What a Maine experiment shows us about universal basic income
September 10, 2024
Published by Bangor Daily News | By Zara Norman
Decky Mbala came to Maine in 2021 with her daughter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Like many asylum seekers initially barred from working when they get to the U.S., she survived on General Assistance.
The day Mbala got her first paycheck, she lost the state and local aid that covered basic expenses. Without it, she did not know how she was going to pay the $1,300 rent for her Biddeford apartment. She had hit the so-called benefits cliff, the abrupt drop in public assistance as incomes get just above limits.
Published by Maine Public | by Nicole Ogrysko
Published by Portland Press Herald by Hannah LaClaire
Chip Curry is a state senator representing District 11 and serves as co-chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Housing and Economic Development. Victoria Morales is the executive director of Project Home, a Maine nonprofit working to expand housing stability and prevent homelessness. Maine is currently facing a housing crisis that threatens the very fabric of our communities. While there is a consensus that we must build the 84,000 units of housing needed to stabilize our market, that process is estimated to take 20–30 years. Maine families, seniors, and children living on the brink of displacement cannot wait two decades for a roof over their heads. To prevent a catastrophic surge in homelessness today, Maine must continue to fund and prioritize the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP), a statewide initiative that helps renters avoid eviction and remain stably housed.
Peace Mutesi, Director of Economic Opportunity at Quality Housing Coalition, has been named to Mainebiz's 2025 40 Under 40 list. Now in its fourth year, the program recognizes Maine's up-and-coming leaders—the next generation shaping the state and its economy.
