RANGELEY — A work force housing initiative is underway to help people who work and live in the Rangeley region to  have safe, clean and affordable places to live.

The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and its partners the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Agency, and Community Concepts of Maine will hold a meeting at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Rangeley Lakes Regional School to discuss programs and ways people may become homeowners.

It has been long recognized by the entire community that there is a need for affordable housing for hardworking families and individuals, who form the backbone of the community, Trust Workforce Initiative coordinator Rebecca Kurtz said.

“We feel part of our mission is to maintain the cultural heritage of the area and help people stay in the area,” Kurtz said.

Trust members have received a grant to do a study and have been working with Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Maine to determine the need for affordable housing.

“We know there is a need,” Kurtz said.

In 2006, the median cost of a house in Rangeley was $225,000 and people had to earn $80,000 a year to afford it, she said.

The average wage in Rangeley is $40,000 a year, she said.

“Since 2000 home prices have increased three times faster than wages,” Kurtz said.

The situation can lead to serious consequences, she said. Among them are people working two or three jobs to try to afford a place to live, or people living in unsafe or unclean housing and not getting the health care and other necessities they need.

On an individual level, the quality of life diminishes and people are not able to contribute to the economy, Kurtz said.

Community Concepts and Rural Development Agency will present a wide array of programs available to moderate and low income families. In houses may be new or renovated.

The Trust has also identified a few landowners who may be able to help out, Kurtz said.

If someone is not able to attend and would like to talk to a representative about various programs and the ability to qualify for them, they can call Community Concepts at 1-800-866-5588, or HomeQuest, an affiliate of the agency, at 1-866-221-4383.

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