Maine lawmakers study direct cash payments as anti-poverty tool

Maine lawmakers study direct cash payments as anti-poverty tool

Sass Linneken crosses the swinging bridge in Skowhegan in December. The 43-year-old Skowhegan resident is part of a group quietly looking into whether Maine should begin providing direct cash payments to low-income residents to supplement other safety net programs. Sass Linneken understands from personal experience how cash payments can help lift people out of poverty.

Linneken, who uses they/them pronouns, became homeless after getting pregnant at the age of 16. After years of struggling with homelessness, they eventually got a housing voucher and a stable place to live. But it wasn’t until Linneken received a cash payment of $15,000 in […]

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