The Maine Homeless Policy Committee is calling your attention to Part S of the Governor’s Supplemental Budget (LD 209, An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund and Other Funds for the Expenditures of State Government and to Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government
for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025).
Part S makes substantive changes to the GA Program: limits housing assistance under the
General Assistance Program, except for temporary housing and emergency shelters, to a maximum of three (3) months in a 12-month period per household. It also limits municipalities from exceeding the maximum levels of assistance for all non-housing related assistance to no more than 30 days in a 12-month period per household. If passed, these changes are likely to have significant adverse effects on the homeless service system and people experiencing homelessness. The biggest worry is that this will prevent homeless shelters from moving people into housing at a time when they are full, and the state is facing a serious lack of rental assistance. General Assistance is one of the few tools we have to empty our clogged homeless system. The Public Hearing on this portion of the Supplemental Budget was yesterday, but written testimony can be submitted online up until the Work Session (the first of which could occur Wednesday of next week). So, we wanted you to be aware and be able to submit testimony as soon as possible. Talking points on Part S are attached.
The full Supplemental Budget General Fund Language can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/budget/sites/maine.gov.budget/files/inline-filesFinal%20GF%20Language%202025%20Emergency%20Supplemental.pdf
(Part S begins on page 11).
To submit testimony, click this link: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/Click on Public Hearing, then choose the Committee and then the date of the hearing: Appropriations & Financial Affairs, 1/32/25 at 1:00 PM Choose the LD# you are looking for: LD 209 (the only bill listed) You can upload a file or type your testimony in the open box. Once you have provided the rest of the requested information you will check the box next to “I’m not a robot” and finally click the Submit/Register button.