Maine Rent Relief: The New Eviction Prevention Program and Other Help

What happened to Maine ERA

Maine’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program was paid for by two federal coronavirus relief laws passed in 2020 and 2021, and MaineHousing ran it. On its ERA program page, MaineHousing says the program is closed, is no longer accepting applications, and will not reopen for new applications. It explains that the funding was limited and had no continuing source.

The federal program as a whole has also ended. The U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance page states that the ERA2 period of performance ended September 30, 2025. MaineHousing now points renters to its other housing programs, to 211 Maine, and to Pine Tree Legal Assistance for anyone facing eviction.

The Maine Eviction Prevention Program

The Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) is the closest thing Maine has to the old ERA program today, but it is smaller and aimed at people already at risk of eviction. According to MaineHousing’s EPP page:

• Funding: a one-time $11 million allocation from the State of Maine.
• Who runs it: Project Home of Portland, under contract with MaineHousing.
• Opened: September 21, 2026. Complete applications are processed first come, first served.
• Income: household income must be below the posted limit for your county and household size. The law caps eligibility at 60% of local area median income.
• Rent: your monthly rent must be at or below the posted fair market rent limit for your area and household size.
• Not eligible: households with a federal housing voucher or living in subsidized housing. People in unsubsidized tax-credit apartments, and people getting Bridging Rental Assistance or General Assistance, can apply.
• Priority: first, tenants served with a summons and complaint for eviction; second, tenants with a notice for nonpayment of rent; third, tenants paying more than 30% of income for rent.
• Payment: goes straight to the landlord. The page does not publish a maximum amount or number of months, and it says help is not guaranteed.

Apply online at the Eviction Prevention Program portal, call (207) 274-1240, or email Project Home at the address listed on MaineHousing’s page. Applications are not processed until every requested document is in, so gather ID, proof of address and rent, current income, and proof of past-due rent before you start. Because this is a one-time fund, it may close once the money is spent.

Maine rent relief options side by side

General Assistance at your town office

Maine is one of the few states where every municipality must run a General Assistance (GA) program. Under 22 M.R.S. § 4301 and the sections after it, GA helps people who cannot pay for basic necessities, including housing, food, fuel, and utilities. The state Department of Health and Human Services publishes maximum amounts each year, and housing maximums are tied to fair market rents under § 4305.

How it works in practice:

• Apply at your town or city office, or the office that runs GA for your town.
• Bring your lease, any notice, bills, ID, and proof of income. If you have an emergency, say so.
• GA usually pays the landlord or utility directly.
• You have a right to a written decision and to a fair hearing if you are denied.
• You are generally expected to apply for other programs you may qualify for, and to look for work if you are able.

GA and the Eviction Prevention Program can work together: MaineHousing says GA recipients may still apply for EPP. Our Maine hardship relief guide explains GA, TANF, and MaineCare in more depth.

211, community action, and charities

211 Maine is free, confidential, and available around the clock. Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, or email the address on its website. Ask about rent arrears, security deposits, emergency shelter, and any local funds open this month.

Maine’s community action agencies run HEAP and often have small emergency funds or can refer you to them. Use the Maine Community Action Partnership site to find the agency for your town.

Local Salvation Army corps in Maine sometimes help with rent or utilities when funds allow; search the Salvation Army location finder by ZIP code. Catholic Charities Maine and other members of the national network can be found through the Catholic Charities USA help finder. Our guide to Salvation Army rental assistance explains what to expect when you call.

Longer-term rental programs

MaineHousing’s rental programs page lists several programs that help with rent over a longer time:

• Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8). A subsidy that pays part of your rent directly to the landlord in a unit you choose. Waiting lists can be long, so MaineHousing suggests applying for both vouchers and subsidized apartments.
• Stability Through Engagement Program (STEP). Short-term rental help for 6 to 12 months to rapidly re-house people who are homeless, by shelter referral in the counties where it operates.
• Section 811 Project Rental Assistance. Supportive housing for extremely low-income people with disabilities.
• Subsidized apartments. MaineHousing posts lists by county; you apply with each property manager.

Maine also has a Property Tax Fairness Credit on the state income tax return that can count part of the rent you pay. Rules and amounts change, so check Maine Revenue Services or a free tax site before you file.

Heating help that frees up rent money

In Maine, winter heating bills often compete with rent. MaineHousing runs the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) through community action agencies. HEAP pays part of your heating cost directly to the fuel dealer or utility, and the Emergency Crisis Intervention Program helps when you are nearly out of fuel or facing a shutoff. MaineHousing’s 2026–27 HEAP income guidelines list maximum gross income of $38,070 a year for one person and $49,784 for two, with higher limits for larger households. See our LIHEAP guide for how the federal program works.

Maine eviction notice rules

Maine’s main notice rules are in 14 M.R.S. § 6002, which covers tenancies at will (most month-to-month rentals).

• Unpaid rent: 7 days. A landlord may end the tenancy with 7 days’ written notice if the tenant is 7 or more days behind on rent. The notice must state the amount owed and include required language about the tenant’s rights.
• Paying before the notice runs out. If you pay the full rent due before the 7-day notice expires, the notice is void.
• Paying later. For tenancies at will, if you pay all back rent, rent due as of the payment date, and the landlord’s actual filing and service fees before the writ of possession issues, the tenancy must be reinstated.
• No-fault ending: 30 days. Either side can end a tenancy at will with at least 30 days’ written notice. A 30-day notice and a 7-day notice can be combined.
• Right to contest. The notice must tell you that you have the right to contest the termination in court.
• Habitability. In a nonpayment case, a tenant may raise serious repair problems the landlord knew about and failed to fix.

Leases for a fixed term can have different rules, so read your lease and ask legal aid. In every case, the landlord must go to court, and only a judge can order you out.

Free legal help in Maine

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a nonprofit that gives free civil legal help to low-income Mainers, and MaineHousing refers tenants facing eviction to it. You can ask for help online or call 207-942-8322 during its posted call-in hours; some offices also have walk-in times. Pine Tree’s website has plain-language guides on eviction, repairs, and going to court without a lawyer.

Go to every court date. Some Maine courts have volunteer “lawyer of the day” help or mediation on hearing days, so ask the clerk when you arrive. If you are moving after an eviction, see low income housing with eviction for what to expect.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

Getting rent help, step by step

1. Read any notice and note the amount and deadline. A 7-day notice for rent is void if you pay in full before it expires.
2. Apply to the Eviction Prevention Program online or at (207) 274-1240, with all documents ready.
3. Apply for General Assistance at your town office if you need help faster.
4. Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for local funds and shelter.
5. Apply for HEAP through your community action agency to lower heating costs.
6. Contact Pine Tree Legal Assistance if you have a notice or court papers, and go to every hearing.

Related guides

• Maine hardship relief
• Rent relief programs
• Catholic Charities rent assistance
• Charities that help with deposit for rent

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program funding and rules change, so confirm details with the agency before you apply. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with MaineHousing, Project Home, or any government agency.