Town of Cape Elizabeth | Town Services

Citizens needing assistance with food, housing, energy and other needs are served in Cape Elizabeth through a number of programs provided by federal, state and local government and by regional social service agencies.

The Town of Cape Elizabeth administers a Welfare/General Assistance program that provides confidential financial assistance to residents who are having difficulty meeting basic needs for housing, utilities, food, transportation, medications etc. The program is funded by local property taxes with a 50% reimbursement from the state.

The Town contracts with the Peoples Regional Opportunity Program (PROP), the regional community action agency, in assisting applicants. A social worker from PROP meets with applicants on Tuesdays and Friday mornings. To schedule an appointment, call the Town Office at 207-799-7665. If you need assistance at times other than when the PROP social worker is here, arrangements will be made. For emergencies only, you may call for assistance at any time. Call 207-767-3323 outside normal Town Hall hours. Also feel free to call 2-1-1 which is Maine’s 24-7 access number for information on health and human service needs. The Department of Health & Human Services’ toll-free telephone number, to call with a question regarding the General Assistance Program, is 1-800-442-6003.

PROP offers several programs to help with heating improvements and costs for those families that meet income eligibility requirements. For some programs, families with children under 24 months or with members who are elderly or disabled are given priority when applying.
PROP Client Service Center
510 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, Maine 04101
800-698-4959
207-553-5800
FAX: 207-874-1155
TTY: 207-874-1013
See also Maine State Housing Site for Eligibility Guidelines

HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) - PROP
For homeowners or renters who have high heating bills in relation to their income. HEAP benefits households by making a supplemental payment on their behalf directly to their fuel vendor, whether the fuel is oil, electricity, coal, gas, or wood.

ELP (Electricity Lifeline Program) - PROP
Central Maine Power customers who don't live in subsidized housing may apply for ELP, through which CMP will provide an energy credit on a household's monthly electric bill.

ECIP (Energy Crisis Intervention Program) - PROP
This program may provide emergency assistance funds to homeowners and renters when no other funding sources are available. Assistance might be fuel delivery, minor heating system repairs, or preventing a utility disconnection. Funds are not always available.

CHIP (Central Heating Improvement Program) - PROP
This program provides funds for repair and/or replacement of central heating systems that are inefficient or threaten occupants' health or safety.

Oil Tank Replacement- PROP
In partnership with the Dept. of Environmental Protection, we offer these programs to replace leaking and unsafe fuel tanks located above ground.

Central Maine Power Assistance Credit- PROP
This program allows CMP to provide assistance credit for new single-phase electric services. Income eligible homeowners buying a new home that require a new electric service may apply. CMP will provide a credit to reduce the cost of installing poles and wiring to connect to CMP's distribution line.

Thomas Jordan Trust
The Thomas Jordan Trust is a local resource administered by the Town of Cape Elizabeth to help citizens. To apply, please call 207-799-7665 during normal business hours.

The following policies and standards for the administration, distribution and investment of the Thomas Jordan Trust are adopted effective September 12, 1994, subject to amendment from time to time by the Town Council.

Size of Family Unit	150%
Size of Family Unit	of Fed Poverty level
1	$24,367.50
2	$32,782.50
3	$41,197.50
4	$49,612.50
5	$58,027.50
6	$66,442.50
7	$74,857.50
8	$83,272.50

Types of Programs

It is intended that the benefits of the Trust be made available to qualified residents of Cape Elizabeth. Benefits under this program may not duplicate or displace benefits available as a matter of right under federal, state or local law.
Benefits may be given to supplement otherwise available benefits where it can be shown that the otherwise available benefit only partly meets a demonstrated need.
Priority shall be given to grants that would enable recipients to help lift themselves out of poverty so that in the long-term they would be ineligible for assistance. For illustration only, and not by way of limitation, grants might buy tools for a trade, day care for someone receiving job training or formal education, tuition for course work, a used vehicle to commute to work, etc.
Grants may be given for the relief of emergencies not covered by other programs.
Grants shall not be utilized to assist with property taxes
There may also be a need to provide some grants to those who have long-term needs. This was likely recognized by Thomas Jordan in his time and there are still residents today who, even with their best efforts, earn only very limited income.

Trust Administration

The Town Council shall establish a three-member committee consisting of Town Council members serving staggered three-year terms. This standing committee shall be designated the Thomas Jordan Trust Subcommittee.
The Town Manager shall have the authority to authorize individual grants of up to $500.00 per household per year.
The Thomas Jordan Trust Subcommittee shall meet quarterly to review all disbursements and investments and meet as needed to review requests over $500.00. Quarterly summary reports of disbursements and investments shall be provided to the Town Council.

Out of respect for the privacy of individuals applying for benefits, individual case file information and any meetings concerning individual cases shall be confidential. A summary of general information concerning investments and dispositions of cases without individually identifiable case data shall be reported to the council periodically, but not less often than quarterly.

The State of Maine through Ingraham Volunteers and with support from the United Way operates 2-1-1 which is both a Web site and a telephone service to help people find resources. Call 2-1-1 from any phone in Maine to connect to the service. Click here to go to 2-1-1 Web site.

Anyone with access to the Internet can search 2-1-1. Search by topic and zip code and 2-1-1 will provide resources giving the distances from that zip code.

The state of Maine has over 300 hotlines and help lines and thousands of programs offering all types of health and human services. Trying to find the right phone number or service that provides help for your specific need can be overwhelming and frustrating. Having an easy-to-remember universal number and Web site for non-emergency help is critical. People can call 2-1-1 to find or give help.

2-1-1 represents an easy way to find answers to a wide range of issues including (but not limited to):

Any citizen may apply for a property tax abatement for their primary residence for reasons of infirmity or poverty. The state law governing such application is provided below. Applications are available online or through the Town Manager’s office. All applications are confidential are reviewed and decided by the Town Council in a non-public session. The Town Council then publicly votes on the abatement request without reference to the particular property or to the property owner.

2. Infirmity or poverty. The municipal officers or the State Tax Assessor for the unorganized territory, within 3 years from commitment, may, on their own knowledge or on written application therefor, make such abatements as they believe reasonable on the real and personal taxes on the primary residence of any person who, by reason of infirmity or poverty, is in their judgment unable to contribute to the public charges. The municipal officers or the State Tax Assessor for the unorganized territory may extend the 3-year period within which they may make abatements under this subsection.
Municipal officers or the State Tax Assessor for the unorganized territory shall:
A. Provide that any person indicating an inability to pay all or part of taxes that have been assessed because of poverty or infirmity be informed of the right to make application under this subsection; [2005, c. 169, �1 (AMD).]
B. Assist individuals in making application for abatement; [1987, c. 772, �15 (NEW).]
C. Make available application forms for requesting an abatement based on poverty or infirmity and provide that those forms contain notice that a written decision will be made within 30 days of the date of application; [2005, c. 169, �1 (AMD).]
D. Provide that persons are given the opportunity to apply for an abatement during normal business hours; [1987, c. 772, �15 (NEW).]
E. Provide that all applications, information submitted in support of the application, files and communications relating to an application for abatement and the determination on the application for abatement are confidential. Hearings and proceedings held pursuant to this subsection must be in executive session; [2005, c. 169, �1 (AMD).]
F. Provide to any person applying for abatement under this subsection, notice in writing of their decision within 30 days of application; and [1987, c. 772, �15 (NEW).]
G. Provide that any decision made under this subsection include the specific reason or reasons for the decision and inform the applicant of the right to appeal and the procedure for requesting an appeal. [2005, c. 169, �1 (AMD).]
[ 2005, c. 169, �1 (AMD) .]

Maine Department of Human Services
Click here for Web site
Click here for assistance application
Location:
Portland Regional Office
161 Marginal Way
Portland, Me 04101-2438
207-822-2000
1-800-482-7520
FAX: 207-822-2310
TDD/TTY: 1-888-720-1925

Regional Transportation Program, Inc. (RTP) is a private, non-profit, United Way agency that provides publicly funded, low-cost transportation to persons in Cumberland County who need rides. If you or someone you know needs a ride, please call 207-774-2666 or toll-free at 1-800-244-0704
Click here for RTP Web site

Independent Transportation Network provides a community-based, community-supported, economically viable and consumer-oriented, quality transportation service for seniors and adults with visual impairment. 207-854-0505
Click here for ITN Web site

Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging is the officially designated agency in Southern Maine to assist the aging. It provides Meals on Wheels service and many information and referral and advocacy resources for seniors.
Click here for SMAAA Web site
Southern Maine Agency on Aging
136 U.S. Route One
Scarborough, ME 04074
207-396-6500
1-800-427-7411
Fax 207-883-8249
TTY 207-883-0532

Poison Control Center
1-800-222-1222 (Voice) 1-877-299-4447 (TTY)
In Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the Northern New England Poison Center provides immediate treatment advice for poison emergencies. We also provide information about poisons and poison prevention, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Web site: Northern New England Poison Center

Domestic Violence Helpline
1-866-834-4357
Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline. Web site: Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence- Information, crisis counseling, emotional support and advocacy.

Sexual Assault Support
1-800-871-7741 (Voice) 1-888-458-5599 (TTY)
A 24-hour statewide sexual assault crisis and support line providing confidential services free of charge. Web site: Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Suicide Prevention
1-888-568-1112 (Voice/TTY) (Crisis Hotline)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Web site: the Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program for more information.

Child Abuse
1-800-452-1999 (Voice) 1-800-963-9490 (TTY)
The State of Maine's child abuse hotline is staffed 24 hours a day.

Elder Abuse
1-800-624-8404 (Voice)
1-800-624-8404 (TTY) 1-800-963-9490 (TTY after hours)
The Office of Elder Services provides or arranges for services to protect incapacitated and dependent adults (age 18 and over) in danger of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Calls may be made anonymously.

Alcoholics Anonymous
800-737-6237
During business hours, your call will be taken by a member of Alcoholics Anonymous who knows exactly what you are going through and can give you all the information you need. At night, we have a well qualified answering service, which can give meeting information, or put you in touch with a recovering alcoholic, in your area, who will speak with you about your problem.