General Assistance
The General Assistance Program provides Pownal residents with assistance for basic needs. Basic needs include but are not limited to rent, food, non-food, medication, fuel and utilities. All assistance is granted in voucher form and no cash or direct payment to the applicant is granted. The Town adopts the State’s General Assistance Ordinance and maximums each fall and administers the program under the ordinance, M.R.S.A 4301-4325 and Department of Human Services regulations. General Assistance is intended to provide short-term support during times of need. The program is designed to help individuals and families work toward stability, self-reliance and personal responsibility. Assistance is provided in the form of vouchers to help meet essential needs; cash assistance or direct payment to applicants is not offered.
***For heating assistance, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
How to Apply
Residents of the Town of Pownal that need to apply for general assistance will need to fill out the application, provide identification, provide proof of residency, and provide proof of income and bills. Office hours for applying are Monday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Applicants will need to schedule an appointment during those times. Items to bring to the intimal interview are copies of the following if applicable:
- Copies of Bank Statements for Checking and Savings Accounts
- Wages Earnings
- Income Tax Returns
- Unemployment Benefits
- Child Support Benefits
- TANF Benefits
- Social Security Benefits
- SSI/SSDI Disability Benefits
- Veteran’s Pension
- Rental Income
- Worker’s Compensation
- Retirement Accounts
- Savings Bonds
- List of Assets (cars, recreation vehicles, real estate, jewelry etc.)
- Copies of bills (loans, utilities)
*Please note more documentation may be required to fully process the application.
Applicants will be notified within 24-hours of eligibility. Applicants can apply for General Assistance one time in a 30-day period. When reapplying for General Assistance, applicants should be prepared to share documentation demonstrating that they have met the requirements identified during their previous application review.
Heating Assistance
The Town of Pownal partners with Freeport Community Services to provide residents with heating assistance. This includes but is not limited to oil, kerosene, propane, pellets and wood. To apply for heating assistance please call 207-865-3985 ext. 205. Freeport Community Services has many other resources and can help in other ways. Visit their website for more information. (maybe embed the website here)
Freeport Community Services collaborates with the Freeport Wood Bank which provides free firewood to families who heat their homes with wood but struggle to afford it. To apply for wood assistance, click here: Free Firewood For Families – Freeport Woodbank The Town of Pownal has an emergency wood bin located next to the sand shed. The purpose of this bin is to provide households with wood to keep warm in the event of an emergency. If your regularly scheduled wood delivery is delayed and you are out of wood or if you are short on funds, the wood bin is here for you. The wood bin is meant as a “stop gap” so only take what is needed for a day or two and please leave some for others.
General Assistance Contact Information
General Assistance Administrator: Becky Taylor-Chase 207-688-4611 option 1 or administrator@pownalmaine.org
Deputy General Assistance Administrator: Pascale Delsol 207-688-4611 option 2 or deputyclerk@pownalmaine.org
Emergency after hours: Jon Morris 207-956-3846