AUGUSTA - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, D-Sanford, that would increase funding for homeless shelters in Maine, received unanimous approval from the Maine Legislature on Thursday.
The bill would allocate $10 million for ongoing funding for all shelters across the state and an additional $2.5 million for ongoing funding to increase the nightly rate the state pays to low-barrier shelters.
"In York County alone, there are an estimated 300 individuals without shelter right now," said Mastraccio. "Across the state, shelters are reporting that they are at risk of closure due to insufficient resources. The need for shelter space in Maine has grown significantly since this funding was last increased, and so too must our investment in these vital community services."
In 1988, the Legislature created an annual shelter-operating subsidy of $500,000 to support shelters in Maine serving the state's unhoused population. That figure remained the same until 2015, when the Legislature increased it to the current amount of $2.5 million. Last year, the Legislature provided an additional one-time increase of $10 million. LD 2136 would make that increase permanent as an ongoing provision in the state's budget.
The bill would also address the unique funding needs of low-barrier shelters. The current nightly rate that the state pays the five low-barrier shelters in Maine is the same as the regular nightly shelter rate. However, low-barrier shelters typically incur greater costs than regular shelters because they require staff to engage in specialized training for overdose prevention, the use of Narcan and de-escalation tactics in the event of a mental health crisis. This type of specialization is necessary because low-barrier shelters do not require individuals to be in substance use or mental health treatment, or actively participate in other programs as long as they follow the safety rules of the shelter. With these increased costs, many are facing significant financial shortfalls.
The bill now faces a funding decision from the Legislature's Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Mastraccio is serving her fifth non-consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Government Oversight Committee and the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. She represents House District 142, which includes a portion of Sanford and Springvale.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Mastraccio], c. 305-965-2744