Affordable Housing FAQs
What is workforce housing, and how does it compare to low-income housing?
Workforce housing is designed to address the needs of working families or individuals with incomes between 60% to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For an individual in Knox County in 2025, that income range was $42,000 to $84,000.
Low-income housing typically serves households earning less than 60% of the AMI and is often subsidized through voucher programs.
Workforce housing helps essential workers - such as tradespeople, teachers, health care workers, and law enforcement officers - who usually make too much to qualify for subsidies but cannot afford market-rate housing.
Which kind of housing does VHI offer?
VHI's housing units at 16 East Boston Road are designed as affordable workforce housing.
For the one-bedroom units, tenants are eligible to rent if their household income is below 80% of the AMI, which ranges from $56,000 (for one person) to $64,000 (for two people).
For VHI's larger units, tenants are eligible to rent if their household income is below 120% of the AMI, which is $120,000 based on a four-person family.
What makes VHI housing "affordable"?
Housing is considered "affordable" if its cost does not exceed 30% of the AMI limit on the unit.
For example, for an individual living in one of VHI's one-bedroom units, the maximum rent VHI can charge is $1,400 per month (1/12th of 30% of the $56,000 AMI for Knox County). That is well below the market for one-bedroom units on the island.
How does VHI ensure that VHI housing actually supports working island resdients?
VHI's mission is to serve island residents. Under VHI's Eligibility Criteria, applicants are asked to demonstrate that they live and work on Vinalhaven year-round, and that they are committed to living on the island year-round.
Are all of the units occupied?
Not yet. Two of the smaller units remain under lease to the pre-existing tenants at 16 East Boston Road, as required under the Maine Housing grant.
VHI is completing construction of the remaining units on the property and will be seeking tenant applications in the near future.