Keeping Kids Home: A Simple Plan to Stop Evictions in Maine

In Maine, a child’s world is built on the same bedroom, bus stop, and friends each day. When that foundation cracks because a family can’t pay rent, the impact ripples through the child’s health, school, and future. Rising rents have pushed many families to the brink; one missed paycheck or medical bill can mean losing a home. A foster parent in South Portland has seen the pain first‑hand. When a mother struggled to pay rent and had no childcare, her four‑year‑old twins were placed in foster care. They stayed with the parent for only a week before moving to another home, yet the memory of “We don’t have a house” stayed with them and the foster parent forever. This story is not isolated; in 2023, housing instability led to family separations in 18% of child‑welfare cases across the state.The Maine Children’s Alliance points out that eviction hurts more than just the family. It strains shelters, health programs, and child‑welfare services, creating a cycle of cost and hardship. Nearly 5, 000 households were at risk last year alone. Yet eviction can be stopped. A program called Eviction Prevention (EPP) offers short‑term rent help to keep families in their homes. Since its launch, EPP has saved about 1, 300 households and helped mostly low‑income families earn under $31, 000 a year. The average support of roughly $4, 700 covers overdue rent, and the monthly aid averages $746—far less than the cost of foster care. Investing in EPP is a win for children and communities. It keeps kids in familiar schools, routines, and neighborhoods while easing the financial burden on families. The program’s cost is modest compared to the long‑term expenses of foster care, which includes staffing and court fees. Building housing stability is not a trade‑off; it strengthens the very fabric that supports children’s growth. State lawmakers now face a clear choice: fund EPP and prevent more families from falling into crisis, or allow rising rents to push more children toward instability. Protecting homes means protecting futures.