By Carol Bousquet
The federal government is expanding a pilot program intended to help low income residents in rural Maine repair storm damaged homes if they live in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas.
Department of Agriculture Rural Development Director Rhiannon Hampson says this program is for the state's most vulnerable residents who have fewer resources available to recover from a natural disaster.
"I don't want people feeling guilty. That pragmatic northern New Englander who says 'I can do it myself. I don't need charity'. This isn't charity, this is your tax dollars that the federal government has stored for you," Hampson said.