Maine Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) FAQ
Introduction
The Maine Homeowner Assistance Fund (“Maine HAF”) is a program meant to help homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship connected to COVID-19 and are at risk of losing their homes. This is a grant based program, homeowners will not have to pay this money back.
Podcast: National Origin Discrimination in Housing is Illegal
Podcast - Federal and State Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination against people who are from countries, other than the U.S, when selling, renting, financing, or other housing related transactions.
Rights of Maine Renters: Unsafe or Unfit Housing
Maine law gives tenants an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that your landlord must promise that your home is safe and fit to live in.
Maine Fair Housing Newsletter
The Fair Housing Newsletter is a publication of Pine Tree Legal Assistance, through the Fair Housing Initiative Program, Maine. It covers important fair housing information and developments, and highlights other fair housing resources.
Do you owe $500 or more to your electric company?
If you're more than $500 in debt on your electric bill, this program may be able to help you. You pay just your current monthly electric bill, each month and on time. For each month that you pay your current bill, your electric utility company will wipe out 1/12 of what you owe them on your back bill. Learn about how to enroll!
Repair and Deduct: a self-help tool for tenants
Maine law provides tenants with minor safety issues a self-help "Repair and Deduct" remedy. You can find a sample form here.
Free and Low Cost Phone Services
Introduction
This page covers free and low-cost phone services available to Mainers. We know there are many new low or no cost ways of communicating, but we are just trying to cover the basics.
Fair Housing
It is illegal for a Maine landlord to refuse to rent to you because of your color, race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, having children, or getting public aid. Contact us if you have questions or think you have suffered illegal housing discrimination.
Heating Assistance News
LIHEAP funding continues to be lower than in previous years. This will mean that more households will be turning to local heating assistance programs after their LIHEAP money runs out. Here is a summary of the programs we know about - followed by information about how to access local programs.
Don't Borrow Trouble! Mortgages, Home Equity Loans and Refinancing
Are you looking for a home equity loan? Or are you trying to borrow money to buy a home? There are good deals and bad deals. If you don't want to get stuck with a bad one, be careful