PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine's Human Services commissioner is getting more specific in her critique of Portland's welfare program.
A DHHS audit of the program found that there were people staying in the shelters who had large sums of money in bank accounts. The audit laid out steps for the public shelters to remedy its problems and follow the law.
Mary Mayhew said the city is billing the state for homeless shelter costs without making sure that everyone staying at the shelter qualifies for general assistance. That's because the city bills the state for the shelters' operational costs, rather than billing on behalf of the individuals staying there.
"We do not see evidence that the city, related to individuals in a homeless shelter, are being evaluated for general assistance eligibility and yet we are being billed for all of those individuals as though they are eligible for general assistance," said Mayhew.
People who work with the homeless have said that the individuals who have money sitting in bank accounts are likely using the shelters because they are severely mentally ill. Mayhew said those people should get the help they need, but if they don't qualify for general assistance, the taxpayers should not be footing the bill.
"General assistance is for temporary, emergency assistance, and there is an expectation that eligibility is determined and that it is redetermined every 30 days," Mayhew said.
NEWS CENTER reached out to the Portland Health and Human Services Director on Tuesday and the Portland City Manager's office on Wednesday for comments. The Health and Human Services director did not respond. The City Manager was not available for an interview.
