Incorporated 1794 · Lincoln County, Maine
207-737-4335
Town of Dresden
Town of Dresden, Maine seal

General Assistance

General Assistance helps Dresden residents who face an immediate, unexpected need for a basic necessity such as heat, rent, food, medication or non-elective medical care.

What General Assistance is

General Assistance (GA) is a State of Maine program administered by each town. It provides short-term, income-based help to eligible residents who cannot meet a basic need and have nowhere else to turn. Assistance is usually granted for a period of one to thirty days, and every application is confidential.

A program of last resort

General Assistance is the program of last resort. That means help available through State, county and other community programs should be pursued before you apply to the Town. Those programs often provide more help, for longer, than the Town can — so starting with them is usually the fastest route to what you need.

As you contact each resource, it helps to keep a simple written record of:

  • which resources you contacted
  • the date you contacted them, where practical
  • what assistance you asked for
  • the outcome
  • whether they denied the request, or could not provide enough help

Bringing those notes to your appointment can be useful documentation during the General Assistance application process, and it saves you repeating the same calls.

Resources to contact before applying

Each organisation below sets its own rules and availability. The Town does not decide who they help.

Central Lincoln County YMCA

Damariscotta, Maine

Community Navigation

Assists people looking for financial assistance and resources.

Community resources

Legal Services for Maine Elders

Augusta, Maine

Serves Mainers age 60 and older whose basic human needs are at stake, including free and confidential legal services, and assistance involving Medicare and Medicare Part D for qualifying low-income Mainers.

Wiscasset Female Charitable Society

Wiscasset, Maine

Assistance is for a woman in need with "no man in the household."

Local churches

Residents may also contact local churches to ask whether any assistance is available. Churches set their own rules, and help is not guaranteed.

Catholic Charities of Maine

Portland, Maine

Monetary assistance is not always available, but residents may contact the organisation to ask about assistance and resources.

How to apply

Call the General Assistance Administrator at 207-737-4335 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are held at the Town Office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. At the appointment you will complete an application and provide documentation so the Administrator can determine eligibility.

If you cannot make your appointment, or you no longer need to apply, please call the office to let staff know.

What to bring

The full checklist is in the GA Appointment Checklist below. In general, bring:

Household members

  • Photo identification for those applying
  • Social security numbers and dates of birth for all household members
  • Passport and immigration paperwork, if applicable
  • Medical statement if you are unable to work

Income & expenses

  • Proof of all household income
  • Signed lease or rental agreement
  • Current bank statements
  • Recent bills for basic necessities such as heat, electricity, water, phone, prescriptions, daycare and vehicle costs

Family assets

  • Vehicles
  • Recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles, boats, ATVs and trailers
  • Property
  • Retirement accounts and life insurance

Documents & resources

General Assistance forms are available at the Town Office. Call 207-737-4335 and staff will send you a copy.

Frequently asked questions

The General Assistance Frequently Asked Questions document above answers the questions residents ask most: how eligibility is decided, work search requirements, how often you can apply, what happens if you disagree with a decision, and when assistance must be repaid. If a question is not covered there, the Administrator can answer it at your appointment.

Contact the Town

Office of General Assistance, Town of Dresden, PO Box 30, Dresden, ME 04342.

207-737-4335