Housing Assistance for Single Mothers in Maine

Contents

Where to start

Quick reference

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.

Start at your town or city General Assistance office and say whether you need a room tonight, rent to avoid losing housing, or help with heat. You can apply in person. Maine law also has a phone-application path in some cases, such as illness, disability, no transportation, or no child care when you cannot get to the office. Ask for the emergency contact when the office is closed. Bring what you have; ask which other proof the office will accept if something is missing. The state GA office law covers emergency access.

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.

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 reach the right person. The law can cover children staying in a car, shelter, motel, or shared home because the family lost housing. Ask about school enrollment, getting to school, meals, supplies, and local referrals. A school liaison is not a shelter and cannot promise rental funds.

The Maine community guide lists other local support paths.

Cold nights: MaineHousing has a 2026–27 warming shelter list for centers planned to run November 15, 2026 through April 30, 2027. These are seasonal warming sites, not a substitute for family shelter. Check hours and family rules before going.

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. If you receive one, you must find a landlord willing to rent to you, and the home must pass required checks. Keep your phone, email, mailing address, and household details current while you wait. MaineHousing warned in its January 2026 board report that it did not expect funds for new offers from the central waiting list in 2026. This is not a promise that any individual list is open or closed today. Still ask how to apply and check other housing authorities and properties. The Section 8 guide explains the steps.

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.

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 2026 Maine Eviction Prevention Program is taking applications as of October 12, 2026. MaineHousing says this new program opened on September 21, 2026. The older program’s waitlist closed June 27, 2025, but that closure does not apply to the new round. See the official application portal to start. Project Home runs the program and can be reached at 207-274-1240. Funding and approval are not guaranteed.

Who may qualify: This is for renters who face housing loss or have rent trouble. The official rules set a household income cap tied to 60% of local area median income, plus a rent limit of 125% of the local fair market rent. Check the official tables for your town and household size. A household with a federal housing voucher or another housing subsidy generally cannot get this aid. MaineHousing says a tenant in a tax-credit property without a rent subsidy can qualify, and people receiving municipal General Assistance or state Bridging Rental Assistance may also qualify. The program gives priority to people with court eviction papers, a notice for unpaid rent, or rent costing over 30% of income.

How to apply: A renter or landlord can start, but both must take part before the application can be completed. Have proof of identity, lease or rent amount, current income, and overdue rent or eviction papers ready. MaineHousing lists more accepted documents on its program page. Keep a copy of what you send and ask Project Home what to do if you lack a document. Assistance may cover overdue rent and some future rent; payments are made to the landlord, not as unrestricted cash.

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. Applications for the 2026–27 HEAP season are open. MaineHousing says the season began August 3, 2026 and is scheduled to continue through May 29, 2027 or until funds are used up. Use the official HEAP program page to apply online or find help with the form.

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 official 2026–27 income chart lists these maximum gross household amounts. These figures were checked against MaineHousing on October 12, 2026. Other rules may apply; the agency makes the final decision.

If you are almost out of heating fuel, call your Community Action Agency, town office, utility company, and 211 now. Ask about General Assistance, a fuel delivery, and a payment plan. MaineHousing says the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) opens November 1, 2026 and is scheduled through April 30, 2027. To seek ECIP help, first fill out HEAP and then ask your local agency to screen you for crisis aid. Do not assume ECIP is available before November 1.

The Low Income Assistance Plan (LIAP) may lower electric bills for eligible households. MaineHousing says the LIAP form is usually completed with HEAP. The electric bill must be in the name of a household member. A housing subsidy that fixes total housing costs, including utilities, at a set share of income may make you ineligible for LIAP. Ask your agency to check that rule. The Maine utility guide lists more bill-help paths.

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.

If someone could be checking your phone or web activity, ask an advocate to help you use a safer way to contact services. A quick-exit button does not erase browsing history. Do not share a location or make plans that could put you in danger.

Disability or mental illness

Maine DHHS runs housing services for some people with disabilities or serious mental illness. The DHHS housing services page covers the Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP), permanent supportive housing, and referrals. DHHS says BRAP funds are fully allocated and it does not expect new money soon. Ask a caseworker about current referrals and other housing paths. These are not general rent funds, and a diagnosis alone does not mean you will get housing.

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 may cover health, safety, heating, roof, structural, well, window, or accessibility work. MaineHousing requires applicants to have owned and lived in the home for at least one year and to meet a household income limit of 80% of area median income. Other program and project rules apply. Apply through a listed local agency rather than starting the work first.

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.

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.

For 2026 eviction aid: Save landlord contact details, a signed lease or rent receipt, a recent pay stub or benefit letter, and the rent ledger or eviction notice. Project Home may ask for more. If you are missing a paper, call and ask how to document your situation before the application is marked complete.

Related help to check

Housing is easier to protect when food, utilities, and other bills are covered. The Maine SNAP guide explains food benefits. TANF may also provide basic cash assistance to some eligible families. Each program has separate rules and does not promise housing approval.