The highest demand for subsidized housing in the Boothbay region is typically from older, retired people looking to downsize, housing committee member Ted Repa said at the group’s Nov. 14 meeting.

This knowledge came from a series of interviews Repa and fellow member Patricia Royall have been conducting over the past few months.

"They may already have their own house, but it's too large for them,” said Repa. “Then, if somehow we could take those houses and figure out a way to make them affordable, we would almost have a win-win situation, but the demand for subsidized housing in this community – they have a waiting list of like 30, 40 people. It's just incredible.”

Asked if he or Royall could ask local employers to come to housing committee meetings, Repa said the two have not requested it, mostly because several of them have attended in the past or even regularly attend. “Steve Malcom was one … Andy Hamblett was another one,” Repa said with Hamblett sitting just across the table.

“Remember what the answer was: 'We're not waiting for somebody else to find all the housing.' They see a need, they figure out what a solution is that they can afford,” Repa said echoing his remarks from the last meeting.

Chair Katie Spencer White said she believes an important conversation to have is what kind of communities the region wants to build. Beside incentives governments can give through taxes, there must be developers willing to fund them, especially if there is a vision, said White. She added, a housing supply may not be an issue as much as the price-point.

“And if we're too small to utilize (incentives), are there other vehicles that we can tap into to help drive development on the peninsula,” asked White.

It would also be worthwhile to try and convene some developers to determine what they see as opportunities and barriers in meeting the area's need for affordable housing, member Wendy Wolf said. Even if they do not want to be primary developers, perhaps they might be interested in partnering with someone, said Wolf.

Asked about the status of possible land from the Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor, Rotarian Tom Churchill said the Rotary is probably not going to be interested in a purchase contract without more information, including how much property would be needed and where. However, Churchill said exploratory work such as topography, soils work, and extending utilities would be welcome.

Housing Committee member Mike Reid said no developer would consider doing exploratory work without an option on the property. Professionals would need to donate time, said Reid.

“We can't do it all, at least not right away,” he said. “Personally, I want to pick something that feeds off the employers because that's people coming in … right now.”

Member Roger Ferrell recently met a couple who moved from Texas to Maine and want to rent on the peninsula, but have had no luck. Ferrell said he has pitched in to help the couple look, but after going through the region’s newspapers and online listings, he has come up with nothing.

Member Dan Bryer asked if the committee could be an interim resource for prospective new residents.

“We have opportunities right now that we may be losing, they can't find a rent here and maybe they won't be able to build here or live here. Shouldn't we also focus on keeping those people we know right now are looking?”

Farrell said he sincerely hopes so.

“I think we're a small enough community that every one of those individual people counts. We've got a bunch of young adults in our church who would very much like to stay here and are fighting to stay. You know, they're fighting for housing, they're fighting for winter jobs. But you lose them – they're gone.”

The next meeting is at 1 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Boothbay Region YMCA conference rooms.