Over 50 people crowded into a room for the “Islands in Crisis” sessions at the Governor’s Annual Affordable Housing Conference on Nov. 3 in Rockland. Bridged and unbridged islands were represented, including Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Monhegan, Peaks, Long, Cranberry Isles, North Haven, Cliff, Chebeague and Swan’s. Mainlanders attended the session as well.

A morning panel discussed island affordable housing. Panelists included: Lisa Fisher Henderson of Fannie Mae’s Northern New England Partnership Office (long-term affordability); Steve Miller of Islesboro Islands Trust and formerly of Islesboro Affordable Property (organizing at the local level); Doug Boynton of Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Association (fundraising at the local level); David MacDonald of Maine Coast Heritage Trust (land conservation and affordable housing); and Terry Kelley of MDI and Ellsworth Housing Authorities, and Representative Ted Koffman (both covering state policy and affordable housing).

The afternoon session included breakout groups on four of the morning topics. Each group identified policy changes that would help make affordable housing on islands more achievable including: a local option real estate transfer tax (designated for affordable housing); greater use of land banks (for affordable housing); tax incentive for long-term residency; changing federal income requirements; re-establishing the state real estate transfer tax. After an hour of small group discussion, each group presented its recommendations to the others.

The session ended with a large group discussion of how to move forward. An email list will keep participants in touch. Participants mentioned working examples of affordable housing, including H.O.M.E. in Orland (a community land trust) and Burlington Community Land Trust in Burlington, Vermont, that could be models. People also wondered about an action plan for state policy, and Terry Kelley of MDI and Ellsworth Housing Authority said, “People need to go to Augusta and be boisterous.”

A follow up meeting with session organizers will take place in December. A spring or summer symposium is also planned.

Alyson Mayo is an Island Institute fellow on Islesboro.