AUGUSTA — Maine Attorney General Janet Mills has ruled that a proposal by Gov. Paul LePage to bar immigrants and asylum seekers from receiving General Assistance is illegal and unconstitutional. The proposed new rule, which was unveiled late last year by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, was meant to align qualification for […]
general assistance
Posted inLetters
R. Casimiro: Following the money trail
On Jan. 10, I was stunned as the hearing room in Augusta concerning Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed changes to general assistance rules filled with an estimated 200 attendees. I listened to testimony, was interviewed by a television station, and submitted my written comments. Looking around, I gathered that I was likely the only person there […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Pastor helps settle asylum-seekers moving to Twin Cities
AUBURN — They’ve fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville and Cameroon, leaving Africa, sometimes leaving everything, and they’ve chosen to settle in western Maine. They don’t come with much and they don’t get federal aid. Many don’t speak English. Most can’t legally work for months. “People might say, ‘Who are these […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Portland mayor, asylum seekers call proposed aid cuts for new Mainers ‘discriminatory’
PORTLAND — Portland Mayor Michael Brennan joined members of the city’s religious community as well as current and former general assistance recipients on Friday to decry a state proposal that would eliminate safety-net benefits for asylum seekers and immigrants. Friday was the final day the state Department of Health and Human Services would accept public […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Advocates protest proposal that would keep assistance from new immigrants
AUGUSTA — A range of groups focused on human rights and social justice rallied at the State House on Friday to cry foul over a proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services to deny general assistance to immigrants newly arrived in Maine. Robyn Merrill, a senior policy analyst for Maine Equal Justice Partners, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Turner salvage yard gets renewed permit
TURNER — Selectmen on Monday unanimously approved renewing a salvage yard permit for Jesse Walker after reviewing photographs of the site. Walker said selectmen have renewed his license regularly since 1985. Used car dealer Jim Hanson apologized to selectmen for being defensive at their previous meeting, adding that they had “valid complaints about his property.” […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills
Paris board authorizes GA contract with Norway
PARIS — The Board of Selectmen on Monday authorized a new contract for General Assistance administration with the town of Norway. The two towns will share GA administrator Shannon Moxcey, who has worked in that capacity for Paris and Norway as an employee of Community Concepts since last summer. Last week, the Norway Board of Selectmen […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills
Norway hires General Assistance administrator
NORWAY – The Board of Selectmen has agreed to hire Shannon Moxcey as the Norway/Paris General Assistance administrator. She will replace Community Concepts, which is based in Paris. The move was made at Thursday night’s meeting in order to streamline the process. Although Moxcey was working as the General Assistance administrator for Norway and Paris, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
7 people receive assistance from Lewiston after being kicked off rolls
LEWISTON — Four months after 50 residents were kicked off the city’s General Assistance lists, seven of the people who were disqualified are again receiving city benefits. Sue Charron, Lewiston’s social services director, said 12 of the disqualified people have met the city’s requirements to receive General Assistance, an emergency aid program run by each […]