Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) at an Event at the Irish Heritage Center  in Portland Several Years Ago..

Maine is slated to receive $5.4 milion in federal funds to help support communities that are providing critical support such as food, shelter, clothing, acute medical care and transportation to noncitizens recently released from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody and awaiting their imigration court proceedings.

“With an aging population and a growing need for more residents, Maine has welcomed our new neighbors with open arms.   However, the influx has also placed considerable strain on local resources, particularly in cities like Portland, which ha borne the brunt of these challenges.  FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program is the only federal funding available to help our local governments and nonprofits supporting new arrivals.  This funding is critical to providing the necessary support as they begin to build new lives in our state,” said Congrsswoman Chellie Pingree (D).  “While this allocation will certainly help, more must be done.   I will continue to work not only to protect federal funding for SSP, but advocate for additional resources and flexibility in federal programs like the SSP to better meet the unique needs of new arrivals and the communities that support them.   Until Congress passes my bipartisan bill to ensure asylum seekers can work and support themselves more quickly, these programs are more important than ever.”

“Our community’s most vulnerable members face the interconnected challenges of food insecrutiy, housing instability and lack of transportation,” said Liz Cotter Schlax, President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine.  “United Way is grateful to be able to access these Federal resources on behalf of our neighbors and the organizations serving them directly.”