Portland, Maine, needs 1,000 affordable housing units

As you might expect, most are needed for homeless and low income people. and immigrants. That's why Portland resident Kenneth Capron asked the City Council recently for permission to obtain a $250,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study on converting a cruise ship into housing.

"All these people need housing and job skill training, and we could offer that on board," he said. A cruise ship would not be for long term housing, but it could house as many as 800 people plus 300 "crew members" to offer social services, counseling and support. Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling says, "I don't know if it's the craziest idea I've ever heard or the most brilliant idea, but I like that he's coming up with creative ways to build housing in the city of Portland."