KIDS LEGAL
Resource Code Card

Housing / Homelessness

Homeless:

Homeless Crisis Hotline: 1-800-438-3890

Homeless Intervention Program: 577-3236

The Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains a Maine Statewide Shelter Listing

The Maine Deptartment of Education posts resources to help homeless students enroll in school

Unsafe Conditions:

Town Code Enforcement Officer: call local town office

State Senior Electrical Inspector: 624-8640

State Mobile Home Park Inspector: 624-8612

Health Officer: Call local town office

Weatherization and Central Heating Improvement Program
(CHIP):Maine State Housing Authority Energy and Housing Services Division: 626-4651

Lead:

Lead Poisoning Prevention: 1-800-452-1942

Maine Lead Action Project: 871-7905

Bureau of Health: 287-4311 (for questions about lead safety in your home, medical treatment and screening)

Maine State Housing Authority: 800-452-4668 (for questions about money to pay for inspections or abatement)

National Lead Information Center: 1-800-424-LEAD;

Lead in Drinking Water: Call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791

Financial Assistance:

General Assistance (payments for rent/mortgage/taxes): apply at local town office

Property Tax Abatement: apply at local town office

Low-income mortgages: 1-800-452-4668

ME Homestead Exemption: apply at local town office

State Property Tax & Rent Refund: 626-8475

Emergency Assistance: Local DHHS office

Housing Definitions:

Project Based Subsidized Housing:

Low-income families pay portion of income toward rent; subsidy pays the rest and stays with apt.

Section 8 Voucher:

Low-income families receive rent voucher. Landlords agree to take voucher. Tenants keep voucher when they move. Rent is based on family's income.

RAC:

Rental Assistance Coupon for those trying to better themselves (job training, etc.). Expires after 18 months.

BRAP:

Low-income mental health consumers receive rent voucher. Rent based on family income.

Shelter Plus Care:

Rent voucher for disabled homeless and their families that also provide social services. Rent based on family income.

Public Housing, Section 8 Vouchers, BRAP, Shelter Plus Care

Maine Housing Authority: 1-800-452-4668

HUD subsidized apartment search for Maine

Local Community Action Program (CAP) Agency

Rental Housing Guide by County

What is a BRAP and Shelter Plus Care housing subsidy?

Low-income mortgages: Maine State Housing Authority, 1-800-452-4668

Discrimination:

Maine Human Rights Commission: 624-6050

Advocacy:

Pine Tree Legal Assistance: 774-8211 (Portland)

Volunteer Lawyers Project: 1-800-442-4293