Letter to Lawmakers

To Members of the Maine Legislature:

As organizations committed to building a more just and equitable Maine, we come together around a shared belief: that all people in our state should have what they need to live safe, healthy, and stable lives — and that our laws and budgets should be shaped by this belief.

Right now, people across Maine are facing urgent challenges. Housing is out of reach for too many. Emergency shelters are stretched thin. Health care remains precarious for thousands. Workers are navigating a tough economy, and families are feeling the strain of rising costs.

We urge you to keep these realities at the forefront as you finalize Maine’s budget — and to protect and strengthen the essential supports that allow communities to thrive. That includes:

  • Continuing funding for the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP) to help people stay in their homes and avoid the lasting harms of eviction.

  • Providing robust, reliable support for emergency shelters, which are a critical part of Maine’s housing safety net.

  • Passing a fair budget that protects access to health care, supports workers, invests in housing stability, and ensures strong public systems that promote opportunity.

As we work to ensure that everyone in Maine has what they need to live safe, healthy, and stable lives, we must also recognize that this includes respecting the self-governance of the Wabanaki Nations. While LD 785 has been postponed until 2026, our commitment to this principle remains strong, and we hope to see continued progress this year and beyond.

We know that people across Maine rely on Medicaid for their health care, and proposed cuts to this vital program would jeopardize the health and well-being of individuals and families, while also harming Maine’s economy. Many of us are actively working to oppose these harmful federal proposals, and we urge Maine’s leaders to take strong action to protect Medicaid funding and ensure continued access to the care that so many in our communities rely on.

Thank you for your service and your commitment to the people of Maine. As you make decisions in these final weeks of session, we urge you to keep these shared priorities in focus — and to continue working toward a Maine where all people can thrive.

Signed,

  • African Women and Development
  • Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
  • Consumers for Affordable Health Care
  • Disability Rights Maine
  • Frannie Peabody Center
  • Furniture Friends
  • Hope Acts
  • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
  • Maine Center for Economic Policy
  • Maine Conservation Voters
  • Maine Council of Churches
  • Maine Council on Aging
  • Maine Equal Justice
  • Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition (MIRC)
  • Maine People's Alliance
  • Maine Women's Lobby
  • MSEA-SIEU
  • Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine
  • Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
  • Preble Street
  • Unified Asian Communities
  • VOA Northern New England