BY TUX TURKEL

Maine Sunday Telegram

A state-sponsored Web site that connects landlords and renters now has nearly 10,000 rental listings, and is providing a new way for Mainers to find affordable and accessible housing.

The free site, MaineHousingSearch.org, was launched in mid-October.

The site goes beyond typical rental listings, such as those presented by media outlets and Craigslist, by providing a long-form, standard information format. In that sense, it reads more like a detailed, online Multiple Listing Service sheet.

The format covers dozens of categories, including parking, appliances, bathroom features and distance to facilities, such as bus stops and playgrounds. People with mobility issues can find out how wide doors are, for instance, or how many steps lead to the entry. Icons show at a glance whether a property is income restricted, allows pets or caters to seniors. Some listings include photos.

The site is sponsored by the Maine State Housing Authority and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. It was launched with a private, $60,000 grant, and will cost roughly $20,000 in public money each year to maintain. It's run by Socialserve.com, a national nonprofit provider of housing locator services.

The goal of the site was to pull together multiple sources of rental information, according to Julie Hashem, communications and planning manager with the housing authority.

"We really wanted to create one-stop shopping," she said.

More than listings, the site also includes links to educational resources, such as a rental cost calculator, and the state's 211 assistance line. In time, the housing authority also hopes to be able to mine the site for data, such as tracking the average rental rate in a community.

The site is getting some good feedback from local landlords.

"I think it's a great site," said Brit Vitalius, president of the Southern Maine Landlord Association.

Many of the group's members use Craigslist, but Vitalius said that site caters mostly to market-rate housing.

"This site will be more of an alternative for low-income and subsidized tenants," he said. "Landlords with those tenants will want to be up there."

The site has been bringing traffic to Dirigo Management Co., which is listing five properties in Portland, Brunswick and Augusta. The sites include a new affordable-housing project at 53 Danforth St. in Portland

"We are getting hits from it, so we know it's working," said Karen Walker, a property manager.

Landlords have to spend time filling in all the categories in the listing, Walker said. But the benefit is that it narrows down the people who call to those best suited for the apartments.