General Assistance is a statewide program that helps Mainers in crisis meet basic needs. This temporary, emergency relief program is administered by municipalities across the state, and serves as a last resort for people facing extreme hardship, allowing them to afford food, diapers, medicine, rent, heat, electricity, or other necessities.
TAKE ACTION
This Monday, April 7, the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee will consider two bills that could significantly impact the General Assistance program.
1. Preble Street SUPPORTS: LD 1029, An Act to Ensure General Assistance for Housing Does Not Reduce Assistance for Other Basic Necessities, and to Increase Presumptive Eligibility and State Reimbursement for General Assistance
– The current housing crisis and high rents have resulted in families spending a larger portion of their budget to keep a roof over their heads. This bill, sponsored by Senator Rachel Talbot Ross, would ensure that people needing the General Assistance program would receive enough funds to cover housing costs and other basic needs.
– This bill would also help municipalities cover some of the costs of shelter beds in their communities, reducing the risk of closure of current shelters, which are severely underfunded in our state.
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2. Preble Street OPPOSES: LD 1066, An Act Regarding Limits on Municipal General Assistance Programs. This bill would:
– limit General Assistance for housing to a maximum of three months in a twelve-month period per household, which will result in more people becoming unhoused in every county in the state
– limit assistance to no more than 30 days in a 12-month period and increase delays on receipt of benefits, inflicting more harm on people already in crisis
Please follow the instructions below to submit written testimony supporting LD 1029 and opposing LD 1066. We need your voice!
SUBMIT TESTIMONY FOR LD 1029
1. Click the button below.
2. Select “Public Hearing” as the type of hearing.
3. Under “Choose a committee,” select “Health and Human Services”
4. Under “Choose date,” select “April 7 2025 10:00AM.”
5. Under “Choose a bill,” select “LD 1029″
6. Copy, paste, and personalize the script below, and submit your written testimony.
SAMPLE SCRIPT :
Senator Ingwersen, Representative Meyer, and esteemed members of the Health and Human Services Committee,
My name is (fill in your name), and I’m a resident of (where you live), Maine.
I’m writing to support LD 1029: An Act to Ensure General Assistance for Housing Does Not Reduce Assistance for Other Basic Necessities, and to Increase Presumptive Eligibility and State Reimbursement for General Assistance.
General Assistance is a critical program that serves as a last resort of emergency relief for Mainers facing extreme hardship. By helping people afford food, diapers, medicine, rent, heat, electricity, and other necessities, it is a literal lifeline for households who find themselves in crisis.
LD 1029 would ensure that though Mainers are spending a larger portion of their income on housing due to skyrocketing rents, anyone on General Assistance would still be able to cover other basic needs in addition to housing costs while on the program.
Currently, people in need are having to leave their communities and travel to larger service areas in the state, because smaller municipalities cannot afford to help them. LD 1029 increases the GA reimbursement rate from 70% to 90%, enabling people to be served effectively within their home town.
Meanwhile, the housing crisis and increased rates of homelessness are putting a strain on our shelter system. By extending presumptive eligibility from 30 days to 6 months, LD 1029 would help municipalities cover some of the costs of shelter beds in their communities. This would reduce the risk of closure of current shelters, which are severely underfunded.
Housing, food, and shelter are basic human rights. I urge you to support LD 1029 to ensure that Mainers and towns facing economic hardship get the help they need.
Thank you.
