The Town of Kennebunk is in the beginning stages of preparing its annual municipal budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, and in amongst capital items such as road projects and infrastructure improvements, and operating expenses such as staffing proposals, there is funding for non-profit social service agencies that serve Kennebunk residents. 

Every town and city in the State of Maine administers a General Assistance program, which is a financial aid program for people who qualify for help with their basic necessities for limited period of time. Often the needs of a household are far greater than this short-term financial aid program can provide. Many municipalities traditionally allocate funding in their budgets to support local social service agencies that offer services in their towns because it complements and offsets what the Town can provide for assistance and addresses needs that are beyond the scope of the basic financial aid program.   

In Kennebunk there are about a dozen agencies that typically apply for this funding and total budgetary allocations for all of the agencies averages around $40,000-$50,000. Agencies that have been supported in the past include: The American Red Cross, who provides emergency aid and disaster relief; local non-profits Community Outreach Services, who manage our local food pantry, and provide fuel assistance and specific needs assistance and Community Harvest, who offers community meal programs and special needs grants; and The Center and Southern Maine Agency On Aging, both offering services to support older adults, their families and caregivers through a variety of programs. 

Karen Winton, who manages Social Services for the Town of Kennebunk said, “These social service agencies are a vital component of the community based support and resources we offer to individuals and families in need in Kennebunk. Providing funding to these non-profits not only supports them to continue their vital work, but supports a broad range of resources to aid and assist our residents.” For example, Caring Unlimited, who offers direct support and safety planning services for anyone experiencing domestic abuse and violence in York County, applied for and received $3,461 in support from the Town last year and estimates they provide $18,776.51 in services to Kennebunk residents through individual advocacy, group services and emergency shelter services. Southern Maine Agency on Aging who served 300 Kennebunk residents in 2022 similarly estimates the value of their services to be $53,006 through programs like Meals On Wheels, Health Insurance counseling and caregiver assistance. They applied for and received $5,500 last year.

Non-profit social services agencies are invited to apply for municipal funding through an application found on the Town’s website: https://www.kennebunkmaine.us/397/Town-Supported-Social-Service-Agencies. Applications for the upcoming 2023-2024 budget and fiscal year are due by December 4.