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Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

Today in Maine, thousands of older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health challenges do not receive the personal care and support services they qualify for through state and federal programs. To secure the health of Maine residents and our economic stability, we need bold solutions to the critical problems in our direct care system.

Jobs and Income

State of Working Maine 2023: Boosting Maine’s Workforce

The major challenge facing Maine’s economy is the state’s plateauing workforce. Without increasing the size of the workforce, it is very difficult to maintain a healthy economy, as there are not enough workers to fill new jobs as they are created.

Taxes and Budget

Policy Brief: Are Tax Giveaways Worth the Money?

Instead of funneling money into unproven tax giveaways, the state should invest funds in programs including housing, child care, and paid leave that will improve economic opportunities for all Mainers, advance equity, and allow people to fully participate in the workforce.

The Maine Center for Economic Policy is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of Mainers with low and moderate income.

MECEP advances equity and prosperity for all Maine people through issue-based analysis, education, and advocacy.

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The Lever

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

State of Working Maine 2023: Boosting Maine’s Workforce

Policy Brief: Are Tax Giveaways Worth the Money?

The Maine Center for Economic Policy is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of Mainers with low and moderate income.

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expiration is a chance for Tax Fairness to flourish

Maine’s minimum wage to increase to $14.65 next year, boosting wages for 96,000 workers

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expiration is a chance for Tax Fairness to flourish

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Guaranteed Income — An Explainer

Undocumented immigrants contribute millions in taxes to Maine

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Maine’s minimum wage to increase to $14.65 next year, boosting wages for 96,000 workers

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Farmworker Rights — An Explainer

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

Proposed changes to Medicare Savings Program would impact 45,000 older Mainers’ eligibility for health care benefits

In the words of workers: Erin

Poor pay and strained working conditions cause staffing shortages in Maine schools

Student debt cancellation would help working families, improve equity, and expand access to higher education

To help students finish their degrees and ease workforce challenges, Maine should reform transcript withholding

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is broken — let’s fix it

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Undocumented immigrants contribute millions in taxes to Maine

5 reasons to be optimistic about Maine’s economy

In the words of workers: Emily

Stay up to date

Monopoly League Baseball

Wednesday Sit-Down: Addressing the challenges of Maine's teacher shortage

Maine’s minimum wage will increase to $14.65 next year

With government assistance, Maine continues to have lowest share of people living in poverty

What a Maine experiment shows us about universal basic income

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

State of Working Maine 2023: Boosting Maine’s Workforce

Policy Brief: Are Tax Giveaways Worth the Money?

The Maine Center for Economic Policy is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of Mainers with low and moderate income.

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expiration is a chance for Tax Fairness to flourish

Maine’s minimum wage to increase to $14.65 next year, boosting wages for 96,000 workers

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expiration is a chance for Tax Fairness to flourish

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Guaranteed Income — An Explainer

Undocumented immigrants contribute millions in taxes to Maine

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Maine’s minimum wage to increase to $14.65 next year, boosting wages for 96,000 workers

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Farmworker Rights — An Explainer

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It

Proposed changes to Medicare Savings Program would impact 45,000 older Mainers’ eligibility for health care benefits

In the words of workers: Erin

Poor pay and strained working conditions cause staffing shortages in Maine schools

Student debt cancellation would help working families, improve equity, and expand access to higher education

To help students finish their degrees and ease workforce challenges, Maine should reform transcript withholding

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is broken — let’s fix it

Census data shows most Mainers ahead compared to pre-pandemic — but poorest still struggling

Undocumented immigrants contribute millions in taxes to Maine

5 reasons to be optimistic about Maine’s economy

In the words of workers: Emily

Stay up to date

Monopoly League Baseball

Wednesday Sit-Down: Addressing the challenges of Maine's teacher shortage

Maine’s minimum wage will increase to $14.65 next year

With government assistance, Maine continues to have lowest share of people living in poverty

What a Maine experiment shows us about universal basic income

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be 

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be 

3 reasons why “no tax on tips” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be 