Welfare for noncitizens in Portland tops $2 million a year

PORTLAND (WGME) - Asylum-seeking immigrants in Portland are not yet eligible for federal or state welfare benefits, so the city is using money from a special community support fund, which city leaders said this week was overspent by at least $100,000.

[Related: Portland community support fund now $100,000 over budget]

City Manager Jon Jennings said he has no idea how much the emergency shelter at the Portland Expo is costing to run.

CBS 13 got numbers from the Department of Health and Human Services showing that even before this recent influx, taxpayers are spending millions of dollars a year on welfare for noncitizens in Portland.

We talked with Lavania Yamfu outside the Expo, which is serving as a makeshift shelter for new asylum seekers in the city.

She arrived in Portland from the Congo in December and now has an apartment.

Her brother just arrived as part of the recent surge of immigrants.

"My little brother that just followed me with the same situation I came for," she said by way of a translator.

She got money from Portland's Community Support Fund when she first arrived in Portland.

The unique taxpayer-funded source of money is used to help asylum seekers who don't qualify for state general assistance.

"I'm thankful to the city of Portland," she said.

Now that she's officially applied for asylum she gets general assistance.

By law, 70% of what the city spends on general assistance is reimbursed by the state.

"The city has been paying for my housing and also getting money for food," Yamfu said.

Based on numbers reviewed by the I-Team, Portland spent about $2.2 million on general assistance for noncitizens, including asylum seekers, last year.

About $1.5 million was reimbursed by the state, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

In fiscal year 2018, the city also had $250,000 in the Community Support Fund, but budget documents show only about half of it was spent.

A city spokesperson said City Manager Jon Jennings wasn't available Friday to answer follow-up questions.

"The last few years may have given some indication, but I would also say this past year, including the past week, has created so much uncertainty," Jennings said during a City Council meeting this week.

Jennings said it's difficult to determine the financial impact of asylum seekers this year because of the recent surge in arrivals.

"That is what we're most worried about to be honest with you," Jennings said.

[Related: Asylum seekers could cost Portland $1.3 million]

During the meeting, taxpayers told the Council they support helping asylum seekers, but some said there has to be a limit.

"I think it's important that we tone down the broadcasting - "everyone come to Portland" - because we need to get a handle on this," one Portland resident said.

City staff said the average family, which gets money from the Community Support Fund or general assistance, receives about $1,500 a month, but a larger family can get upwards of $2,000 a month.