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New Maine Tax Credit Aims to Make Homes More Accessible to Seniors

A new tax credit takes effect this calendar year to help Mainers retrofit their homes to be more accessible for seniors.

The Accessible Home Tax credit is available to those who earn less than $55,000 a year and helps pay for wheelchair ramps and improvements including tubs and showers.

House Speaker Sara Gideon of Freeport says it’s just part of the solution to keeping seniors in their homes.

“Maine’s shifting demographics actually impact every single one of us. This tax credit is just a small step in what must be a comprehensive approach. We know there is much more work we have to do here,” she says.

Groups like AARP of Maine and the National MS Society joined in a State House news conference to publicize the credit, which can be claimed on income tax returns filed next year.

“One of the reasons we were so ardently supportive of this measure is in recent years, very few things have resonated as resoundingly as safe, affordable housing for seniors,” says Rich Livingston, president of AARP of Maine.

The program is administered by Maine Housing.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.