TURNER — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night to ask residents if they want to acquire the Turner Natural History Club and Museum. The building sits on 1.6 acres and is over 100 years old, according to former Selectmen Ralph (Raz) Caldwell who attended the meeting. The club dates back to the 1920 and […]
general assistance
Posted inLocal & State
Eric Brakey sponsors bills to reform state general assistance program
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee will start to consider bills that would reform the state’s general assistance program. Maine towns each run a general assistance program that helps people lacking enough money to pay necessary expenses. The state reimburses the towns and cities for 70 percent of such benefits. LePage’s final two-year budget proposal would […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Auburn joins Lewiston in asylum-seeker increase
AUBURN — A recent increase in the number of asylum-seekers requesting General Assistance isn’t isolated to Lewiston. According to officials in Auburn, there has also been a jump in the number of people seeking asylum on the other side of the Androscoggin River. The increase is squeezing budgets at a time when state welfare programs […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston seeing increased number of asylum-seekers
LEWISTON — The number of asylum-seekers receiving General Assistance from the city could nearly double this year compared to fiscal 2015-16, according to city records. Figures from the Social Services Department show General Assistance has been provided to 355 asylum-seekers in the first half of this fiscal year, from July 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Bourret reappointed as General Assistance clerk
RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen reappointed Tom Bourret as General Assistance clerk Thursday. He was named to the post about one year ago, and board Chairman said Jeff Sterling said Bourret’s performance has “gone exceedingly well.” When Bourret took the job, General Assistance appointments were cut back to two days a week, resulting in less […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Some skeptical as backers of asylum seeker welfare prep suit
PORTLAND — As defenders of welfare for asylum seekers in Maine get ready for a legal challenge against new rules, advocacy groups are divided about whether the effort can succeed. The state Department of Health and Human Services has released new rules that only immigrants who meet a federal law’s definition of “lawfully present,” or […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Group says DHHS misinterprets General Assistance for immigrants
AUGUSTA — New rules proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services for the disbursement of General Assistance to immigrants and asylum seekers defy the intent of a law enacted earlier this year, according to numerous speakers who testified against the rules Thursday at the State House complex. The proposed rules are the latest […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston looks to use state welfare rules for refugee eligibility
LEWISTON — The city will hitch its General Assistance eligibility requirements to state rules, councilors agreed Tuesday. City Administrator Ed Barrett said it makes more sense for the city to simply refer to the state’s requirements than to create its own set of requirements. “I would not be surprised if once again this year, there […]
Posted inLetters
Not a very nice ‘welcome to America’
Around Thanksgiving time, I met a gentleman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo when his money was taken for services not provided. I invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. During the meal, we talked about his living situation and he told me that he had no supplies to clean his apartment. I volunteered to help […]