Last updated: July 14, 2026
Bottom line
If you need housing help in Maine, start with the need that cannot wait. Call 211 Maine for local shelter and housing referrals. Contact your town or city office to apply for General Assistance. Apply for rent help through MaineHousing, local housing authorities, and affordable apartment properties.
Most programs are not only for single mothers. They may look at income, household size, children, disability, homelessness, rent owed, local rules, and available funds. A waitlist or denial from one program does not mean every housing option is closed.
For help beyond housing, use the Maine help page. The national housing assistance guide explains common rental programs and terms.
If you need help today
Call 911 if there is immediate danger, violence, fire, or a medical emergency.
- If you have no safe place tonight, dial 211 or 1-866-811-5695. You may also text your ZIP code to 898-211. Ask for family shelter, emergency housing, and transportation options.
- Use MaineHousing’s emergency shelter list. Call before traveling because beds, family spaces, and entry rules can change.
- Call your town or city office and say you need to apply for General Assistance. If you cannot reach the office, call 1-800-442-6003.
- If abuse is involved, call the statewide domestic violence helpline at 1-866-834-4357. Deaf or hard of hearing callers may use 1-800-437-1220.
- If you received court papers, check the hearing date and seek legal help right away.
The Maine emergency guide covers food, bills, shelter, and other urgent needs.
Contents
Where to start
No safe place tonight
Call 211, your town office, and shelters that serve families. Tell each person how many adults and children need a place and whether you have transportation.
Behind on rent
Ask your landlord for a written rent balance. Apply for General Assistance, call legal aid, and ask 211 about current local rent funds.
Rent is always too high
Apply for Housing Choice Vouchers and affordable apartments. Join more than one waitlist and keep your contact details current.
No heat or power
Call your utility, local Community Action Agency, town office, and 211. Ask about a payment plan, General Assistance, and emergency energy help.
Quick reference
| Your need | First place to try | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency shelter | 211 and shelter list | Call before traveling. Family beds may be limited. |
| Rent or temporary housing | Town or city office | General Assistance uses local rules and may pay a vendor. |
| Lower rent long term | Voucher and property lists | Waitlists can be long. Apply to several places. |
| Eviction papers | Legal aid and court guide | Do not miss the court date while seeking help. |
| Heating or electric bill | Community Action Agency | HEAP is seasonal and funding is limited. |
General Assistance
Maine General Assistance helps eligible people meet basic needs when their income and resources are not enough. It may help with rent, room rent, temporary housing, mortgage costs, fuel, utilities, food, medicine, and basic supplies.
Apply in person at your local municipal office. Tell the worker what you need now, such as a room for tonight, rent to avoid losing housing, or help restoring heat. Bring the papers you have, but do not delay an urgent request only because you are missing one item. Ask what other proof the office will accept.
If approved, help is often paid by voucher to a landlord, motel, fuel company, store, or other vendor. General Assistance is not a cash grant, and approval is not promised. Local offices must follow state law and local ordinances, but the amount and type of help depend on your case.
If the office says no
Ask for the decision in writing. Maine law provides an appeal process for a General Assistance denial, reduction, end of aid, delay, or failure to act. A written denial can have a deadline as short as five working days, so follow the notice and act quickly. The state GA hearing law explains the basic right to appeal.
Shelter and homelessness help
MaineHousing funds many emergency shelters but does not place every person directly. Its shelter page lists family, youth, adult, veteran, and domestic violence programs by county. Some agencies offer housing navigation without operating a shelter.
When you call, explain whether you are outside, staying in a car, moving between homes, leaving abuse, or losing a motel room. Ask whether children can stay with you, what identification is needed, whether pets are allowed, and whether transportation is available.
If your child lacks stable housing, contact the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison. Maine’s school liaison lookup can help you find the right person. A liaison may help with school enrollment, transportation, meals, supplies, and referrals. Local funding for housing needs can vary.
The Maine community guide lists other local support paths.
Long-term rental help
Housing Choice Vouchers
A Housing Choice Voucher, often called Section 8, pays part of the rent to an approved landlord. MaineHousing says a tenant generally pays about 30% to 40% of adjusted household income toward rent and utilities. Income limits vary by location and family size.
Use the official voucher program page to review rules and reach the centralized online application. Participating housing authorities may use the shared list, while some local or project-based programs have separate lists.
A voucher does not give you an apartment. After selection, you must find a landlord willing to participate, and the unit must pass program checks. Keep your phone, email, mailing address, and household details current while waiting. The Section 8 guide explains the process in plain language.
Subsidized apartments
Affordable apartment properties can have rent set below market or based partly on household income. MaineHousing posts subsidized housing lists by county. Apply directly to each property manager and ask about family-sized units, income rules, accessibility, and waitlist status.
Each property may use a separate application. Being on the voucher list does not place you on every apartment list. Apply to several properties and keep a record of the date, property name, and contact person.
Rental search
MaineHousingSearch is a free state rental listing tool. It includes affordable, accessible, and market-rate homes. A listing is not a promise that the unit is still open, affordable for you, or approved for a voucher. Call before paying an application fee or traveling.
| Housing path | How it works | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Housing voucher | Helps pay rent in an approved unit | Join the list and update contact details. |
| Subsidized property | Lower rent at one apartment site | Apply to each property separately. |
| Public housing | Housing owned or managed by an authority | Ask local authorities about open lists. |
| Market rental | Normal lease without a subsidy | Check total rent, utilities, and fees. |
Eviction and overdue rent
If you are behind on rent, ask your landlord for a written ledger that shows rent, fees, payments, and the total owed. Keep copies of notices, texts, emails, receipts, and applications. Do not promise a payment you cannot make.
The Maine Eviction Prevention Program is not accepting new applications. Its official program page says the waitlist closed on June 27, 2025. The program portal also states that all available funds have been allocated. Do not pay anyone who says they can reopen an application or move you ahead.
Ask 211 and your town office whether another local rent fund is active. Programs can open or close as money changes. Also ask the landlord whether a written payment plan is possible, but get any agreement in writing.
In Maine, an eviction court case is called Forcible Entry and Detainer, or FED. Use the Maine Judicial Branch eviction court guide to understand court notices and find court information. Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides tenant eviction help and may screen eligible renters for legal services.
A Notice to Quit is not the same as a court order. A landlord generally must use the court process to remove a tenant. Do not miss a hearing because you are waiting for rent help or a lawyer. This article gives general information, not legal advice.
The Maine legal help guide lists more places to ask about eviction, unsafe housing, and family safety.
Heat and utility help
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps eligible renters and homeowners with heating costs. As of July 14, 2026, MaineHousing is not taking HEAP applications. The HEAP program page says applications for the next heating season begin August 3, 2026.
Apply as early as you can after the season starts. Community Action Agencies handle applications, interviews, and document checks. Use the HEAP agency contacts to find the office for your area.
The 2026–2027 income chart lists these maximum gross household amounts. Other rules may apply, and the agency makes the final decision.
| Household size | Monthly income | Yearly income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,173 | $38,070 |
| 2 | $4,149 | $49,784 |
| 3 | $5,125 | $61,498 |
| 4 | $6,101 | $73,213 |
| 5 | $7,077 | $84,927 |
If you have an energy crisis before HEAP opens, call your Community Action Agency, town office, utility company, and 211. Ask about General Assistance, an emergency fuel delivery, a payment plan, and other local funds.
The Low Income Assistance Plan may lower electric bills for eligible households. MaineHousing says the LIAP application is usually completed during the HEAP process. The Maine utility guide explains more bill-help options. The national LIHEAP guide covers basic application steps.
Help for special situations
Leaving abuse
If abuse is part of the housing crisis, contact a domestic violence advocate before sharing an address or making a plan that could affect safety. Advocates may help with confidential shelter, local services, court support, and housing referrals. The Maine safety guide gives more official contacts.
Disability or mental illness
Maine DHHS runs housing programs for some people with disabilities or serious mental illness. The DHHS housing services page explains the Bridging Rental Assistance Program and permanent supportive housing paths. A referral, diagnosis, service connection, or other program rule may be required. These programs are not general rent funds.
Children in school
Tell the school liaison if your family is in a shelter, motel, car, temporary shared home, or another unstable setting. Ask what school transportation, meal, supply, and housing-stability help is available. Support and funding can differ by school district.
Homeowners needing repairs
MaineHousing’s home repair program may provide grants for needed repairs to eligible low-income homeowners. It can cover certain health, safety, heating, structural, well, septic, and accessibility needs. Income, property, ownership, and repair rules apply.
Rural homeowners may also check the USDA repair loan program. USDA grants under this program are limited to eligible very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older, while loans may serve other eligible very-low-income homeowners.
Transportation and basic needs
If you cannot reach a shelter, apartment showing, town office, or court, ask 211 and local agencies about rides. The Maine transportation guide lists more options. The Maine furniture guide may help after a move.
Documents to gather
You may not need every paper for every program. Start with what you have and ask what can replace a missing document.
| Document | Why it may help | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
| Photo identification | Shows identity | Ask about other accepted records. |
| Lease or rent receipt | Shows your housing cost | Request a copy from the landlord. |
| Rent ledger | Shows the amount owed | Check fees and payment dates. |
| Eviction papers | Shows court deadlines | Keep every page together. |
| Income records | Used for eligibility | Include wages and benefit letters. |
| Utility bills | Needed for energy help | Include account and shutoff notices. |
| Household records | Shows who lives with you | Use birth, school, or benefit records. |
Use the documents checklist to organize copies. Take photos before you mail or hand over originals. Keep a call log with the date, office, worker’s name, and next step.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for one voucher list. Apply to vouchers, public housing, and affordable properties.
- Using the wrong 211 number. In Maine, dial 211 or 1-866-811-5695.
- Paying for a waitlist spot. No one can sell you a place at the front of a government list.
- Ignoring mail. A missed letter or deadline can close an application.
- Leaving out urgent facts. Tell the office about children, pregnancy, disability, abuse, no heat, or homelessness.
- Missing eviction court. Keep the hearing date even while asking for money or legal help.
If help is denied or delayed
Ask for a written decision. Read the reason, date, missing items, and appeal steps. Save the envelope and notice. If an office says your application is incomplete, ask for a list of the exact documents still needed.
For General Assistance, act fast because the appeal window can be short. For a housing authority or property denial, follow the review or hearing directions in the notice. Ask for a reasonable accommodation if a disability affects forms, meetings, deadlines, or communication.
Do not stop with one program. Call 211 again, contact another shelter or property, and ask a Community Action Agency about local funds. The benefits problem guide gives a simple system for notices, calls, and appeals. The Community Action guide explains what local agencies may offer.
Phone scripts
Calling 211 Maine
“Hi, I live in [town] and need housing help for myself and [number] children. Tonight we are [outside, in a car, in a motel, staying with others, or losing housing]. Please check family shelter, rent help, transportation, and town General Assistance.”
Calling the town office
“Hi, I need to apply for General Assistance for [rent, temporary housing, heat, or utilities]. How can I apply today? What papers should I bring, and what can I use if a document is missing?”
Calling a housing property
“Hi, I am looking for an affordable [number]-bedroom apartment. Is your waitlist open? Is rent based on income? How do I apply, and how should I report a new phone number or address?”
Calling about eviction papers
“Hi, I received eviction papers and my hearing date is [date]. I have children in the home. Can you screen me for legal help and tell me what records to bring?”
Resumen breve en español
Si necesita vivienda urgente en Maine, llame al 211 o al 1-866-811-5695. También puede enviar su código postal al 898-211. Para General Assistance, contacte la oficina de su ciudad o pueblo. Si recibió papeles de desalojo, revise la fecha de la corte y busque ayuda legal pronto. HEAP no acepta solicitudes el 14 de julio de 2026; la próxima temporada empieza el 3 de agosto de 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is there housing help only for single mothers in Maine?
Most programs are not only for single mothers. They may look at income, household size, children, disability, homelessness, rent owed, and local rules. A single mother can apply when her household meets the program rules.
Who should I call if I have nowhere to stay?
Call 211 or 1-866-811-5695, check MaineHousing’s shelter list, and contact your town or city office for General Assistance. Call shelters before traveling because space and entry rules change.
Is Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program open?
No. As of July 14, 2026, the waitlist is closed to new applications and all available funds have been allocated. Ask 211 and your town office about other current rent help.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Maine?
Start through MaineHousing’s Housing Choice Voucher page and the centralized waiting list. Also contact local housing authorities and affordable apartment properties because they may use other lists.
When does Maine HEAP open?
MaineHousing says the next HEAP application season begins August 3, 2026. Apply through the Community Action Agency serving your area and confirm the documents it needs.
What if General Assistance denies me?
Ask for the decision in writing and read the appeal instructions right away. A written denial can have a deadline as short as five working days. Contact legal aid if you need help understanding the notice.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 14, 2026, next review October 14, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.