Well, today has been just lovely. I finally made an appointment with the General Assistance office, I came prepared, I'd done my research, I was confident, poised, and had all my documentation.
None of it mattered.
Maine DHS says that I'm definitely a resident of Maine and my town (though homeless), that house-sitting for three months counts as couch-surfing or at most a vacation. That it's out of state is immaterial, since I plan on coming back.
The DV shelter legal assistance concurred. I really wanted to make sure that I wasn't doing anything shady or illegal!
Also, DHS has repeatedly urged me to go to the town for additional assistance, since I have no income, am legally homeless, and NEED HELP. After five months, I made and went to my appointment. I was feeling pretty proud of myself that I did--it's scary to make an appointment with an office that has someone who treated you like shit not long ago! You might get them as your interviewer (I didn't).
The interview was calm and pleasant, and the Director was even trying to find a way to get my phone covered, so it was going great! Then he asked for my physical address (knowing I'm homeless and house sitting, mark you), and that's when it all came crashing down.
It turns out that the GA office says that according to them, I am not homeless, and I am a citizen of NH, despite what Maine thinks, even though they agree that from a state standpoint, I'm a ME citizen. //headtilt
They recommend going to the town where I'm house sitting for assistance. Where I'm not a resident of the state or town. But I can come in a week before I come back and set up an appointment so that I'm up and running when I'm on the streets of my town!
My psychologist thinks all of this is screwy, and a cost-cutting measure. I know I cried for several hours, and am still on the brink.
Anyway, I have a few plans, so I'm going to list them, ask for more suggestions (please be respectful and reasonable, I'll outline below), and as I finish them, I'll update the diary with each outcome in blockquote below the plan. Because my memory is just that bad.
Keep in mind that I'm food secure, extremely hard of hearing, can't stand for long periods, can't work, goldfish memory (this was written off of notes written during and immediately after the meeting), and can't lift. Yes, I'm limited. Sorry. I also have a service dog, NO, I can't leave him at home.
Plans.
I'm going to try to make an appointment at the NH town. I figure it can't hurt. I will not lie to them. If they turn me down, I'm getting it in writing to give to my town's GA (my psychologist's idea).
Try to find out again if there are any state services. I'm pretty sure not, this is Maine and they want you to already have SSDI or SSI first, but worth a shot.
See if a UU church is willing to work with me sans building. I can't do the building. I just can't. And I wouldn't feel right approaching any other denomination, I'm atheist.
I'm also in the process of making my phone a TAP phone, with no voice service. It just makes sense.
So those are what I have. Any others?