There’s something special about life on the Midcoast. We value our sense of community, our connection to nature, and the Maine traditions that have shaped generations — hard work, neighborliness, and pride in place. The Maine life we cherish is more than an ideal; it’s a way of living grounded in simplicity, craftsmanship, and care for one another.

But for more and more working families, that Maine life is slipping out of reach.

Across our region, teachers, medical staff, tradespeople, and small business employees — the very people who keep our towns running — can no longer afford to live here. Prices for homes and rentals have soared beyond the means of those earning honest, middle-income wages. Families who grew up here are being pushed out, not by choice, but by math.

The high cost of housing isn’t just an economic problem; it’s a community problem. When the people who teach our children, respond to emergencies, or manage restaurants, can’t find housing nearby, the Maine we know begins to fray. Towns lose their heartbeat. Schools lose families. Local businesses lose workers.

At the Midcoast Regional Housing Trust, we focus on what’s known as the “missing middle” — households that earn too much to qualify for subsidies but far too little to compete in today’s market. These are our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends. Everyone deserves a chance to live where they work and contribute to the communities they love.

We believe attainable housing can honor Maine’s charm and traditions. We can build homes that fit the landscape, reflect our values, and strengthen the social fabric that has always defined life here. This is why we founded MCRHT and are striving to ensure the Midcoast remains a place all people can call home.

If you’ve struggled to find or keep housing on the Midcoast, your story matters. Sharing your experience helps our community understand that this crisis touches everyone — and that together, we can act before the Maine lifestyle we treasure becomes a memory.

Visit www.mcrht.org/shareyourstory to make your voice part of the solution. Let’s keep the Maine we love within reach for all who call it home.

 to make your voice part of the solution. Let’s keep the Maine we love within reach for all who call it home.