Hi Rachel, Emmy, and Cooperative Maine/CMBA folks,
I expect there will be at least a few town or city officials attending. Who won’t be there are those who are low-income and/or unhoused, in part because conference organizers believe the conference is not for them and have priced the event at $150. However, if people who are low income or are unhoused are some of the recipients of affordable housing and believe, as I do, in the idea of "nothing about us without us,” then this event lacks credibility, in my opinion. They should be involved and participating with others who are part of the affordable housing community, just as it is important for those who support cooperative housing to be there and promote that idea and strategy. People who are low income or unhoused have certain knowledge and experience that others who are attending do not have. If they are missing, planning affordable housing will be based in part on ignorance, not knowledge.
According to Amanda Ouellette (
aouel...@mainehousing.org) from Maine Housing, there are five “scholarships” available to attend at no cost for individuals who are low income or unhoused. This, unfortunately, was not mentioned in any information about the event. Also, unfortunately, five is a totally inadequate number. If individuals sign up by Sept. 1 and email Amanda Ouellette asking that the fee be waived, they should be able to attend, unless the limit of five is passed, and even then, they could complain (for good reason).