An Act To Create a 24-hour Shelter Capital Project Funding Program
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0654
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: ARFORD, DAUGHTRY, BELL, CLOUTIER, CUDDY, KESSLER, MORALES, SACHS, SYLVESTER

Legislative Document
No. 654
H.P. 481
House of Representatives, March 3, 2021
An Act To Create a 24-hour Shelter Capital Project Funding 
Program
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 1, 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 ARFORD of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: BELL of Yarmouth, CLOUTIER of Lewiston, CUDDY of Winterport, 
KESSLER of South Portland, MORALES of South Portland, SACHS of Freeport, 
SYLVESTER of 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
TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR SHELTER CAPITAL PROJECT PROGRAM
§4994-A.  Twenty-four-hour Shelter Capital Project program
1.  Program established.  The Maine State Housing Authority shall establish and 
administer the Twenty-four-hour Shelter Capital Project program to support new 
construction or expansion of emergency 24-hour shelters for persons experiencing 
homelessness.  New construction and expansion projects funded by the program must 
address an increase in the need for shelter capacity in the region since the construction, or 
expansion, of an existing shelter or shelters in the region or since the start of the outbreak 
of the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, or both. The program must allow the 
purchase of land and improvements to land as allowable costs.  For the purposes of this 
section, "24-hour shelter" means a shelter that provides access to shelter and intake services 
hours per day to persons experiencing homelessness.
2.  Fund established.  The Twenty-four-hour Shelter Capital Project Program 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.
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.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
Twenty-four-hour Shelter Capital Project Program Fund
Initiative:  Provides one-time funds to establish and implement the Twenty-four-hour 
Shelter Capital Project program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, 
chapter 201, subchapter 14.  This funding is supplemental to funding for the Maine State 
Housing Authority's emergency shelter and housing assistance program and is to be 
delivered in accordance with applicable funding formulas.
GENERAL FUND
2021-22
2022-23
All Other
$3,000,000
$0
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$3,000,000
$0
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Twenty-four-hour Shelter Capital Project program within the 
Maine State Housing Authority to support new construction or expansion of emergency 
24-hour shelters for persons experiencing homelessness.  New construction and expansion 
projects funded by the program must address an increase in the need for shelter capacity in 
the region since the construction, or expansion, of an existing shelter or shelters in the 
region or since the start of the outbreak of COVID-19 or both.  The bill includes a one-time 
General Fund appropriation of $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 to the Maine State 
Housing Authority to fund the program.  This bill specifies that the funding is supplemental 
to funding for the Maine State Housing Authority's emergency shelter and housing 
assistance program.