Domestic abuse survivor Hazel Willow struggled to find affordable housing for herself and her young son when they needed to find a safe place to live.

“First and last month’s rent wasn’t something I could come up with as a now-single mom,” she said Tuesday during a State House press conference to draw attention to the state’s affordable housing crisis.

Willow turned to a shelter and was able to enroll for food vouchers and other programs until she could get back on her feet. After nine months, she and her son were able to find an apartment they could afford.

“Legislators, we need you to take bold action to ensure there’s enough housing for everyone who needs it,” she said as a stiff wind blew through a banner that said, “Maine Needs Affordable Housing Now.”

The event organized by the Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Equal Justice and Raise-Op Housing Cooperative featured those who have struggled to find affordable housing and advocates who are urging the passage of bills now pending in the Legislature.

Tobin Williamson, advocacy manager for the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, said since last fall, more than 1,000 asylum seekers have been temporarily housed in Portland area hotels. And deadlines are looming that will require many of them to move, including April 30 in Old Orchard Beach and May 31 for those in South Portland.

And on July 1, federal emergency funds that pay for the housing will end.

“This impacts people who move to Maine from Afghanistan and it impacts people who move to Maine from Arkansas,” he said. “It impacts people who have been living in Maine their entire lives.”

He listed bills that he believes will help, including LD 473, which creates a pilot program for 1,000 new housing vouchers; LD 1961, which changes the board of the Maine State Housing Authority; and LD 2003, which aims to help municipalities change zoning to clear the way for new housing.

At least two of the speakers at the press conference highlighted the same statistic: There are no counties in Maine where someone making minimum wage can afford a market rate two-bedroom apartment.

“In my city of Bangor, homelessness is a major problem,” said Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor). “More than 100 people are sleeping in woods, parks and streets in Bangor.”

She talked about the three homeless men who died in Bangor in a fire last year in a vacant home they were using as shelter. She said lawmakers are poised to take action on several bills to update zoning regulations, set housing goals and make vouchers available.

She praised Gov. Janet Mills for allocating an additional $22 million to address the housing crisis, but said more must be done.

“We need new, dedicated, sustainable funding,” she said.

Gina Morin of Auburn lived in her car for 10 days and then a motel for more than four years before she was able to find stable housing. She regularly appears before legislative committees to try to bring about change and recently found an apartment she can afford.

She called on lawmakers to find ways to help.

“I am here to remind you phrases like affordability and low inventory are not just abstract policy terms, they are life and death for thousands of Mainers,” she said. “Decades of inaction and failure to invest in Maine’s future meant that when I needed a place to be healthy and safe, I was out of luck for far too long.”