An Act To Create the Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0473
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: MORALES

Legislative Document
No. 473
H.P. 347
House of Representatives, February 16, 2021
An Act To Create the Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher 
Guarantee Program
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 11, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Labor and Housing pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MORALES of South Portland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA c. 201, sub-c. 14 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 14
MAINE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND VOUCHER GUARANTEE PROGRAM
§4994-A.  Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program 
The Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program, referred to in this 
section as "the program," is established within the Maine State Housing Authority. The 
program must include a rental assistance component to assist individuals with the cost of 
rent and a rental voucher guarantee component to encourage landlords to work with the 
program and other rental assistance programs in the State. 
1. Rental assistance.  The rental assistance component of the program must be 
administered in accordance with this subsection. 
A. The Maine State Housing Authority shall establish and administer eligibility criteria 
and application requirements for tenants or prospective tenants to participate in the 
program.
B. Rental assistance payments for program participants must be paid from the fund 
established in section 4994-B directly to the landlord of the participant or to a property 
management company designated by the landlord. 
C. A landlord may receive rental assistance payments under the program only if the 
landlord agrees to:
(1)  Exclude credit score, rental history and last month's rent from the rental 
application;
(2)  Work with individuals referred to as "housing navigators" affiliated with 
housing authorities, general assistance programs or nonprofit organizations who 
assist tenants with locating housing and the rental process and who provide 
mentoring services to promote successful landlord-tenant relationships;
(3)  Waive tenant late fees for any month in which rental assistance is paid by the 
program; and
(4)  Not evict a program participant for nonpayment of rent during any month for 
which rental assistance is paid. 
2.  Rental voucher guarantee.  The rental voucher guarantee component of the 
program must be administered in accordance with this subsection. 
A. The purpose of the rental voucher guarantee program component is to encourage 
landlords to work with the program and other rental assistance programs available in 
the State, including but not limited to rental assistance programs administered by or 
available through the Maine State Housing Authority, local housing authorities, other 
state and local agencies, federal agencies, municipalities or tribal governments. 
B. The Maine State Housing Authority shall annually dedicate $1,000,000 of the fund 
established in section 4994-B for the rental voucher guarantee component of the 
program.  These funds may be used as follows: 
(1)  To hire individuals referred to as "housing navigators" affiliated with local 
housing authorities, general assistance programs or nonprofit organizations to 
assist tenants with locating housing, to assist with the rental process and to provide 
mentoring services to promote successful landlord-tenant relationships;
(2)  To provide a letter of credit to landlords who enter into a 12-month rental 
agreement with a person receiving rental assistance through a municipal general 
assistance program under Title 22, chapter 1161. The letter of credit must guarantee 
up to one month of rental assistance and verified property damages, not to exceed 
$2,000, in the event the tenancy is unsuccessful;
(3)  To expand the availability of programs that assist landlords who participate in 
rental assistance programs available in the State, as described in paragraph A, with 
mitigation and repair of damages to units, mitigation of lost funds due to unpaid 
rent and tenant payment of security deposits; and 
(4)  To connect landlords with resources for the abatement of lead paint hazards in 
residential housing. 
3. Rules.  The Maine State Housing Authority may adopt rules to implement this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
§4994-B.  Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program Fund
The Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program Fund, referred to in this 
section as "the fund," is established within the Maine State Housing Authority.  The Maine 
State Housing Authority may apply money in the fund for purposes authorized by this 
subchapter.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program Fund
Initiative:  Provides ongoing funds to establish and implement the Maine Rental Assistance 
and Voucher Guarantee Program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 
201, subchapter 14.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$8,500,000
$8,500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$8,500,000
$8,500,000
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Maine State Housing Authority to establish and administer the 
Maine Rental Assistance and Voucher Guarantee Program.  The program must include a 
rental assistance component to assist individuals with the cost of rent and a rental voucher 
guarantee component to encourage landlords to work with the program and other rental 
assistance programs in the State.  The bill also creates the Maine Rental Assistance and 
Voucher Guarantee Program Fund under the Maine State Housing Authority to carry out 
the program. The bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $8,500,000 to the fund in 
fiscal year 2021-22 and fiscal year 2022-23.