When I turned 30, suddenly all of my friends were talking about buying houses. Or, more specifically, how hard it is to buy a house. Looking at houses on Zillow in one’s spare time is no longer a fun game; it’s just depressing. So many house prices have skyrocketed since 2020. 

Due to Maine’s housing prices, I see myself sticking to renting for a good long while. That’s not to say, of course, that renting is necessarily easier. Rents in Portland rival those in Boston. And outside of Portland, we don’t find much relief either. But at least when my dishwasher breaks, I’ll have someone to call. Hard to save for that down payment, though.

Thankfully, we have someone running for governor who knows Maine is facing a very serious housing crisis. Hannah Pingree’s housing plan will invest in housing, stop out-of-state corporations from driving up rents and cut the red tape that slows development. Hannah’s smart, clear and comprehensive housing plan gives me hope for Maine’s future.

Eloise Melcher
Portland