As the weather grows colder, there is a desperate situation in our beloved state.   It affects newly arriving asylum seekers; those in northern, central, southern, western, and downeast Maine; those who are homeless; and those who are living in motels.  Leaders on the ground are sharing that we are at “state of emergency.”  

Emergency Rental Assistance is only approved through December.  Not only does this help people have a room over their heads in South Portland and Portland, but it helps even more people in northern Maine who will soon face eviction if they haven’t already.  In addition, the Family Shelter has been full for months, years actually.  The warming shelter next to it is full and families come and there is literally nowhere to go.  

Although the State has helped in some ways, not enough has been done!   Seven months ago, leaders working with new Mainers and those facing homelessness urgently called for the State of Maine to provide a coordinated response. You may remember we also were concerned about the lack of affordable housing and started talking with our own town leaders and advocating for Cumberland to work on affordable housing for all. 

Led by the Spirit, a group of clergy and leaders of faith communities recently met with non-profits serving those facing hardship.  In response, we urgently call for: the extension of some type of “emergency rental assistance" and a State-led Coordinated Care (including intake and service delivery.) We wrote a sign-on letter to Governor Mills and our Legislature and we invite all to prayerfully consider signing on and writing individual letters as well.  Click here to see the letter.  https://www.neighbors-need-me.com/takeaction/signletter

This Advent and Christmas, let us be a message of #MoreHope for our neighbors wherever they live in Maine.
With prayers, Allison

“Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept.”  -- Rabbi Joachim Prinz