Maine Equal Justice

10/14/2026

📣 Reminder: Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program is open now! If you have low income, are behind on your rent, and worried about losing housing, apply now. Even if you're not sure if you need help yet, you should still apply now so you can be considered later.

Info and application: https://vist.ly/5nc9j

10/10/2026

Last month we celebrated Maine Equal Justice's 30th anniversary! The day had plenty of fun woven together with meaningful reflection. The three-legged race had us all laughing, falling, and rolling over the finish line. The blueberry pie contest was a riot.

Thank you to all who have contributed to Maine Equal Justice in the past three decades, whether that was through giving testimony, pitching in on a project, volunteering your time, or offering financial support.

We want to leave you with this quote from the day from Belinda, a board member and an EJPC member: "Hope cannot be only something we feel, it has to be something we practice."

10/08/2026

Voting is one of the most important ways we can make a difference. In Maine, it's also one of the easiest! You don't need to take a day off, or find a ride; you just need to commit to what works best for you: in person at your town/city hall, or by mail.

🇺🇸 Request an absentee ballot online: https://vist.ly/5mi3u

🇺🇸 Track your absentee ballot: https://vist.ly/5mi3q

10/01/2026

From Maine Morning Star today: "Already, people that Maine Equal Justice works with have had medically necessary procedures like transplants canceled because they won’t be able to pay for the necessary follow-up care after they lose their MaineCare coverage."

Full story: https://vist.ly/5kmaj

09/29/2026

Maine Equal Justice is hiring an attorney to provide civil legal representation to Mainers with low income, with a focus on eviction defense and public benefits matters. This position may be filled at either the Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney level, depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Full description of the position (including salary range): https://vist.ly/5kac8

Applications will be accepted until October 19 or until the position is filled!

09/28/2026

polled Mainers and found a "remarkably clear" message from voters that they want more housing solutions from Augusta. A big part of the solution is building more homes.

To this we must add: building is essential, but it takes time. Mainers' salaries have fallen way behind skyrocketing rents, and they face emergencies right now. That's why rent relief though the Eviction Prevention Program (which recently re-opened thanks to action by the legislature earlier this year) is so critical. Keeping families in their homes also keeps kids in school, helps adults keep working, prevents health care crises, and much more.

“Housing is Maine voters’ top issue."

09/25/2026

Read this post if you’re in need of health insurance information! 👇👇

In a statement addressing recent news, CoverME.gov Director Hilary Schneider shared:
“The Maine Department of Health and Human Services runs CoverME.gov, a state-based health insurance marketplace, so it is unaffected by yesterday’s announcement that hundreds of thousands will be removed from the Federal marketplace. Though the State will not begin 2027 Open Enrollment on CoverME.gov until November 1, 2026, we encourage Maine people who may be looking for health insurance coverage to visit CoverME.gov and see whether they may be eligible now, due to a qualifying life event such as getting married or divorced, moving, changing jobs, or losing other insurance coverage.”

Have questions or need help using CoverME.gov? Call our free HelpLine at 1-800-965-7476.

09/22/2026

Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program* is OPEN! If you have low income, and are behind on rent and worried about losing housing, apply now. Even if you're not sure if you need help yet, you should still apply now so you can be considered later.

*The Eviction Prevention Program provides relief from high rents that have outpaced incomes and forced many people into eviction.

Info and application: https://vist.ly/5jfy9

09/18/2026

The best measure of poverty we have (though definitely imperfect) is the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which comes from Census data. That measure helps us see how important and effective economic security programs are in reducing poverty. For example, in Maine 229,000 Mainers were moved out of poverty thanks to programs like SNAP, refundable tax credits like the EITC and CTC, housing assistance, and Social Security (average between 2023-2025).

Why are things getting worse? In 2026, inflation is pushing prices up faster than wages are growing, and huge cuts to SNAP and Medicaid (MaineCare) are taking effect because of H.R. 1 (the so-called Big Beautiful Bill).

data on Maine (p. 23) https://vist.ly/5iy5j

full NPR story: https://vist.ly/5iy5k

09/10/2026

Maine Equal Justice is hiring a Community Engagement Director to lead and strengthen our organizing and outreach in pursuit of greater economic equity and justice in Maine!

We are looking for someone who has experience and passion for organizing and who is a bridge-builder, strategist, and leader for inside and outside the organization.

Full description (including salary range): https://vist.ly/5hxhp

Applications will be accepted until September 28, 2026 or until the position is filled.