The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has granted nearly half a million dollars to a Lewiston-based nonprofit in order to fund support services for refugees, immigrants and asylum-seeking migrants who are victims of domestic or sexual violence.
According to a no-bid contract document published by the Mills administration Tuesday, the Maine DHHS will be granting about $462,000 to the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine — formerly known as United Somali Women of Maine — for the specialized victim resources.
“The purpose of this agreement is to provide victims who are a part of immigrant, refugee and/or asylum seeker communities, culturally and linguistically sensitive services that promote a safe, healthy and equitable future,” the state contract document reads.
“The provider [Immigrant Resource Center of Maine] shall promote empowerment and a culturally responsive environment for victims who are refugees, immigrants, and/or asylum seekers by serving as cultural brokers and assisting victims by reducing barriers and enhancing skills,” it states.
The funding for the grant comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a COVID-19 stimulus package signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021.
The Immigrant Resource Center of Maine has several gender-based violence programs, including support and prevention services related to human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and female genital mutilation.
The nonprofit was founded as the United Somali Women of Maine in 2002 by Fatuma Hussein, who herself came to the U.S. as a refugee, and was renamed to the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine in 2016, according to the organization’s website.
“Fatuma Hussein, founder and Executive Director of IRCM, was always passionate about helping her community well before coming to Maine. When She arrived in Maine, she saw how much the Somali Community needed support,” the organization wrote.
“Based on her experience, she was inspired to set a foundation of culturally specific system advocacy, training, community education and culturally/linguistically appropriate direct services,” they wrote.
Hussein also holds governor-appointed seats on the Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="32446 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=32446">19 Comments
I can’t wait till Janet Mills and her crew are gone from Augusta .
Like we don’t have more important things to do than spend another $462,000 on Lewiston’s Somali victims of “ sexual / domestic abuse “ . My goodness , how crazy has it gotten here in Maine !
Domestic abuse is a way of life in Somalia , it’s called female sexual mutilation .
The governor just raped my wallet, where my money?
Another no bid contract? Remember she threatened Gov Lepage for trying to award a nobid contract.
Funding our demise
Democrats are a one trick pony
Where’s Tommy, Deport not Support
Fing (B)witch.
Tax & spend, Tax & spend.
When she dies the Mill’s family could make an honest fortune for a change by charging the working people of Maine 10 cents a dance to dance on her grave.
Let me get this straight, basically ALL the Maine-US citizens who have been abused can go pound sand and the DemocRATS-Communists are going to take care of the ILLEGAL ALIENS first. Maine people have you had enough or are you just too stupid and lazy to vote these sewer rats out of office? Prove me wrong!!!
Mills has to spend, spend, spend before Trump deports, deports, deports!
The sooner we get ALL the illegals out of Maine, the sooner that money can be better spent on Maine’s Vets and citizens who actually deserve it!
F**k the illegals!
If Tom Homan needs help funding illegals in Maine to deport, he just has to ask!
There are at least 500K Mainers who will gladly help him round them up!
Mills, Maine Democrats, you welcome a group of foreigners here whose culture perpetuates sexual exploitation of women, sexual violence and domestic violence and now you are gleeful that you fleece the taxpayer to pay for services for victims of the culture that you brought here. Brilliant. Why didn’t Maine vote the whole lot of Democrats out in November?
Mills has got to be voted out!
I wonder how many deportations we would get for $462,000?
Hyphenated women who outgrew the book club are running Maine .
Things will only get worse as long as they are in control .
“ United Somali Women of Maine “ is just another in the long list of BS “ nonprofits “ sucking up as many tax dollars as they can while the public sits by and “ be’s nice “.
Its time to stop “ being nice “ . We need to stop coddling this invasion .
sexual violence– Why Governor are jails not full? Not doing your job again or not capable of doing your job.
How can this be true: “The Immigrant Resource Center of Maine has several gender-based violence programs, including support and prevention services related to human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and female genital mutilation” haven’t the social.justice, left wing, hairy armpit women been telling us there is not such thing as gender and it’s “fluid” and can be whatever you feel it is fluctuating day by day. They can’t even keep their lies straight!!
VOTE THIS HARD WORKING CITIZENS’ MONEY-EATING MONSTER OUT!!!!
I have to wonder if the Governor understands that accountability and honesty are viewed differently in many other countries. For some nations, there is no honesty culture. Even in America, some people will assume they can get away with anything and often do – all because no party proclaims trust and justice to be ‘the American Way’ [Superman, 1940’s radio].
Mills OUT!!!!!!! Star the petition!!!!!!
Hopefully, by now, anyone with a functioning brain realizes that we will NEVER “vote our way out of this”. Unfortunately, right now Mainers are busy hunting down defenseless animals in the forest who aren’t bothering anyone, while democRATS squeeze the life out of us, and are doing everything they can to destroy this state. Voting takes too long and it can no longer be trusted. We need to get rid of the democRATS, not the wildlife that attracts tourism here…..when it’s alive anyway. Simple logic.