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Legislators are listening - we CAN help stop evictions in Maine! Contact Augusta now: vist.ly/4t4np ㅤ The EPP helps Maine families facing deeply unaffordable rents, and gives cities and towns a targeted, proven tool to respond to federal cuts and rising costs.

🙌 🙌 Your emails to legislators (like the Eviction Prevention Program itself!) ARE WORKING. Lawmakers listen when public support rises, and that's critically important right now as the state budget gets written. Email Augusta now & ask them to FUND eviction prevention: vist.ly/4sqti

"In the short term, the rental assistance helped families stay together, avoiding homeless shelters, child welfare offices and eviction court, Schrage said. But there are more lasting benefits as well." vist.ly/4s75c

💗💗 A Valentine with impact! Send emails to your legislators to let them know YOU LOVE homes for all. The Evicition Prevention Program needs your support! vist.ly/4rk3n

💘💘 We've fallen in love with affordability & are breaking up with regressive taxes in our state budget breakdown: vist.ly/4rhkt

🚫 We CAN help stop evictions in Maine! Contact Augusta now to add your voice: vist.ly/4rcbz The Eviction Prevention Program helps ME families facing deeply unaffordable rents, and gives cities and towns a targeted, proven tool to respond to federal cuts and rising costs. vist.ly/4rcc6

Did you know Maine has a successful new program to help people who have been hurt most by skyrocketing rents? It's called the Eviction Prevention Program, and it's helping all across Maine. BUT the legislature must act now to fund it! 📣 Email your legislators here: vist.ly/4qnix

📣 Job opening! The Community Organizer plays a key role in MEJ's work by building relationships, developing leadership, and mobilizing people most affected by poverty and inequity to advocate for change. ✅ Apply on our website by Feb. 3 (position open until filled): vist.ly/4pqy9

@SenatorCurry and Victoria Morales of @projecthomemaine on the Eviction Prevention Program: "[it helped] 1,280 renter households with avg. income of just $17,005...Half of the program’s applicants were parents...while 37% were seniors and 22% were adults with disabilities." vist.ly/4pcmp

There are faces missing from our event today-dear neighbors who are under threat by ICE-just as they're missing from workplaces, schools, and downtowns. No one should feel unsafe in ME, especially at the State House, but that is our reality. We made sure that legislators heard their voices today.

Equal Justice Partners Circle members are in Augusta welcoming in the legislative session today! We're meeting legislators, finding our way around the State House, and most importantly, learning how we can make democracy accountable to ALL Maine people, no matter our income.

Each of us has the power to push back against misinformation, political misdirection, and misuse of our public resources. 🖇️ Here are the receipts: Card 2 vist.ly/4n36i vist.ly/4n36d Card 3 vist.ly/4n36t vist.ly/4n36q vist.ly/4n368 Card 4 vist.ly/4n365

In Maine, we know how to pull together when times are tough. Our state SNAP program has been in place for nearly 30 years and was created to bridge the gap left by cuts to federal public support. vist.ly/4mwfy

The legislature's "short session" is about to begin! @mainemorningstar's explainer can help you get oriented (we love this picture from last Feb. of MEJ's Frank D'Alessandro and Andrea Steward at the State House!). We'll have a list of our priorities out next week, stay tuned. vist.ly/4kq43

MEJ is seeking an attorney to provide civil legal representation with a focus on eviction defense and public benefits matters. This position may be filled at the Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney level, depending on experience and qualifications. Info: vist.ly/4j36i

⚠️ Important SNAP update (12/4): The Trump administration is manufacturing another crisis for food assistance. USDA Secretary Rollins has demanded that states share applicants' private information, protected by law. (1/3)

Mainers shouldn't have to choose between keeping their small businesses running and being able to afford to go to the doctor. vist.ly/4gr2p

👏👏 Thank you to Maine Children's Alliance for an uplifting afternoon at the 2025 Champions for Children Giraffe Awards this week! The Equal Justice Partners' Circle was honored to receive the Community-Led Advocacy Award this year. (1/4)

Just 1 week left to get these greeting cards as a thank you for supporting MEJ’s Next Step Fund! Our dream is to have enough funds so that not only are community leaders compensated, but we also have enough to help with emergencies like the SNAP crisis. Donate here: vist.ly/4eynr (1/4)

Maine Equal Justice statement on the end of the shutdown: "Playing games with food and health care is an unjust, ugly business. Mainers with low income, who are living with hunger, chilly homes, unfilled prescriptions, or on the edge of an eviction, should never be pawns on DC’s game board...."(1/4)

"But beyond the short-term impact of funds being cut off due to the government shutdown, changes to SNAP in “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will eliminate an estimated $187 billion in federal spending from SNAP through 2034." Full story from @mainepublic: vist.ly/4dyw6

11/7 5 pm: GOOD NEWS about SNAP! "Maine DHHS will issue full November SNAP benefits beginning on November 10 through November 14 -- the State's standard schedule for issuing benefits." vist.ly/4de65

"As a family physician serving individuals who are unhoused or unstably housed, I witness firsthand the profound impact that access to adequate nutrition has on health and well-being." - Dr. Garrett Fontaine, a Family Medicine Physician who practices in Waterville and Augusta (1/2)

📣SNAP UPDATE 11/07: The Trump Administration is appealing yesterday's court ruling to use funds on hand to pay full SNAP benefits for November. At this time, partial SNAP benefits are planned for Maine. We will share info from DHHS as we get it. vist.ly/4dawe

"This is my family's refrigerator. Tokens of how proud I am of my children cover the outside- but especially during the holiday season- I know that it's what's on the inside that matters. SNAP benefits matter to my family." - Lou, a mom from Steuben ⚠️ Email state legislators: vist.ly/4d75x

The SNAP crisis is not over. Call Senator Collins' office today at (202) 224-2523 or with the link below and ask her to apply pressure to the White House and her colleagues in Congress to fully fund SNAP so Mainers can afford their groceries this month. vist.ly/4d39p

⚠️ SNAP Action alert! A storm is on Maine families’ doorsteps right now, and food banks cannot stand in for SNAP benefits. If the federal government won’t act, Gov. Mills and State legislators have the power to call a special session to use the Rainy Day fund. Add your voice! vist.ly/4cfsr

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for Maine, which is why we're joining with @fullplates.bsky.social and @mecep.bsky.social to call on Gov. Mills and the Legislature to convene a special legislative session. Tap our emergency Rainy Day fund; this is what it's for. Read more: vist.ly/4cbgh

We've heard from several hundred people just since the freeze in SNAP funds was announced. Mainers face desperate choices that no one should have to make, especially when $5 billion in federal funds are available. Proud to see ME join states that are suing. vist.ly/4c55n

"Our members of Congress must press the Trump Administration to immediately release SNAP contingency funds and transfer additional federal funds to SNAP to avoid any reduction in November benefits." Op-ed with @fullplatesfullpotential @preblestreet: vist.ly/4bvt9 #mepolitics

"According to @centeronbudget, the Trump Administration...has the ability to fund SNAP through November by activating SNAP’s contingency fund or 'use the discretionary authority it used to transfer funds into WIC earlier this month...to augment...funding.'" vist.ly/4bgk9

📣 SNAP UPDATE 10/22: With 170,000+ Mainers relying on federally-funded SNAP to afford groceries and meals, people are understandably worried about the shutdown and November's benefits. This is a quickly changing situation and MEJ will share more info as soon as we have it. Go to: vist.ly/4bbws

Because of the federal shutdown, many Mainers who work for or with the federal government are going without paychecks and looking for help. If you are impacted, you may qualify Unemployment benefits or short term loans. Read Maine Peer Workforce Navigator's guide to learn more: vist.ly/4ary2

@portlandpressherald has a deeper look at how harmful changes to SNAP (food assistance) are going to hit ME families and communities. Many groups are working together to offer information & food, but ME will be hungrier for this change. vist.ly/4amrg 👉 Updated SNAP guide: vist.ly/4amrk

👉 Reminder to apply by Oct. 26! Maine Equal Justice is seeking an attorney to provide civil legal representation to low-income Maine residents, with a primary focus on eviction defense and other housing-related matters. More info: vist.ly/4ahjs

Only four more days to choose a gift as a thank you for donating to the Next Step Fund! You can choose between stickers, a T-shirt, or a greeting card pack (with art by our Organizing Director Allina Diaz!) - or get all three: vist.ly/4afkm

📣 SNAP (food assistance) work reporting requirements have changed & MEJ has updated guidance for Mainers who may need to report their work and volunteer hours to keep their food assistance. It's important to check if the changes apply to you, so you don't lose your SNAP! 👉 Info: vist.ly/49yvq

📣 We're seeking an attorney to provide civil legal representation to low-income Maine residents, with a primary focus on eviction defense and other housing-related matters. More info: vist.ly/49puf Applications will be accepted until October 26, 2025 or until the position is filled.

We have merch! Through Oct 17, we have stickers, T-shirts, and greeting card packs by donation to support the Next Step Fund. The fund supports community leaders who know poverty firsthand & our organizing work for justice! As a thank you, we'll send you a gift of your choice: vist.ly/49jfa

Life happens, and lots of us have issues to work out with child care, transportation, work schedules, bad weather and illness. Check out your options for Early Voting! vist.ly/49ewj

New Census data about poverty was released last week. Year after year, we post news about the ups and downs. Progress is possible (we see it all the time!) But as a country, we've been way too willing to accept inequality, for way too long. Read more on our blog: vist.ly/46yem

You may have heard that health insurance costs are about to go WAY up. A big reason is the “enhanced” tax credits that help many Americans afford insurance will expire soon. If Congress doesn’t renew them, around 3k Mainers will lose their insurance, pushing costs up for everyone. vist.ly/46au3

vist.ly/463se Thanks @portlandpressherald 🦷 Investing in good care for Maine kids' teeth means they'll grow into healthy adults. Raising provider pay and making sure we recruit enough dentists and hygienists to ME are both important steps to improve dental care throughout the state!

🗞️🗞️ We're proud to share our annual newsletter - flip through a digital copy with federal updates, state legislative session in review, team updates, and new staff. Thanks for being a supporter & we look forward to working together toward economic security for all in Maine! vist.ly/45mua

School is staring but you still have time to spend your SUN Bucks! SUN Bucks expire 122 days after being issued (for most this is Mon Oct. 6) - be sure to spend your benefit before it expires! Need to check the balance on your card or order a new one? Call the Pine Tree Card line: (800)-477-7428.

🚨 This month, hundreds of Maine families had their SNAP benefits stolen electronically. If you have SNAP, steps to take/links are in the comments. #mepolitics

⚠️ Around 300 Maine families had their SNAP (food assistance) benefits stolen this week. It’s completely unfair that Congress has not funded updates to protect against thefts AND refuses to help families who had their benefits stolen. Full links, recs for SNAP users on our Facebook and Insta pages.

Read this @portlandpressherald story *all the way through.* Kelli Austin, a mom and EJPC advocate with two jobs and many more roles in her community in Waterville, shares just how much harm Congress is doing to MaineCare (Medicaid). Congress has to fix this! vist.ly/43g9n #mepolitics

Summer is coming to an end. If your child received SUN Bucks grocery benefits, make sure to use them before they expire. If your child is eligible and you have not received benefits, apply at mymaineconnection.gov before August 15th. For more information: vist.ly/32yau