Portland leaders frustrated over potential funding changes for immigrants

Feb. 18—Portland city leaders are imploring the state and surrounding municipalities to help provide social services for asylum seekers and refugees, warning that pending changes to state and federal funding could result in a critical lack of resources.

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services put forth a new rule late last year that would slash General Assistance reimbursement for emergency shelter expenses in Portland.

Weeks later, Gov. Janet Mills proposed limiting the use of General Assistance for housing to only three months in any 12-month period.

Then, a memo issued about two weeks ago from the U.S. Department of State was sent to refugee resettlement agencies in Maine informing them that federal reimbursement would no longer be available for aid provided to refugee families during their first 90 days in the country, which includes short-term housing and food assistance.

The changes have Portland leaders worried there will be less state and federal support to help those coming to the city in need of housing and other assistance.

“I’m frustrated. I’m angry. I’m concerned. Because there is no plan,” Portland Mayor Mark Dion said in a phone interview this week. “It seems like every level of government wants to pass the responsibility along in order to preserve their budgets.”

Between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31, Catholic Charities reported that 332 refugees arrived in Maine, most of whom went to Lewiston or Portland. They reported that 16 asylum seekers arrived in the state during that same time period.

Refugees and asylum seekers have distinct legal statuses. A refugee is someone who has already been granted protection before entering the country. An asylum seeker is a person who has applied for refuge but is still waiting for a decision on their claim.

Refugees are not subject to the same waiting period for work as asylum seekers, who sometimes need more services when they first enter the country because they cannot legally work.

Advocates in Portland say that many programs in the city serve both communities and that it remains unclear exactly how this directive will impact services for both groups.

Portland relies on state General Assistance to provide nightly shelter to hundreds of people, many of them asylum seekers, but the city also leans on nonprofits to fill in the gaps that it cannot cover. And many of those organizations count on federal grants. Should these crucial federal and state supports vanish, advocates say, it could leave Portland in a…