Town of West Paris - 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. (22M.R.S.A. §4301(5).

Assistance for basic necessities such as Food, clothing, shelter, fuel, electricity, nonelective medical services as recommended by a physician, nonprescription drugs, telephone 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