General assistance

Regarding the Bangor Daily News’ articles on welfare, I have some observations about General Assistance.

While there are many hardworking and compassionate administrators employed by municipalities across Maine, the program they are administering should not be regarded as a dependable means to consistently help people in real need through sound and efficient use of other people’s money. The state maintains records for General Assistance, and they show big disparities across regions, with per capita expenditures ranging as low as $5-$6 (York and Androscoggin counties) to $60 and $70 in Bangor and Portland.

The program’s dependability is intended to result from state law, but there are radically different interpretations of entitlement depending upon which municipal offices are approached. And it is an entitlement program – the fact that various towns are engaged in budgeting for General Assistance may be an indication of misunderstanding.

General Assistance depends on local administrators following guidelines that are somewhat complicated and open to some judgment to deliver support that is fair and consistent across the state. This isn’t the case. Municipal offices show wide ranges in size and capacity across the state. When towns joined by bridges over a river display a difference of approximately $1.9 million, population rates, slight differences in rates or poverty and-or subtle differences in interpreting laws and standards cannot explain that gulf.

We expect fiscal accountability, and that is why potential recipients are required to account for expenses. That is an unreasonable requirement for someone poor, homeless and with a major, untreated illness such as schizophrenia.

GA is a program that needs to be put on the table for review and analyzed in terms of the interests of poor people in need and the taxpayers who support it.

Dennis R. Marble, executive director

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter