Maine lawmakers consider changes to General Assistance program due to pandemic
Maine lawmakers consider changes to General Assistance program to address homelessness, housing crunch.
Maine lawmakers are considering various changes to the General Assistance (GA) program in the state, as homelessness and a housing crunch have put a strain on the program. The proposed changes include increasing the state’s reimbursement rate, eligibility checks, and work requirements. The program is administered by local municipalities and the state reimburses 70% of their costs.
In 2019, GA spending totaled $12.7 million, including state and local spending. By 2022, that number had jumped to $37 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To offset costs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the federal Emergency Rental Assistance program provided funding, but the ERA program is ending and FEMA funds are only scheduled to run until mid-April.
Lawmakers are also proposing bills to create a nine-month limit for “able-bodied” adults without depends, require those people to work, volunteer or do job training after three months on General Assistance, and establish new residency requirements. The Mills administration has proposed one-time funding for GA in the supplemental and biennial budgets while working on long-term policy changes.
Overall, the goal of the proposed changes is to ensure that the program is being used by those who truly need it and preserve resources for the most vulnerable. Additionally, increasing the state’s reimbursement rate would help municipalities that have been hard hit by rising GA costs. Finally, more statewide coordination in resettling asylum seekers and creating more affordable and sustainable housing would help those utilizing GA.
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