labor markets, high construction costs, and limited infrastructure make workforce housing development uniquely difficult in rural Maine. Even well-designed projects can stall before breaking ground.
Hidden homelessness. Many neighbors are not sleeping on the streets but are cycling through spare rooms, staying with friends, or moving between temporary living situations. These unstable arrangements mask the true scale of housing insecurity and make it harder for families, youth, and workers to access support.
Limited housing turnover. Older residents often remain in homes that no longer fit their needs, constrained by fixed incomes, rising property taxes, limited downsizing options, accessibility challenges, and the emotional weight of leaving longtime homes. This dynamic reduces turnover and restricts opportunities for younger households.
Short-term rental pressures. In communities where tourism is essential but housing supply is limited, short-term rental activity shapes housing availability, neighborhood stability, and economic vitality in ways that require careful balance.
Gaps in supportive housing. Residents facing complex challenges need affordable homes paired with wraparound services such as case management, behavioral health support, and transportation assistance.
RESOURCES
