Financial Assistance
| Address: | Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
243 Leighton Road Augusta, ME 04330 |
| Location: | Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
243 Leighton Road Augusta, |
| Clients: | TANF/ASPIRE clients who are employed and have income which allows loan payments, insurance and other auto related costs. |
| Services: | Limited transportation resources is one of the most frequent barriers keeping TANF (welfare) recipients from going to work. In response, the State of Maine Department of Human Services' ASPIRE Program has partnered with Goodwill Industries and KeyBank to create the Good Wheels to Work initiative. The program offers low interest auto loans for working welfare recipients. Participants referred to the program can borrow up to $5,000 at 5% interest over a three-year period, in which to purchase a reliable used car.
Each eligible participant meets with a Goodwill Transportation Specialist to review transportation needs and options including the type of car to purchase and a budget plan. The Transportation Specialists then assist with loan applications, vehicle selection, insurance purchases, and vehicle registration. The final step is to put together a maintenance schedule to help keep the new car running smoothly. Working ASPIRE clients are referred to the Good Wheels to Work Program by their DHS ASPIRE Case Manager. Goodwill's Transportation Specialists work throughout the State of Maine out of the following offices: Augusta: 207-626-0170 Bangor: 207-945-4063 Lewiston: 207-777-7472 Portland: 207-774-6323 |
| Address: | 111 Franklin Health Commons
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Location: | Office Location: Route 2, (across from Athena’s Restaurant)
East Wilton |
| Phone: | (207) 779-2772; 1-888-952-2772 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 779-2050 |
| TTY: | (207) 779-2662 |
| E-mail: | cwoodcock@fchn.org |
| Website: | http://www.fchn.org/healthaccess/?use=yes&url=healthaccess |
| Contact: | Charlie Woodcock |
| Clients: | The uninsured and underinsured residents in the Greater Franklin County area who meet income guidelines |
| Services: | The mission of Franklin Health Access is to improve the health and well-being of the uninsured and underinsured residents of Greater Franklin County through advocacy, education, treatment, and access to services. Franklin Health Access welcomes people of all ages that have no health insurance or insurance with a deductible of $5000 or greater and that meet the eligibility criteria.
If you do not have a doctor, we will help you choose one that participates in this program. FHA will assign a Personal Health Advocate who will help with healthcare needs and also refer you to other available community resources. Services are based on a sliding-fee scale, and free self-help information is provided. FHA offers a free ScoreHealth screening for cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart risk factors, and for prescription reimbursements of 50% of your cost up to $100 (maximum). FHA also assist with applications to patient assistance programs for free medications.
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| Fees: | Services are based on a sliding-fee scale, called your co-pay. Co-pay levels range from 0% (co-pay of $5 per visit) to 80% of the bill, depending on your income. You will need to provide any changes in your income or household size. You will be responsible for your own health care. Your doctor and Personal Health Advocate will assist you as needed. |
| Address: | 111 Franklin Health Commons
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Location: | Office Location: Route 2, (across from Athena’s Restaurant)
East Wilton |
| Phone: | (207) 779-2772; Toll free in Maine (888) 952-2772 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 779-2050 |
| TTY: | (207) 779-2662 |
| E-mail: | cwoodcock@fchn.org |
| Website: | http://www.fchn.org/fchn/healthaccess/ |
| Contact: | Charlie Woodcock, Director |
| Clients: | The uninsured and underinsured residents in the Greater Franklin County area who meet income guidelines. |
| Services: | Franklin Health Access-Rx (FHA-Rx) offers a program to assist people with access to affordable medications and a support program for the uninsured and underinsured diabetics. FHS-Rx staff will do all it can to help get needed medications. FHA-Rx will assist to find generic medications at lower costs or, if possible, to get the medications from manufacturers at reduced costs. FHA-Rx will also work with doctors to see if there is a less costly medication available. |
| Address: | Franklin Memorial Hospital
111 Franklin Health Commons Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-6031; (800) 398-6031 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.fchn.org |
| Services: | Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Maine, is a progressive, friendly, nonprofit community general hospital whose mission is to provide high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care to west central Maine. The hospital actively works with the community and with other health-care providers to integrate services and ensure the health of people within its service area.
Franklin Memorial Hospital today offers highest-quality health care and state-of-the-art technological support. At the same time, FMH is one of the lowest cost hospitals in Maine as the result of astute quality assurance and cost containment measures. Care here, as elsewhere in the country, has shifted rapidly from a primarily inpatient medical model to one that emphasizes education, prevention, and outpatient services. The 70-bed hospital is fully qualified and accredited to handle a broad range of medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological procedures. The Family Birthing Unit offers a full scope of services before, during and after birth, including nurse home visits and preparation for childbirth. Close to home, technologically advanced, and friendly--the Family Birthing Unit makes the experience of birth as meaningful and comfortable as possible for families. The hospital also has specialized strengths in cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, rheumatology, internal medicine, urology, emergency care, and occupational health. It is the home of the Western Maine Center for Heart Health, which offers a broad spectrum of preventive, diagnostic, acute-care, and rehabilitative services. The hospital’s Medical Library is open to the public for research and information. |
Financial Assistance > Educational/Training Services
| Address: | 1685 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04102 |
| Phone: | 1-800-554-5380 (toll free) |
| E-mail: | me@aarp.org |
| Website: | http://www.aarp.org/states/me |
| Services: | For people over 50 years of age: health, auto, life and other insurance information, Maine state legislative issue information, community programs including Driver Safety, Tax-Aide, Money Managers. Advocacy for seniors. |
| Address: | PO Box 278
South Paris, ME 04281 |
| Location: | 17-19 Market Square
South Paris |
| Phone: | Main office (207) 743-7716 (South Paris) |
| Website: | http://www.community-concepts.org |
| Clients: | Additional offices: Rumford 364-3721; Auburn 795-4065
Farmington (Transportation): (207) 779-0594 Farmington, 124 Main St. (Family Support): (207) 779-0919 Farmington (HeadStart) (207) 778-7534 Jay (HeadStart) (207) 897-4258 New Sharon (HeadStart) (207) 778-0395 Wilton Bass Office, 284 Main St. (207) 645-9512 (HeadStart) (207) 645-3284 |
| Services: | Community Concepts is a Maine non-profit community action agency dedicated to helping people to help themselves. Since 1965, Community Concepts, Inc. has offered a variety of social services that promote self-sufficiency within the people of the communities of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties of Maine. The focus is “to coordinate, collaborate, and to focus resources to help people in need build opportunities for a better tomorrow.”
Main office is located in South Paris. Satellite offices located in Auburn, Rumford and Farmington have various program offices including HeadStart, Transportation and Family Support. Programs include: Parenting education Supported Journey into Recovery Parent Partners Project Meditation Family support Healthy Beginnings Community Cares H.E.A.P. (Fuel Assistance) Fuel assistance is available through Community Concepts for residents of Livermore and Livermore Falls. Electric and Telephone Lifelines Finders/Seekers (linking people to child care opportunities) Homeless Shelter Head Start programs REACH program (increase efficiency of energy usage), Self-Help Home Building program, low income housing for Senior Citizens, and Home weatherization program.
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| Fees: | Most programs are at no cost.
Self help Home Building Program has fees: No down payment, low mortgage payments, instant equity (up to $20,000), interest rates as low as 1%, low closing costs, energy efficient, 3 Bedrooms. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Address: | Bangor Savings Bank
59 Main St. Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 773-1441; 1-800-539-2227 or 1-888-845-5669 (toll free) |
| Fax: | 1-888-812-5358 |
| Website: | http://www.cccsme.org |
| Clients: | Debt distressed families. |
| Services: | Budget counseling and debt management to help families rebuild financial stability. Educational programs available for schools and groups. Credit report review. 24/7 phone counseling available at no charge. Also see http://www.moneymanagement.org/ |
| Fees: | Sliding scale. Maximum fee $25 for the counseling session (includes Transunion credit report). |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Address: | 251 U.S. Rt. 2
Wilton, ME 04294 |
| Phone: | (207) 645-3315; 1-888-234-3921 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 645-2550 |
| TTY: | (207) 795-7232 |
| E-mail: | info@seniorsplus.org |
| Website: | http://www.seniorsplus.org |
| Contact: | Connie Jones |
| Services: | SeniorsPlus is the Area Agency on Aging for Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties, headquartered in Lewiston at 8 Falcon Road. SeniorsPlus offers services to older adults and adults with disabilities, as well as serving as aging experts dedicated to making clear connections to the best resources, information and services available.
SeniorsPlus Connections – free information and assistance. Our goal is to help you live well in your community. There are numerous services and resources available to help you do that. However, it is often overwhelming to find and access them on your own. Our experts will help you with up-to-date information, a plan of action, assistance with the application process and eligibility determination, if any, for those resources. Just one call to SeniorsPlus – 1-800-427-1241. Nutrition Programs – SeniorsPlus is the provider of Meals on Wheels to older adults and adults with disabilities who are unable to prepare meals, and provides social dining at multiple locations throughout the three counties. Medicare Assistance – We are the Medicare experts. If you have questions about Medicare Parts A, B, C or D, SeniorsPlus can help you. We provide community education, as well as one-on-one appointments to help people make decisions on the best coverage for them, and to help resolve Medicare questions and concerns. Caregiver Support – SeniorsPlus provides education, connections, support groups and respite services for people caring for another person. Wilton Community Center – The SeniorsPlus Wilton Community Center houses the kitchen for our nutrition programs, is a daily lunchtime dining site, and is a site for education, activities, exercise programs and one-on-one assistance. It’s located at 251 U.S. Rte 2, and the center is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The phone number is 645-3315 or 1-888-234-3921 (toll free). Volunteer Opportunities – Community members can find many opportunities to assist in carrying out the services of SeniorsPlus. From Meals on Wheels drivers to computer experts to financial counselors to customer service representatives to home repair persons, SeniorsPlus counts on community members to help provide its services and make quality of life available to more older adults and adults with disabilities. For volunteer opportunities, call SeniorsPlus at 1-800-427-1241. |
| Hours: | Hours: Monday-Friday 8-4 p.m. |
| Location: | 147 Farmington Falls Rd., Office 2
Farmington |
| Phone: | (207) 778-4650; 1-800-287-1478 (toll free) |
| E-mail: | cesfrk@umext.maine.edu |
| Website: | http://www.umext.maine.edu |
| Contact: | Ray Corey |
| Clients: | All persons welcome. |
| Services: | Provides Maine people with research-based information to help them live fuller and more productive lives. Assistance is available in many subjects including nutrition, family resource management, youth development, 4-H club work, insect and plant disease identification, agriculture, home food production and many others.
"The Growing Years" - a series of newsletters mailed to parents of children from birth to five years old. Free of charge. "Personal Consultation" - individual or group meetings and printed information on personal budgeting, nutrition, home-based business, gardening, and many other subjects. Source for water and soil testing. |
| Fees: | No fees for educational assistance; some minimal fees for specific services and materials. |
| Hours: | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Address: | 108 Perham St., Suite A
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-2757; 1-800-442-2092 (toll free) |
| E-mail: | janet.smith@maine.edu |
| Website: | http://www.womenworkandcommunity.org/ |
| Contact: | Janet Smith |
| Clients: | The Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community is committed to improving the economic lives of Maine women and their families. |
| Services: | Build Your Career - Through training programs and individual counseling, we can help you identify a career path that will support you and your family; learn skills for successful job seeking; and gain the confidence to pursue your career. If you are interested in returning to school, we can help you find the right program for you and identify sources of financial aid. Start Your Own Small Business - Our small business training can help you develop practical tools for starting and growing your business idea. You can develop a business plan, learn how to market your business, and understand the financial skills needed to be successful. Be Financially Secure - In our workshops on money management, you can learn how to reduce consumer debt and develop plans for increasing your income and savings for your goals. Through the Family Development Account, you can participate in a matched savings program to buy a home, save for education, or start a business. Become a Leader in Your Community - Our leadership training helps women develop the skills they need to serve their communities, run for public office, and become leaders in Maine businesses and nonprofits. |
| Fees: | All of our services are free to participants and open to any adult. |
Financial Assistance > Information and Referral Agencies
| Address: | c/o Alpha One
127 Main St. S. Portland, ME 04106 |
| Phone: | 1-800-640-7200 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.alphaonemedical.com/ |
| Services: | A Financial Loan Program: The Adaptive Equipment Loan Program provides long-term, low-interest financial loans for adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment enables people with disabilities to live independently and improve their quality of life. The Adaptive Equipment Loan Program will lend up to $100,000 to people, businesses or non-profit organizations to buy adaptive equipment. |
| Address: | Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
243 Leighton Road Augusta, ME 04330 |
| Location: | Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
243 Leighton Road Augusta, |
| Clients: | TANF/ASPIRE clients who are employed and have income which allows loan payments, insurance and other auto related costs. |
| Services: | Limited transportation resources is one of the most frequent barriers keeping TANF (welfare) recipients from going to work. In response, the State of Maine Department of Human Services' ASPIRE Program has partnered with Goodwill Industries and KeyBank to create the Good Wheels to Work initiative. The program offers low interest auto loans for working welfare recipients. Participants referred to the program can borrow up to $5,000 at 5% interest over a three-year period, in which to purchase a reliable used car.
Each eligible participant meets with a Goodwill Transportation Specialist to review transportation needs and options including the type of car to purchase and a budget plan. The Transportation Specialists then assist with loan applications, vehicle selection, insurance purchases, and vehicle registration. The final step is to put together a maintenance schedule to help keep the new car running smoothly. Working ASPIRE clients are referred to the Good Wheels to Work Program by their DHS ASPIRE Case Manager. Goodwill's Transportation Specialists work throughout the State of Maine out of the following offices: Augusta: 207-626-0170 Bangor: 207-945-4063 Lewiston: 207-777-7472 Portland: 207-774-6323 |
| Address: | 275 Seventh Avenue, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10001 |
| Phone: | 1-800-813-4673 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.cancercare.org |
| Services: | "The AVONCares Program for Medically Undeserved Women" provides financial assistance and relevant education and support services to low-income, under- and uninsured, undeserved women throughout the country who are in need of support during treatment for cancer. The AvonCares program will provide the following service for women in the United States and Puerto Rico with breast or cervical cancer and their families: Financial assistance Emotional support for individuals and families Education and outreach Information about cancer and treatment Referrals to other services |
| Address: | Healthy Community Coalition
20 Church St. Wilton, ME 04294 |
| Phone: | (207) 645-3136 x 5102; 1-800-350-5180 (Press 1 for more information and t (toll free) |
| TTY: | 1-800-438-5574 (for deaf and hard-of-hearing) |
| Website: | http://www.fchn.org/hcc |
| Contact: | Jennifer McCormack |
| Clients: | Women in the Franklin County area. |
| Services: | This program will pay for mammograms, pelvic exams, clinical breast exams and Pap smears if you are over the age of 40, have no insurance or not enough insurance coverage, and meet income guidelines. Offers public education and promotion on the benefits of breast and cervical cancer exams. |
| Fees: | None. |
| Hours: | M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Address: | PO Box 278
South Paris, ME 04281 |
| Location: | 17-19 Market Square
South Paris |
| Phone: | Main office (207) 743-7716 (South Paris) |
| Website: | http://www.community-concepts.org |
| Clients: | Additional offices: Rumford 364-3721; Auburn 795-4065
Farmington (Transportation): (207) 779-0594 Farmington, 124 Main St. (Family Support): (207) 779-0919 Farmington (HeadStart) (207) 778-7534 Jay (HeadStart) (207) 897-4258 New Sharon (HeadStart) (207) 778-0395 Wilton Bass Office, 284 Main St. (207) 645-9512 (HeadStart) (207) 645-3284 |
| Services: | Community Concepts is a Maine non-profit community action agency dedicated to helping people to help themselves. Since 1965, Community Concepts, Inc. has offered a variety of social services that promote self-sufficiency within the people of the communities of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties of Maine. The focus is “to coordinate, collaborate, and to focus resources to help people in need build opportunities for a better tomorrow.”
Main office is located in South Paris. Satellite offices located in Auburn, Rumford and Farmington have various program offices including HeadStart, Transportation and Family Support. Programs include: Parenting education Supported Journey into Recovery Parent Partners Project Meditation Family support Healthy Beginnings Community Cares H.E.A.P. (Fuel Assistance) Fuel assistance is available through Community Concepts for residents of Livermore and Livermore Falls. Electric and Telephone Lifelines Finders/Seekers (linking people to child care opportunities) Homeless Shelter Head Start programs REACH program (increase efficiency of energy usage), Self-Help Home Building program, low income housing for Senior Citizens, and Home weatherization program.
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| Fees: | Most programs are at no cost.
Self help Home Building Program has fees: No down payment, low mortgage payments, instant equity (up to $20,000), interest rates as low as 1%, low closing costs, energy efficient, 3 Bedrooms. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Address: | Bangor Savings Bank
59 Main St. Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 773-1441; 1-800-539-2227 or 1-888-845-5669 (toll free) |
| Fax: | 1-888-812-5358 |
| Website: | http://www.cccsme.org |
| Clients: | Debt distressed families. |
| Services: | Budget counseling and debt management to help families rebuild financial stability. Educational programs available for schools and groups. Credit report review. 24/7 phone counseling available at no charge. Also see http://www.moneymanagement.org/ |
| Fees: | Sliding scale. Maximum fee $25 for the counseling session (includes Transunion credit report). |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Address: | PO Box 2490
Augusta, ME 04338-2490 |
| Phone: | (207) 622-7083; 1-800-838-0388 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 622-7077 |
| E-mail: | consumerhealth@mainecahc.org |
| Website: | http://www.mainecahc.org/healthcare/otherprogramsinmaine.htm#other |
| Services: | Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation is a Maine public charity dedicated to helping Maine people obtain affordable, quality health care. Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation provides non-partisan research, training and education to the public, government officials, business and organizations. Consumers for Affordable Health Care Foundation also offers services directly to health care consumers, including assistance with state programs and private health insurance companies. |
| Address: | 114 Corn Shop Lane
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207) 778-8400; 1-800-442-6382 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 778-8410 |
| TTY: | 1-800-606-0215 |
| TDD: | (207) 778-8439 |
| Website: | http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ |
| Services: | DHHS is a state agency, which administers programs to supplement income and to protect the well-being of children, dependent adults, and the elderly.
Programs: Division of Public Health Nursing, Bureau of Family Independence, Alternative Aid Assistance, ASPIRE, Food Stamps, MaineCare (Medicaid), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Emergency Assistance, and Parents as Scholars (PaS). Referrals to other DHHS services from the local office include: Children’s Emergency Services Vocational Rehabilitation Adult Protective Services Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery and Nursing Home/Boarding Home Services. |
| Address: | Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
2 Anthony Avenue Augusta, ME 04333 |
| Location: | Also at:
5 Mollison Way Lewiston |
| Phone: | (207) 753-9099; 1-800-741-2991 (toll free) |
| E-mail: | Paul.R.Raymond@Maine.gov |
| Contact: | Paul R. Raymond |
| Services: | If you have a vision problem that prevents you from carrying out the activities of daily living, getting an education or a job.
The Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired has many services that could help. Services: Education services for children, Vocational rehabilitation, Orientation and mobility training Rehabilitation teaching training, Real estate tax exemption, Financial assistance, and Library services for the handicapped. |
| Phone: | 1-800-222-EYES (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.eyecareamerica.org |
| Clients: | EyeCare America’s Senior eye care program is designed for people who: Are US citizens or legal residents Are age 65 and older Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years Do not belong to an HMO or the VA. |
| Services: | Established in 1985, EyeCare America, the public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is committed to the preservation of sight, accomplishing its mission through public service and education. EyeCare America provides eye care services to the medically undeserved and for those at increased risk for eye disease. More than 90 percent of the care made available is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the patients. EyeCare America includes programs for seniors, glaucoma, diabetes, and children, and is the largest program of its kind in American medicine. Seniors can call the toll-free help line, to have free health information sent to them by mail, or to find out if they are eligible for no cost medical eye care. Hours: EyeCare America’s helpline operates all day, every day, year round. |
| Hours: | EyeCare America’s helpline operates all day, every day, year round. |
| Address: | 111 Franklin Health Commons
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Location: | Office Location: Route 2, (across from Athena’s Restaurant)
East Wilton |
| Phone: | (207) 779-2772; Toll free in Maine (888) 952-2772 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 779-2050 |
| TTY: | (207) 779-2662 |
| E-mail: | cwoodcock@fchn.org |
| Website: | http://www.fchn.org/fchn/healthaccess/ |
| Contact: | Charlie Woodcock, Director |
| Clients: | The uninsured and underinsured residents in the Greater Franklin County area who meet income guidelines. |
| Services: | Franklin Health Access-Rx (FHA-Rx) offers a program to assist people with access to affordable medications and a support program for the uninsured and underinsured diabetics. FHS-Rx staff will do all it can to help get needed medications. FHA-Rx will assist to find generic medications at lower costs or, if possible, to get the medications from manufacturers at reduced costs. FHA-Rx will also work with doctors to see if there is a less costly medication available. |
| Address: | See Town Listings Under Government Category |
| Services: | Each town provides general assistance. Varies by town. |
| Address: | PO Box 126
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Location: | 232 Broadway
Farmington |
| Phone: | (207) 778-5048 |
| Fax: | (207) 779-0577 |
| E-mail: | nancy@uwtva.org |
| Website: | http://www.uwtva.org/children_cabinet.php |
| Contact: | Nancy Morgan, Executive Director |
| Services: | The Greater Franklin County Local Case Review Committee is a resource for families with children with special needs, who require special services; at risk for potential removal from the home due to unmet needs and are currently receiving two or more services from State agencies.
The resources of the Local Case Review Committee can be accessed after all other resources are exhausted. A family can apply directly and can be its own advocate or ask a representative from another agency that it is already connected with to be an advocate. The Local Case Review Committee may be able to provide an advocate to assist the family if necessary and if a volunteer is available. Families applying through the Children’s Cabinet are encouraged to attend a review committee meeting whenever possible. |
| Address: | 189 Park Ave.
Portland, ME 04102 |
| Phone: | (207) 774-6273; 1-800-715-0097 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 774-0679 |
| TTY: | (207) 774-6273 |
| E-mail: | Info@theiris.org |
| Website: | http://www.mcbvi.org/default.htm |
| Clients: | People who are blind or visually impaired. |
| Services: | The Iris Network has helped thousands of people meet the challenge of vision loss. Adjusting is a learning process that takes time and patience. The Iris Network designs a range of services and programs to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual. All classes are taught by university trained and certified specialists. While the range of services is broad, there are five primary programs on which the Iris Network focuses. Rehabilitation Center - offers a comprehensive training program and temporary residence to assist clients in managing day-to-day needs, acquire communication skills, explore career options and learn to travel safely and independently. Community Rehabilitation Services - reaches clients in their homes, helping them adapt to vision loss, acquire blindness skills and access resources in order to work and live independently. Maine AIRS - broadcasts newspaper information not typically available in audio form, such as community calendars, store ads and obituaries. This is a vital link for individuals who are print disabled. Residence Program - provides temporary and long-term housing for individuals who are visually impaired and multi-disabled, and seek a supportive environment. Vacancies are currently available. Computer Access - provides one-on-one training on computers and adaptive equipment in workplaces, schools and homes across the state. |
| Address: | P.O. Box 249
Brunswick, ME 04011 |
| Location: | 25 Greenwood Road
Brunswick |
| Phone: | (207) 729-5298; 1-888-863-3753 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 721-9227 |
| E-mail: | oilman@meoil.com |
| Website: | http://www.meoil.com |
| Services: | Loans to repair/replace heating systems. |
| Address: | Maine Revenue Services Income/Estate Tax Division
P.O. Box 9116 Augusta, ME 04333-0024 |
| Phone: | (207) 624-7894 (to request forms) |
| Fax: | (207) 624-9694 |
| E-mail: | income.tax@me.gov |
| Website: | http://www.maine.gov |
| Services: | Any individual meeting age and income requirements. Provides property tax relief to eligible individuals who own or rent a home in Maine. The Maine Rent and Property Tax Relief program is also known as the “circuit breaker” program. This program gives cash back to people with low incomes who have high property taxes or rent. |
| Fees: | No charge. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Address: | 353 Water St.
Augusta, ME 04330 |
| Phone: | 1-800-452-4668 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.mainehousing.org |
| Clients: | Persons needing housing information, rental assistance, or low interest loans to purchase or make home improvements, among other services. Must meet income guidelines. A comprehensive list of homeless shelters is also available. |
| Services: | Provides low-interest loans to purchase a home and to improve livability or energy efficiency of homes, including modifications to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. Refers low income renters to housing providers assisted by MSHA and maintains a list of homeless shelters. |
| Fees: | No fees; Rates vary from 1% up. |
| Hours: | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Address: | #11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0011 |
| Phone: | (207) 287-6875; 1-800-423-4331 (toll free) |
| Clients: | Financial assistance is available for certain treatments for people with vision problems and who have limited income but are not MaineCare eligible. Please call or write for more information. |
| Address: | Local Town Office |
| Clients: | Low income. |
| Services: | If you cannot pay your tax bill, there is something you can do. Your city or town can decide that you don’t have to pay some or all of it. Go to your town office or city hall and ask for a "tax abatement" form. |
| Address: | 32 Lewiston Road
Unit 2B Gray, ME 04039 |
| Phone: | (207) 657-6664 |
| Fax: | (207) 657-6629 |
| Website: | http://www.ride-away.com/home.cfm |
| Services: | Until Ride-Away came on the scene in 1986, the modification of vehicles for people with disabilities was a secondary operation for most providers. We recognized that our clientele has special needs, needs that can be best met by a company whose only business is providing transportation solutions for disabled drivers and passengers. This has become increasingly true as the available transportation options have grown in number, efficiency and complexity. |
| Fees: | There is funding that may be available to you if you qualify. There are several programs that Ride-Away can work with you on for alternative financing. |
| Address: | 81 Church Hill Rd.
Leeds, ME 04263 |
| Phone: | (207) 524-3791 or 224-7505 |
| E-mail: | rcamout@aol.com |
| Website: | http://www.rcam.net/ |
| Contact: | Gil Ward or Carole Richards |
| Clients: | RCAM provides assistance for people living in Oxford, Androscoggin, and Kennebec counties. Towns served: Livermore, Greene, Sabattus, Wales, Momouth, Litchfield, Buckfield, Hartford, Canton, Sumner, Turner, and Leeds. |
| Services: | RCAM reaches out to people of rural Maine who are in need and assists them to help themselves.
The RCAM also has Summer Mission/Work Groups come to Maine in the summer from all over the country to help the RCAM’s Housing Program with rehabilitation on community homes and other RCAM Projects. Housing Program: Designed to respond to both the emergency and long term needs in maintaining safe and adequate housing. Gardening Program: Helps people learn to plan, plant, maintain and harvest their own gardens. Volunteer Program: Creates an opportunity for individuals to help people in need throughout RCAM’s 13 town service area. Homelessness Prevention Services Program: Helps people to access the right resources to meet their highest possible level of self sufficiency by identifying needs, helping to set priorities, providing information and encouraging progress. Emergency Shelter: RCAM operates a two unit emergency homeless shelter for families who find themselves without a place to live. Faith In Action Program: Coordinates volunteers to provide outreach services to frail elderly and disabled. Food Banks: The RCAM helps to maintain 13 area Food Banks staffed by community Volunteers. |
| Address: | 254 Goddard Road
Lewiston, ME 04240 |
| Phone: | (207) 753-9400 |
| E-mail: | andrew.bear@me.usda.gov |
| Website: | http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/me/ |
| Clients: | Qualified applicants who live in a rural area, have an acceptable credit history, not be able to obtain credit through conventional sources or assets, be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, and show acceptable repayment ability. The applicant must also have an adjusted family income that does not exceed the moderate-income limit for the area in which the home is located. |
| Services: | Rural Development has three different housing programs currently available to assist rural citizens in achieving the dream of home ownership, and excels at identifying innovative ways to place families in housing that is safe, sanitary, and decent with affordable payments. The 502 Direct Program offers loans subsidized to as low as one percent interest with no down payment for low income qualified individuals and properties. The 502 Guaranteed Program also offers no down payment financing up to 102 percent of the homes value through approved financial institutions for moderate income qualified individuals and properties. The 504 Home Repair Program offers financing for loans up to $20,000.00 at 1% interest for up to 20 years to allow existing very-low income homeowners the chance to modernize and improve their homes. |
| Address: | P.O. Box 3647
Portland, ME 04101 |
| Location: | 297 Cumberland Ave
Portland |
| Phone: | (207) 774-6304 |
| Fax: | (207) 774-3484 |
| Website: | http://www.servingnewengland.org/index.asp |
| Services: | Assists with people who are trying to assist themselves, but may need some help. Some assistance programs include: Eye glasses, oil assistance, prescription drug assistance, food, and clothing. For more information on how to get any assistance in Greater Franklin County, contact the Portland office for local representatives for that area. |
| Address: | 3 Canal Street
Rumford, ME 04276 |
| Phone: | (207) 364-3731; 1-800-772-1213 (toll free) |
| Website: | http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ |
| Clients: | Monthly benefits provided for disabled workers and eligible members of their family if an illness or injury is expected to keep the worker from working for a year or more: for the widow or widower (age 60 and up) and young children, if the worker should die; and for retired workers age 62 and up. |
| Services: | Provides protection for retirement and survivors, and disability insurance to individuals and their families while working and after retirement; serves as a supplement to other insurance and investments. Provides estimates on S.S. if age 60 or older; takes information on change of name and address, a death, or reports of missing checks. The S.S. office answers questions on Medicare which is for those 65 or older and for persons who have been receiving disability payments over two years. Resident station has very limited capacity; phone appointments are advised. |
| Fees: | None. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m.- noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
| Address: | VA Medical and Regional Office
One VA Center Togus, ME 04330 |
| Location: | Building 248, Room 205 at the Medical Center
Togus |
| Phone: | 1-800-827-1000 (toll free) |
| TTY: | 1-800-829-4833 |
| E-mail: | Togus.query@vba.va.gov |
| Website: | http://www.vba.va.gov/ro/east/togus/index.htm |
| Services: | The State Division of Veteran Services can provide assistance in the following areas: Employment, Housing, Claims applications, Financial assistance and loans, Counseling, Education benefits, Tax and various other exemptions. Please call or write for more information. |
| Hours: | 8:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday. |
| Address: | PO Box 460
Rumford, ME 04276 |
| Phone: | (207) 364-3731; 1-800-772-1213 (toll free) |
| Clients: | Individuals with little income or resources such as real estate, personal belongings: car, savings and checking accounts, cash, stocks, or bonds. A single adult or child with resources up to $2,000 or a couple with resources up to $3,000 may be able to get SSI checks. A disabled or blind child under 18, unmarried and living at home; some of the parents’ resources may be counted as belonging to the child. |
| Services: | Income supplement checks. Note: Department of Human Services now provides the SSI State Supplement check to SSI related Medicaid individuals. |
| Fees: | None. |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Address: | Western Mountains Alliance
P.O. Box 29 Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Phone: | (207)778-8143 |
| E-mail: | wma@maine.edu |
| Website: | http://www.westernmountainsalliance.org/ |
| Contact: | Tricia Cook, Project Coordinator |
| Clients: | Farmers located within the designated five-county area, farmers who are involved in a profit-motivated agricultural endeavor, farmers who can demonstrate a “reasonable” credit history and ability to repay the proposed loan. |
| Services: | For farmers looking for: A small loan, a loan with a low fixed interest rate, and a loan with limited paperwork. Loans would provide help for: Purchase of new and used equipment, improvement or expansion of farm infrastructure, purchase or lease of land, marketing costs and short and longer term working capital, tree farms and aquaculture are not eligible. |
| Fees: | Contact one of the four banks participating in the program. They will submit their recommendations to the Western Mountains Alliance Agricultural Loan Committee for final consideration. The banks participating in the Western Maine Farm Fund are: Bangor Savings Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, Skowhegan Savings Bank, and the UnitedKingfield Bank. |
| Address: | File claim at any CareerCenter |
| Phone: | (207) 753-2800 |
| TTY: | 1-888-457-8884 |
| Services: | If you are unemployed through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. It can take time to begin to receive any unemployment benefits for which you may be eligible. For this reason, you are encouraged to apply for unemployment as quickly as possible after you have been laid off. When filing for unemployment benefits, be sure to bring the following information: Your Social Security number (card), Name and address of recent employers for the past 18 months, When you started work, When you stopped work, Reason why you are not working now, Separation notice or letter (layoff slip), if applicable. You make a file claim for unemployment insurance by calling any unemployment call center. You can get a claim form from the Career Center or many Town Offices. You may also use a telephone, free of charge at any CareerCenter to file a claim. Maine Unemployment Centers: Augusta (207) 624-7560; Skowhegan: (207) 474-4930; Lewiston (207) 753-2800 |
| Address: | PO Box 126
Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Location: | 232 Broadway |
| Phone: | (207) 778-5048 |
| Fax: | (207) 779-0577 |
| E-mail: | info@uwtva.org |
| Website: | http://www.uwtva.org/ |
| Contact: | Debby Norton |
| Services: | To increase the organized capacity of people in the Tri-Valley area to care for one another.
The local United Way provides funds in the form of annual allocations to twenty-two member organizations that provide health and human service programs to the communities of Franklin County, Livermore, and Livermore Falls. Funds are also distributed according to donor request to other charitable organizations that provide health and human services in Maine. Special funding is also distributed when available through venture grants to new programs and initiatives that deal with persisting or emerging health or human service needs in the Tri-Valley service area. In addition to its fund raising and fund distribution programs, the local United Way maintains a listing of volunteer opportunities available at local non-profit organizations. A booklet is also available that lists a variety of agency representatives who can speak at community meetings and events regarding current health and human service issues that effect our local area. The local United Way is also very active in several community building initiatives including the Franklin County Mentoring Alliance, the Maine Leave A Legacy Program and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program at Franklin County. |
| Address: | PO Box 200
East Wilton, ME 04234 |
| Location: | 20 Church Street
East Wilton |
| Phone: | (207) 645-3764; 1-800-645-9636 (toll free) |
| Fax: | (207) 645-3270 |
| E-mail: | ffowler@wmca.org |
| E-mail: | tgage@wmca.org |
| Website: | http://www.wmca.org |
| Contact: | Fen Fowler, Executive Director |
| Clients: | Individuals/families who wish to pursue greater self-sufficiency in areas such as: education, employment, legal issues, finances, shelter, substance use/abuse, relationships, spirituality, nutrition, child care, health, parenting, transportation, mental health, children’s education. |
| Services: | Western Maine Community Action is one of the State’s vital community action programs offering numerous ways to improve the community’s quality of life. These programs include:
Central Heating Improvement Program Child Care Systems Information and Referral Fuel Assistance Low Interest Home Improvement Loans Tri-County Health Services Weatherization Programs WIC Nutrition Program Career Center Family Development Accounts Revolving Loan Program Maine’s American Dream Initiative (first time homebuyer program) Home Buyer Education Affordable Homes Elderly Hardship Grant Home Preservation Grant Oil Tank Replacement Maine Association of Realtors Grants ARP - Appliance Replacement Program and Volunteerism. WIC (Women, Infants and Children) - Case management/mentoring, resources, assessment of nutritional needs, nutritional and health information and referrals, height, weight, and hemoglobin assessment. Vouchers issued for milk, cereal, juice, cheese, etc. Intended to be a supplemental nutritional program. Prenatal, postpartum and breastfeeding women, and their children under age 5, who are 185% of the poverty guidelines and have nutritional or medical needs. Volunteer department administers a variety of programs including Operation Santa Claus, Seeds of Life, Food Pantries, Senior Farm Share, Grow A Row, Gleaning and Western Maine Tax Assistance Program. The volunteer department also offers support to other programs within the agency. |
| Fees: | None |
| Hours: | Monday thru Friday, 8:00a.m. – 4:30p.m. |