Town of Otisfield - General Assistance

A service administered by a municipality for the immediate aid of persons who are unable to provide the basic necessities essential to maintain themselves or their families. A general assistance program provides a specific amount and type of aid for defined needs during a limited period of time and is not intended to be a continuing “grant-in-aid” or “categorical” welfare program. This definition shall not in any way lessen the responsibility of each municipality to provide general assistance to a person each time that the person is in need and is found to be otherwise eligible to receive general assistance (22 M.R.S.A. § 4301(5)).

Assistance for basic necessities: Food, clothing, shelter, fuel, electricity, non-elective essential medical services, nonprescription drugs, basic telephone service where it is necessary for medical reasons, property taxes when a tax lien placed on the property threatens the loss of the applicant’s place of residence, and any other commodity or service determined e ssential by the municipality