An Act to Prevent Student Homelessness
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0384
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: RAFFERTY, MURPHY

Legislative Document
No. 384
S.P. 150
In Senate, February 4, 2025
An Act to Prevent Student Homelessness
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator RAFFERTY of York.
Cosponsored by Representative MURPHY of Scarborough and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, CURRY of Waldo, INGWERSEN of York, NANGLE of 
Cumberland, PIERCE of Cumberland, Representative: DODGE of Belfast.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 223, sub-c. 12 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 12
STUDENT HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
§6691.  Student Homelessness Prevention Program
The Student Homelessness Prevention Program, referred to in this section as "the 
program," is established within the department in the office of the department responsible 
for school and student supports.  
1. Purpose. The purpose of the program is to help elementary students and secondary 
students avoid homelessness by identifying students and families of students who are at 
risk of homelessness and providing direct financial assistance to help them maintain stable 
permanent housing.
2. Fund established.  The Student Homelessness Prevention Fund is established as a 
nonlapsing fund within the department for the purposes of supporting the program.  The 
fund may receive money from any available state, federal or private source.
3. Program requirements. The department shall provide a local educational agency 
liaison for students experiencing homelessness designated pursuant to the federal 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001, 42 United 
States Code, Section 11431 et seq. The liaison shall:
A. Identify students who are at risk of homelessness but not yet homeless; and
B. In addition to any federal assistance available, provide up to $750 per academic year 
to the family or guardian of a student at risk of homelessness for services authorized 
under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act 
of 2001, in addition to other housing-related needs such as rental assistance, utilities, 
critical home repairs and other assistance that will help the student avoid homelessness.
4.  Assistance not income or asset.  Financial assistance received under the program 
is not income for purposes of the State's income tax laws and is not income or an asset for 
the purposes of determining eligibility for or the benefit amount to be paid from any public 
assistance program administered by the State or by a municipality pursuant to Title 22, 
chapter 1161.
5.  Rules.  The department may adopt rules to implement the program.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF
School and Student Supports Z270
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to help students avoid homelessness by providing 
liaisons designated pursuant to the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education 
Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 access to emergency financial assistance for the 
family of a student in an amount of up to $750 per student.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Student Homelessness Prevention Program within the 
Department of Education.  The purpose of the program is to provide direct financial 
assistance to prevent student homelessness and support students and their families in 
maintaining stable permanent housing.