Cumberland County assistance programs.

 

Free Legal Aid for the elderly

Another non-profit law firm (800.750.5353) can provide legal help to anyone in Portland Maine and across the state. The firm offers free phone services, including consultations, enabling every needy Maine senior to have both direct and free access to a attorney or a lawyer over the phone. The tool free helpline provides legal information and referrals to clients relating to basic needs such as housing, food, rental needs, mortgage assistance, evictions and medication and also brief legal representation. Legal professionals who handle calls will advise clients about their options and rights for a wide array of legal issues and problems.

This other free, non-profit law firm to turn to for help is the Pine Tree Legal Assistance organization. This firm provides assistance to the states low income, and it has helped expand access to justice for traditionally disadvantaged groups including young people and Native Americans. Some of the other services offered by Pine Tree Legal Assistance's legal services programs include IRS tax disputes, foreclosure assistance services with a focus on predatory lending, housing discrimination, and also a resource known as developing Kids Legal, which is Maine’s first statewide children's legal services project.

Armed Forces Emergency Services Program

If you or a member of your family is in the military, get access to 24-hour-a-day emergency communication, cash grants, and other financial assistance. The American Red Cross of Southern Maine offers aid to military personnel. Families or individuals who have a member on active duty in one of the military services can receive assistance. Call the Red Cross at 207.874.1192. Learn more on military assistance programs.

Emergency Assistance and Grants

The Salvation Army, Direct Assistance Program, is another resource to turn to for help. This assistance program provides for the basic needs of individuals: and families. Get free food, clothing, money to pay for rent, shelter, prescription drug medications, referral and advocacy. The Portland and Cumberland County Salvation Army will try to assist people until they can become self-sufficient over the long term.

 

 

Frannie Peabody Center, which is based in Portland Maine, offers housing assistance including rental subsidies and short-term grants and financial assistance to help with paying rent, mortgage, heating and utility payments to help maintain stable housing and to help people keep their utility service connected. Call 774-6877.

Tedford Housing runs the federal government funded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. This program provides eligible families and individuals with case management and counseling, housing search and placement, legal services, referrals; debt reduction advice, potential for short term financial assistance such as rental assistance, security deposits, heating and utility payments, and money to pay moving costs. Brunswick Maine. 729-1161.

Project G.R.A.C.E. is an assistance program that may be able to provide dental assistance, help for heating bills, food, medical assistance, eyeglasses, hearing aids, fuel oil, rent assistance and utility payments, holiday assistance, limited continuing education expenses, and school supplies. 883-5111

Bridgton Community Center helps residents with financial assistance with the cost of winter heating fuel. Call 647-3116.

Cumberland County agencies for rent help - Several non-profits and government programs focus on addressing a number of housing, eviction and rent issues. Individuals can apply for emergency cash assistance, legal consultations, and general case management services. Click here for more details.

Good Samaritan Fund, in Westbrook Maine 854-2292, offers residents one time per year emergency financial assistance for heating oil or fuel.

Peaks Island Tax Assistance is a non-profit charity that raises and distribute funds to assist Cumberland County individuals with property tax relief and energy bill assistance. 766-0067. Learn more on property tax help.

Portland Maine Community Action Agency

The local, non-profit Portland Maine community action agency, The People's Regional Opportunity Program (PROP), offers low to moderate income individuals numerous services and assistance programs. Find a sampling of what they offer, as well as the phone number below.

• Rent Assistance and Homelessness Prevention - This program provides funds to pay rent. It is also a case management program that seeks to prevent evictions and homelessness in areas around the City of Portland and Cumberland County.
   
• Foreclosure Mitigation and Housing Counseling - People who are struggling with paying their mortgage can get access to information and services to avoid foreclosure and establish realistic budget for housing costs. Click here to find additional Maine mortgage and foreclosure programs.
   
• Child Care - A child care program provides for the full-day and part-time care year-round for your children. Some of the services are free, some are low cost. The subsidized child care fees are based upon a sliding scale and are based on both family size and total household income. There are some criteria in order to be able to qualify for the free or subsidized child are slots, including parents need to be working, in job training, or going back to school.
   
• Central Heating Improvement Program - Receive a grant from this program of up to $3,000. The money needs to be used to replace or repair malfunctioning or inoperable heating systems. Services are offered and paid for by both Cumberland & York County. Find additional programs that can repair or replace heating unites. Continue.
   
• Maine HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) - If you are a renter or a homeowner, and if you have high heating bills in relation to your income, the HEAP program may be able to help. The Maine HEAP program provides benefits to households by making a supplemental payment on their behalf directly to their fuel vendor or utility company, whether the fuel is heating oil, coal, electricity, wood, or gas.
   
• ELP (Electricity Lifeline Program) - Customers of Central Maine Power who do not live in subsidized or government housing may apply for the ELP program, through which CMP will provide an energy credit on a household's monthly electric or heating bill.
   
• ECIP (Energy Crisis Intervention Program) - This energy bill assistance program may provide emergency cash grants to both homeowners and renters when no other funding sources are available. So the applicant can’t be receiving help from the state, federal government, or their local utility company. Assistance may be offered in the form of free fuel delivery, minor heating system repairs, or grants to prevent a utility or heating service disconnection.
   
• CHIP (Central Heating Improvement Program) - Another repair type resource. This repair/replacement program provides funds and money to be used for repair and/or replacement of central heating systems that are inefficient, malfunctioning, or threaten occupants' health or safety.
   
• Central Maine Power Assistance Credit - This utility assistance program allows Central Maine Power (CMP) to provide aid for new single-phase electric services. Income eligible homeowners buying a new home that require a new electric service may apply for the credit. The CMP program will provide a credit to reduce the cost of installing wiring and poles to connect to CMP's distribution line.
   
• Home Repair Loans - The Home Repair loan program provides low interest loans (often as low as 1%). The loans are both deferred and forgivable, and the maximum amount provided will be up to $25,000. The money is lent to qualifying homeowners for needed home updates, improvements, and repairs. These low interest loans are tailored to an individuals personal situation, so anything from a leaking roof to a crumbling home foundation is a reason to apply for the home repair program.
   
• Weatherization - This program can help people save hundreds of dollars on their heating and utility bills. The Weatherization Assistance Program is free to qualified families, and it provides a home energy audit to qualified homeowners. The program can pay for energy saving improvements such as attic and wall insulation, caulking, new windows, and other energy-saving measures that reduce home heating costs and bills.

The community action agency can be reached at (207) 874-1140.

 

 

Foreclosure prevention and debt programs

Portland based Money Management International provides counseling, information, advocacy, resources to help Maine homeowners avoid foreclosure. A housing counselor will provide one-on-one assistance to homeowners, at no cost the the client, and all services are free of charge. The assistance provided includes determining a budget, exploring debt reduction plans and coming up with a payment plan in cooperation with the bank or lender to prevent default or foreclosure. Dial 888-845-5669

Food Pantries

Casco Alliance Church may be able to provide a one week supply of food. Casco Maine - 655-4054

Front Street Community Pantry distributes food to Portland families

Harrison Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry - Get Free food, clothing, information on community resources and federal and Maine government programs. Call 583-6178

First Baptist Church Portland (phone 773-3123) is a so called non-emergency food pantry.

Find additional Cumberland County food pantries that cover Portland and surrounding areas.

 

 

 

 

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