GOAL

• Establish a working group to identify communication and educational needs and to coordinate initiatives to address those needs, such as marketing of existing housing solutions and success stories.

• Develop “Cultural Strategies”:

  • Prepare profiles of individuals/families in the community to share their housing stories (e.g. Bar Harbor Savings and Loan loan programs)

  • Engage local artist to tell this story in creative and engaging ways that provide historical perspective

  • Create social gatherings to share housing stories, gather information, and garner support for projects, programs, etc. (e.g. YIMBY parties, Happy Hours for professional forums)

• Increase communication about public input opportunities for housing and economic development projects (Comprehensive plans, etc.), press releases, social media, etc.

• Create public forums to discuss housing needs, challenges and solutions for different professional groups (e.g. Builders Forum, Realtors Forum, Financiers Forum):

  • Housing Forum at Criterion

  • Housing Forum at Northeast Harbor Library

• Create a collaborative site for information-sharing about housing needs, action items, and the housing solutions initiative.