Foreword

Mainers are hardy, resilient, resourceful, and have a long tradition of stepping up to help their neighbors and communities through tough times. These admirable qualities are being tested by the often invisible circumstances of homelessness.

Across the state, an alarming number of our young people are without a place to call home. In recent school years, between 4,300 and 4,800 students were identified as homeless, including youth staying with friends or relatives, living in shelters or hotels, moving from place to place, or sleeping in tents and other unstable situations. And those are only the ones who spoke loud enough to be counted. For these young people, everyday tasks seem insurmountable and questions become legal matters, such as how to access healthcare or vital records like birth certificates, how to remain in school, or how to access legal protections after experiencing domestic violence.

The Homeless Youth Handbook is one way that we are stepping up, by providing accurate, practical, accessible information across all the areas that youth may need support. Whether it is information about accessing public benefits, financial and credit rules, privacy rights, or interactions with police, there is strength in asking for help. Every young person deserves the dignity of having access to the best resources to navigate through such challenging times.

This resource is for them.

This resource is also for the folks who support them. From shelter staff and outreach workers to teachers, school counselors, librarians, healthcare providers, community organizations, and families opening their homes to help a young person in need, we hope this resource serves as a practical tool and trusted guide.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is Maine’s largest civil legal aid organization, providing low-income Mainers with direct advocacy in cases where it can make a difference in one’s ability to meet a basic human need or in enforcing one’s basic human rights, including access to housing, food, income, safety, education, and healthcare.

Avangrid is a leading U.S. energy company investing in grid infrastructure and power generation projects to deliver reliable energy and meet growing electricity demand. With approximately $50 billion in assets and operations across 25 states, Avangrid is helping modernize the U.S. electric grid, improve system resiliency, and support economic growth for the customers and communities it serves.

Avangrid owns and operates seven electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid also has nearly 100 energy generation facilities across the United States and more than 11 gigawatts of installed capacity. Avangrid has more than 8,300 employees and was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for the eighth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the Iberdrola Group.

As part of its commitment to the communities it serves, the Avangrid Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, supports philanthropic investments primarily in communities where Avangrid and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $45 million in partnerships focused on building sustainable, vibrant, and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving quality of life. Learn more at https://www.avangrid.com/avangrid-foundation.

Baker McKenzie leverages its network of 70+ offices to address some of the world’s most pressing social justice challenges. We bring together problem-solvers from across the Firm and from our corporate partners to make a meaningful impact, regularly collaborating with in-house legal teams to expand our collective reach. Our work includes direct representation, impact litigation, policy and advocacy efforts, building new legal resources, and addressing complex legal questions for the world’s leading non-profits, public policy institutions, and international NGOs. Learn more about our Firm’s commitment to pro bono at www.bakermckenzie.com/en/aboutus/pro-bono.

This Handbook represents the collective effort of attorneys, paralegals, law students, social service professionals, advocates, and community partners who share a commitment to supporting Maine's young people. We are deeply grateful for the time, expertise, and dedication that made this resource possible.

To every young person reading these pages: we hope you find information, answers, and encouragement here. And if this Handbook helps you, please share it with someone else who may need it. Access to information can be the first step toward safety, stability, and opportunity.

With appreciation and steadfast commitment,

Tom Fritzsche
Executive Director
Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Elizabeth Riotte
Vice President – Deputy General Counsel
Avangrid

Jose Moran
Partner
Baker McKenzie