Too many people in Maine are having trouble finding (or keeping) a safe and affordable place to call home. Maine Equal Justice advocates for housing solutions, and you can sign up to get involved by going to our Take Action! page.

On September 29, 2022 Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing) announced that they would pause accepting new applications for their Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The program is paused because the money for ERA will run out soon and MaineHousing is waiting to see if the program will receive more funding. MaineHousing may open applications for ERA again if they get more funding, but we do not know if that will happen. 

If you did not submit an application for ERA before September 29, 2022, then you cannot apply to the program at this time. If you need help paying your rent, read more about General Assistance (GA) below.

I applied for ERA before September 29. What will happen to my application? 

If your application for ERA has already been approved and you have been receiving the benefit, nothing will change for you. Make sure to complete your three-month recertification in a timely manner to ensure that there are no problems with your ERA. 

If you submitted your application before September 29, your local Community Action Project (CAP Agency) will still process applications in the order that they were received. If you have questions about when your application will be processed, you should contact your local CAP agency directly.

How can I pay my rent if I cannot access ERA?

You can get rental assistance by applying for help through your town’s General Assistance (GA) program.

Every town in Maine is required to have a GA program that helps residents of that town meet their basic needs, including housing, heat, running water, and electricity. You can find the phone number, hours, and location of your town’s GA program by calling the social services office in the town where you live, searching for it online, or calling 2-1-1. 

When you apply for GA, you will need to bring certain documents and information.  You can find a full list of what you should bring to your GA appointment, as well as other information about GA on Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s website. 

While some towns have robust GA programs and make it easy to apply, other towns have a more difficult application process. If you are having trouble getting GA in your town, you should call the statewide GA Hotline (800-442-6003) that is run by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). They are responsible for issuing assistance if you are eligible and unable to get it via your own GA office. If you continue having trouble accessing GA after calling the hotline,or if your GA application is denied, contact Maine Equal Justice.

What do I do if I am denied GA? 

If your town denies your GA application or tells you that you are not eligible for GA, ask the office for their decision in writing and then appeal the decision. You have 5 working days (does not include weekends or holidays) to appeal a written GA denial or 10 working days from the date of application to appeal if you do not receive a written decision. 

The town office should have a form for you to fill out to file your appeal. If your town does not have a form, you can write a letter to the GA office saying you are appealing their denial (if they told you that you are not eligible you can follow these same steps). Sign and date the appeal letter, make a copy of it or take a photo of it for your records, and then deliver by hand or send it via email to the town’s GA office. Once you have requested an appeal you should contact Maine Equal Justice or Pine Tree Legal Assistance for legal assistance with the appeal.

Will GA pay my back rent?

GA does not pay back rent or past due rent unless it is to prevent an emergency, like eviction or homelessness. If you have an eviction notice for past due rent, GA can pay that balance in order to prevent your eviction. You should bring your eviction notice to your GA appointment and ask to apply not just for the current month’s rent, but also any other rent money you owe. This only works for evictions based on non-payment of rent, which should be written in your eviction notice. You will also need to show that you spent whatever money you had on basic necessities for each month that you owe past due rent. You should bring receipts that you still have from purchases you made during those months to your GA appointment.  If you have questions about this, or if your town fails to provide you with GA to pay back rent when you have an eviction notice, contact Maine Equal Justice. 

Will GA pay for my heat, utilities, internet, or electricity?

GA will pay for your heat, utilities, and electricity, but unlike ERA, they will not pay for your internet. When you apply for GA include that you are seeking heat, utilities and/or electricity.  

What do I do if I received an eviction notice or if I am being evicted?

If you are facing eviction, or fear your landlord may try to evict you, you can contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance or Legal Services for the Elderly. 

If you have any questions about the above information, please contact Maine Equal Justice. We would be happy to talk with you more about ERA & GA and help you connect to programs that can assist you in meeting your basic needs.