Covid-19 resources
Boston
●For renters : If you are unable to pay your rent due to loss in income, please contact your landlord as soon as possible to make arrangements.
● Boston Helps
https://www.boston.com/boston-helps
● Boston Covid-19 Community Care
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15GYuPYEzBk9KIyH3C3419aYxIMVAsa7BL7nBl9434Mg/edit#gid=0
Cambridge
● City of Cambridge
https://www.cambridgema.gov/COVID19 for Cambridge through Cambridge Community Foundation and the City of Cambridge covid-19 emergency fund.
● Cambridge Community Foundation Fund (http://cambridgecf.org/COVID-19-emergency-fund).
● Cambridge Mayor’s Disaster Fund: Madelein McCormick, Chief of Staff, MMcCormick@CambridgeMA.gov
● Aunt Bertha Clearinghouse: https://www.auntbertha.com/housing/help-pay-for-housing--cambridge-ma?postal=02139
● Cambridge Community Fund (Emergency and Artist Relief Funds)
http://cambridgecf.org/two-new-funds-launched-in-response-to-covid-19/
● Cambridge Mutual Aid Network
https://sites.google.com/view/cambridge-nan/home?authuser=0
●Cambridge Health Alliance https://www.challiance.org/help-center/covid-19-alert
● Resource guide for HRI residents that can be accessed on the HRI website: www.homeownersrehab.org/covid19updates
Somerville
● City of Somerville
https://www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus
●Somerville Office of Housing Stability https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/office-strategic-planning-and-commu nity-development-ospcd/office-housing-stability
●Eviction Moratorium: Mayor Curtatone and the Board of Health announced an Emergency Order Establishing a Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement in the City of Somerville for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. The order, which applies to both residential and commercial evictions and goes into effect immediately, prohibits the physical act of eviction within the city limits so as to provide for the health, safety and stability of those who live in and serve our community. Visit https://www.somervillema.gov/evictionmoratorium for the full announcement.
● Anyone in Somerville facing housing insecurity should contact the Office of Housing Stability at 617-625-66000 x2581. Please also visit www.somervillema.gov/OHS for additional housing information and updates. Local businesses seeking information on support available should visit www.somervillema.gov/CovidBizHelp or call 311 (617-666-3311) to connect to Economic Development staff.
●Breakfast and Lunch Grab-and-Go Meal Distribution SPS students and families can pick up breakfast and lunch meals Monday-Friday, 9:00-11:00am at any of the sites listed below. No ID is required, and one person can pick up for more than one member of the family. Bring a bag if you are picking up for multiple family members, and please remember to dress appropriately for the weather as we may ask you to stand out in the elements to ensure that we follow social distancing norms
- East Somerville Community School
- West Somerville Neighborhood School
- Winter Hill Community Innovation School
- Healey School
●FOOD PANTRY FOR QUARANTINED AND DISABLED RESIDENTS
(617) 625-6600, ext 2300.
http://bit.ly/SOMFoodPantry
Starting March 17, the City of Somerville and Food For Free will run a supplemental food pantry. Register online. Deliveries reserved for those in quarantine or with limited mobility. Please limit use to once per week. Seniors with questions can also call the Council on Aging for more information. This pantry is open to all residents, but delivery is restricted to those who qualify. Pick ups at 165 Broadway available.
●FOOD PANTRY http://www.somervillefoodsecurity.org/
●Other food resources: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/district-departments/food-nutrition-services/food-resources-students-and-families
●Call 311 to be connected to other food resources in the Somerville area .
●Distribution of Diapers for Families with Babies and Young Children Beginning the week of March 30th, distribution of free diapers and wipes to families with babies or young children will continue on Wednesdays only from 9:00-11:00a.m. at each of the four school food distribution sites .
- East Somerville Community School
- West Somerville Neighborhood School
- Winter Hill Community Innovation School
- Healey School (new site)
●Visit www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus for the latest information and updates on COVID-19 from the City of Somerville. Click on the “Give Help or Get Assistance” tab for information on food access, business and employee assistance, housing and family assistance, student assistance, and ways to help others
● People having food insecurity can get food delivered to them from the city.
https://www.somervillema.gov/coronavirushelp/food-housing-financial-assistance
● Somerville Cares Fund Launches: On Thursday, Mayor Curtatone and the United Way announced the launch of the Somerville Cares COVID-19 relief fund, which will offer emergency financial support to Somerville residents and workers. Through the fund, support will be made available to help individuals and families with the greatest need: people who have lost their jobs or income, for example, and are struggling to cover basic needs like food, utilities, rent/mortgage, healthcare, or child care. Funds will be available regardless of immigration status and eligible workers include those recently laid off from their jobs. The fund will be hosted by the United Way and administered by the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS).
● Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMaS) https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1RtYZ1wc8jxcSKDl555WszWhQWlOlSkNnfjIOYV0wXRA/mobilebasic?urp=gmail_link
Jewish Community Support
● CJP offers several resources for people experiencing financial difficulty:
- The CJP Warmline, which connects people who are having difficulties with resources. CJP Warmline, 1-800-CJP-9500 or https://www.cjpwarmline.org/
Please contact Rebecca Diamondstein for further inquiry and support at RebeccaD@cjp.org
● CJP Coronavirus Emergency Fund
● Interest-Free Loan Program
● Boston Jewish Community Coronavirus Resources
https://www.jewishboston.com/coronavirus-community-resources/
● Interest Free Loan Program: Interest-Free Hebrew Free Loans of up to $10,000 are available to individuals and families of moderate income in your community
https://www.cjp.org/our-work/caring-social-justice/our-caring-programs/interest-free-loan-program
● Yad Chessed
http://www.yadchessed.org/get-help-now/
● Jewish Family and Children’s Service
https://www.jfcsboston.org/Blog/covid-19-update
● Ruach, volunteer Jewish emotional and spiritual care providers
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecRr_gD0J5-9fK_aZpbF5XzWbHNZUc4kSZn7xrBkHAXnekpA/viewform
Massachusetts
● https://www.macovid19relieffund.org/
● Massachusetts Housing Court has halted evictions.
●For homeowners : If you are unable to pay your mortgage due to loss in income, please contact your mortgage provider as soon as possible. A number of banks have posted their policies online. For those with government-backed mortgages, the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac have suspended foreclosures. For those with private lenders, there are mechanisms in place for borrowers experiencing an economic hardship that may enable you to reduce or suspend payments. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a list of suggestions and resources that can be found on their website. The CFPB also has a dedicated page on COVID-19 to help you stay financially secure during this pandemic.
●UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESOURCES https://www.mass.gov/alerts/important-unemployment-information#undefined
●RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM (Layoff Response) https://www.mass.gov/service-details/rapid-response-layoff-aversion
●Unemployment Benefits Application https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-unemployment-benefits
●MassHire Cambridge Center 617.661.7867 https://masshiremncareers.com/contact/
●MassHire Chelsea Center 617.884.4333 https://masshiremncareers.com/contact/
●Mass211.org (searchable data base of statewide social services) https://mass211.org/important-employee-and-employer-information-related-to-cov id-19-and-unemployment/
●MA Workers Emergency Relief Funds Compiled by Massachusetts Jobs with Justice for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please research, apply, and share. This is a work in progress! If you find new funds, please let us know! And please reach out if you would like to volunteer to help workers, particularly ones who are not fluent in English or need help with technology, jwj@massjwj.net . Shareable link: https://bit.ly/MassWorkerReliefFunds
●Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Virtual Town Halls Sign up for a town hall presentation on applying for unemployment assistance. In order to better meet the needs of customers whose employment has been affected by the coronavirus, DUA will be hosting daily town hall meetings where we will take our constituents through a step by step process of achieving a successful unemployment claim and taking questions from claimants across the Commonwealth. Sign up information for the virtual town hall is below. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.mass.gov/forms/massachusetts-department-of-unemployment-assistance-dua-virtual-town-halls
●Child Care Massachusetts is establishing a process to approve child care programs that will serve vulnerable children and the children of families who are essential to the health, safety, and welfare of our communities.
●MA Essential Services Information (companies that remain open as of 3/23/20) https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-essential-services/download?fbclid=IwAR1IL AR6GjSIgK89TDHFb-qEv0lWZ3GsOLGZEbD-VrSC9havxHXCCPV5K8s
●Resources for LGBTQ Youth During COVID-19
This list is compiled by the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth based on submissions from partner organizations and the community. commission@ma-lgbtq.org
●For MBTA bus schedule https://www.mbta.com/covid19
●Call 1-877-785-2020 for SafeLink, the Massachusetts domestic violence hotline.
● Information
Mass 211
https://www.mass211.org/
● Massachusetts Mutual Aid Networks
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QEK7LmLanrngIwIk72EjxijEerCB19348ac32YgYg0Q/edit#gid=0
● United Way Covid Relief Fund: https://unitedwaymassbay.org/covid-19/covid-19-family-fund/
● RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) has streamlined their process to make it easier to apply for assistance at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/MA2977-1914
Federal
● The federal government has reset the interest rate on student loans to zero, and student borrowers can defer payments until September.
● Health Care Updates for Veterans Veterans and their families should consult VA's website for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 and treatment at VA facilities. Guidance from local VA medical facilities about their current operating status is available on each facility’s website, which can be found through VA’s facility locator tool.
● Social Security To slow the spread of COVID-19, all local Social Security offices will be closed to the public and will no longer be able to accept walk-in visitors. In case you or a loved one is need of assistance during the pandemic, you can access most services on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website or call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. To access the SSA's designated COVID-19 webpage, which includes a list of frequently asked questions regarding the pandemic and its impact on Social Security benefits and services, please click here .
Miscellaneous
●Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation – Relief Fund for Undocumented People If you are undocumented yourself or have family members who are undocumented and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, click on the link below to fill out the request form: https://www.undocuscholars.com
●Free 60 Day Internet
Internet Comcast is offering 60-days of free Internet (https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/internet-essentials-low-income-broadband-coronavirus-pandemic) access to low-income subscribers via their Internet Essentials program, which normally is available to low-income families for $9.95 per month. - New customers receive a free self-install kit that includes a cable modem with a Wi-Fi router. There will be no term contract or credit check and no shipping fee. - To apply to sign up: - Call 1-855-846-8376 Families do not need a Social Security # but do need a state ID or passport. They also need proof of free lunch status, housing assistance, or any other government support (WIC, SNAP, etc.). All registration can be done online, but then families need to pick up their wireless box at the nearest comcast location or arrange home installation. For home install, the house needs to have an adult 18+ present.
Employment
●CVS (Job Opportunity) https://jobs.cvshealth.com/Accelerated-Hiring?prefilters=none&CloudSearchLocati on=none&CloudSearchValue=none
●AMAZON (Job Opportunity) https://www.amazondelivers.jobs/
●STOP AND SHOP (Job Opportunity) https://stopandshop.com/our-careers/
●Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Customer Service Center: (800) 659-2955
● Job application form. Does not require public health training, only a high school diploma and normal skills.
https://jobs.crelate.com/portal/talentboost/job/3kyqki4zeqoyugdzsha5iynhce
Mental Health Resources
- The Relational Center
- Path to Well-being (free, on-line mental health program)
https://www.cjp.org/path-to-well-being?utm_source=community-impact-email-3-1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=path-to-well-being&utm_content=link