Free tax prep help from the IRS

Under the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Biden in March of 2021, you could be eligible for thousands of dollars through the Child Tax Credit and the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Those who qualify for the Federal EITC also qualify for cash payments through the state EITC. Claim your money today! For assistance visit https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep, or call (800) 906-9887

Free tax prep help

Visit the link below for free tax prep help (tax deadline: May 17, 2021)

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Free transportation to medical appointments

MassHealth members are eligible for free transportation to and from medical appointments when public transportation isn't an option. To request a ride, when scheduling the appointment, ask your doctor's office to submit at Prescription for Transportation (PT-1) form to the MassHealth Customer Service Center on your behalf.

Protection Against Eviction

Families earning 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines can seek legal assistance from the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project if they receive a "notice to quit," or if their landlord initiates eviction proceedings in court.

SNAP benefits calculator

Use the website below to see whether you're eligible for SNAP, and estimate your monthly SNAP benefit amount.

Get Help With Housing

This flyer overviews how to get help with housing including: - protection from eviction - entering a family homeless shelter - alternatives to shelter, such as the HomeBASE program - rental assistance programs, such as RAFT and ERMA - and more.

Apply for a free computer

Visit the Computers for Causes website to apply for a "gifted" free computer. You will hear back within 30 days of when you apply.

Low-Cost Refurbished Laptops

Connect All sells low-cost refurbished laptops. See link to browse computers.

Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

Under the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Biden in March of 2021, you could be eligible for thousands of dollars through the Child Tax Credit and the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Those who qualify for the Federal EITC also qualify for cash payments through the state EITC. Claim your money today! For assistance visit https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep, or call (800) 906-9887

Free food delivery with SNAP

For information about free food delivery for families who use SNAP (food stamps), visit the link below.

COVID relief package summary

Trying to understand the key points in the Dec. 2020 COVID relief package? The resource below can help. It summarizes what you need to know about stimulus payments, the eviction moratorium, public benefits changes, help for college students, and more.

Protection Against Eviction

Families earning 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Guidelines can seek legal assistance from the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project if they receive a "notice to quit," or if their landlord initiates eviction proceedings in court.

Basic legal info overview

This site from MasssLegalHelp.org provides an overview of basic legal information related to family issues, debt, criminal records, domestic violence, employment/unemployment, health, housing, immigration, school, court, interpreters, and more.

Accessing legal help

Use the site below to seek legal help for issues related to domestic abuse, criminal records, debt, education, family issues, healthcare, insurance, housing, immigration, government benefits, wills, and more.

Establishing paternity

Information on what paternity is, why it is important, and how to establish it at the link below.

Request child support change

Learn how to request a change to your child support court order at the link below.

Information about Child Support

For general information about child support please see the link below

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Greater Boston Food Bank

70 South Bay Avenue Boston, Massachusetts, 02118 Mostly has referrals to meal programs, soup kitchens.

Essex County Hunger Relief

The website below lists all soup kitchens and food pantries located in Essex County Massachusetts.

Mass 2-1-1

The online directory below is an information resource for emergency food, rent, help paying your heating and utility bills, mental health counseling, health programs, public health and safety services, child care referrals, job resources, and other help for individuals, parents and families.

Free/reduced-cost health insurance

Depending on your income, you may qualify for free or reduced-cost health insurance for yourself and your family. Click the link to learn more.

Info on Eviction Moratorium

The Massachusetts eviction moratorium has ended, but a federal eviction moratorium is in place protecting some renters until 3/31/21. Use the link below to learn more & check if you qualify for the federal eviction moratorium. NOTE: You should still pay as much of your rent as you can now! You will STILL owe any unpaid rent when the moratorium is over.

Virtual Babysitting for Student-Parents

Sitters Without Borders recently launched "Virtual BabySitting" for student-parents taking online classes. Learn more at their website below.

Apply for Unemployment Benefits

Click the link to determine which unemployment benefits you could be eligible for, and how to apply.

Low-Cost Laptops & Hot Spots

PCs for People sells low-cost laptops and mobile hot spots.

Verizon Lifeline Discount Internet

Verizon provides a discount on internet for low income households.

Affordable Internet through RCN

RCN has an internet plan option for $9.95/month for qualified households. (See link for details)

Help Paying for Utilities

Utility companies must provide customers with payment plans that allow a customer to take several months to pay overdue bills. You have the absolute right to spread payment of overdue bills over a minimum of four months. *** If you owe past-due utility bills, contact your utility company and ask to sign up for the "Arrears Management Program". For details, click the link below, and scroll down to the 3rd item on the list, "Arrears Management Program." ***

HousingMatch.org

HousingMatch.org is a new Boston-based private shared housing network for families, the elderly, and people with disabilities - helps families who can't afford their own apartment find shared housing situations.

Free produce for SNAP participants

SNAP participants can use their EBT card at a participating farmers market, farm, farm stand or mobile food market that participates in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). Each month, for each dollar you spend on fruits and vegetables at HIP produce sellers using your EBT card, $1 will be put back on your card. Households of 1 or 2 people get up to $40 in free produce each month. Households of 3 to 5 people, up to $60/mo. For households larger than that, up to $80/mo.

SNAP benefits for online grocery shopping

EBT cards can now be used to purchase groceries online through Walmart and Amazon. See the link below for flyers with more details.

Project Bread Food Resources

Project Bread's website has information on SNAP, P-EBT, free meals for kids and teens, WIC, and food pantries:

Pre-K – Grade 9 Learn at Home

Scholastic Learn at Home (for Pre-K - Grade 9)

Breakfast & Lunch from Women’s Lunch Place

Women's Lunch Place (Boston) are giving out one take-out package containing breakfast and lunch per day, Monday through Saturday 8AM - 1PM at 67 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116

Sanvello Free App

Free app that helps with reducing stress and anxiety

CVS free prescription delivery

CVS is offering free delivery for prescriptions

City of Boston food resources

The City of Boston has a new website summarizing all food resources!

Unemployment for "urgent reasons"

According to the Mass. Law Reform Institute and Greater Boston Legal Services, individuals in the following categories may be eligible for unemployment benefits: - individuals who had to quit their job because their child's school or childcare closed - individuals who had to quit their job to take care of an ill family/household member - individuals who are "self-quarantined" because they reasonably believe that they have a risk of exposure or infection - individuals who had to quit their job because domestic violence made it unsafe for them to continue working

Rent arrears assistance - City Mission

Limited, one-time grants for back rent to eligible applicants. PLEASE NOTE: This support has currently run out of funds, but you can still fill out the form to be put on the wait list in case additional funds become available.

Domestic Violence Legal Helpline

Casa Myrna's Legal Advocacy Program seeks to address the unmet legal needs of victims of domestic violence and commercial sexual exploitation. For no charge, attorneys and advocates work with survivors who, due to linguistic, cultural, and economic barriers, would not be able to access representation through normal channels. Available to Massachusetts residients.

Domestic Violence Community Advocacy Hotline

Casa Myrna's community advocacy hotline for survivors of domestic violence in Boston. Community Advocacy Specialists are bilingual (Spanish/English).

MA Domestic Violence Hotline

SafeLink statewide domestic violence hotline

Fresh produce delivery

Pay for fresh produce delivery using SNAP EBT card or credit card. Order by midnight Saturday, and produce is delivered sometime the following Tuesday thru Saturday.

RAFT & ERMA housing programs

RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) & ERMA (Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance) are for families with income up to 80% the area median income who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to a significant reduction of income or increased expenses. During the COVID-19 emergency, eligible families may receive up to $10,000 from RAFT/ERMA in a 12-month period to pay for housing and housing-related expenses. See the link for more info.

HomeBASE

HomeBASE is an alternative to shelter. HomeBASE recipients can receive first/last month's rent and security deposit, and/or a monthly stipend for up to a year to help pay for rent and utilities. Total assistance is capped at $10,000 for a 12-month period - some families receive this level of assistance, and other families receive less. Apply for HomeBASE by calling 866-584-0653.

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter is for homeless families with children under the age of 21 and/or pregnant women whose income is no higher than 115% of the federal poverty guidelines (see poverty guidelines here: https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/4-what-ea-income-limit )

Boston Children's Museum Resources

Children spend their whole day learning, and Boston Children’s Museum provides resources for families and educators to help support that continuous discovery.

WGBH PreK-12 Distance Learning

WGBH To Provide PreK-12 Distance Learning Support For Students In Massachusetts

Boston Public Schools chromebooks

Boston Public Schools will give a free chromebook to any BPS student who needs one

Prescription Discount Cards

Sometimes a prescription discount card can be used to get a discounted price on a medicine that is even less than your co-pay for that medicine. For example, search for the discounted price for any medicine that your doctor prescribes on this website. If you see that medicine priced less than your usual co-pay for that medicine at a pharmacy near you, click "Get Free Card" under the pharmacy name, and then click "Text" or "Email" to have a virtual discount card sent to you by text or email. When you go to the pharmacy to pick up the medicine, show the card to pharmacy staff using your smartphone.

MassHealth COVID policy

If you have MassHealth, you are FULLY covered for COVID-19 testing and treatment. MassHealth patients are also able to pick up 90 day prescription refills. There will be leniency around picking up prescriptions early.

Student Loan Payments

To provide relief to student loan borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency, federal student loan borrowers are automatically being placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows you to temporarily stop making your monthly loan payment. This suspension of payments will last until Sept. 30, 2021, but you can still make payments if you choose.

Mutual Aid Networks

Mutual Aid Networks have popped up all over the state. It is beautiful to see community members supporting one another. See link for more info.

United Way COVID-19 Family Fund

Grants will be made to help families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis meet their basic food, childcare or housing needs. To access the fund, people in need can call 2-1-1 (Mass 211) 24/7. (Alt. phone no: 877-211-6277.)

If you are unable to afford your bills

Call your creditors (anyone to whom you owe money) and the companies that send you bills to get your payments stopped or reduced. Be sure to clearly state upfront that your income has been reduced because of COVID-19. That is the information they need to adjust your payments. THIS INCLUDES YOUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY!! Many car insurance companies are being understanding if you cannot pay your bill on time due to COVID-19. Make sure to explain this to them.

Tips for paying bills

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a helpful website with “Steps to take if you have trouble paying your bills meeting other financial obligations”.

Comcast - 2 Months of Free Internet

Comcast Internet Essentials provides 2 free months of internet access for low-income families. Applications due June 30, 2021.

Childcare Financial Assistance

Click the link to see if you are eligible for financial assistance for childcare from the state of Massachusetts. To apply for child care financial assistance, call Mass 211 or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency.

Food Pantries

Use foodfinder.us to find food assistance near you. Enter your zip code at the top of the site, then move the map by left-clicking. Click on a red “pin” near you, then click “Details.” Do not hesitate to look up and use your local food pantry - this is what they are here for! Do not second guess whether you are eligible - just go, no questions asked! All food pantries have taken precautions to support social distancing measures.

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline

Contact Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline for information on resources available. They will provide updated information on SNAP (including any expanded benefits that may become available) and offer screening and application assistance over the phone. The FoodSource Hotline will maintain its usual hours with access to Language Line translators. The hotline at 1-800-645-8333 is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Apply for SNAP Benefits (food stamps)

If you are not already receiving SNAP benefits, you can apply online & do not need to go into the DTA office! You are also IMMEDIATELY eligible if you have lost a job or work hours due to COVID-19. Once you have submitted your online application, call 877-382-2363, tell them you submitted an application, and ask for an interview. You DO NOT need to wait for DTA to call you! If you are due to recertify, your benefits will be extended by 6 months. No one receiving benefits will lose their benefits during this time.

Community Resources for Mental Health

Tips from CDC on Managing Stress/Anxiety

"Isle of Calm" Playlist

Managing Stress/Anxiety for Children & Teens

This site provides 25 fun mindfulness activities for children and teens

Domestic Violence Support

While we are all encouraged to stay at home, this can be beyond challenging for people who are living with their abusers. Call for help. Connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7/365 to obtain help by chat at @ndvh or by calling 1-800-799-7233.

Protection from Utility Shutoff

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, utility companies will not shut off service before November 16, 2020 due to non-payment. In addition, as was the case before the pandemic, gas or electricity used to heat your home cannot be shut off between November 15th and March 15th. Visit the website for more info.

Free tax prep help from the IRS

Free tax prep help

Mass 2-1-1

Mass 2-1-1

Mass 2-1-1

Free transportation to medical appointments

Protection Against Eviction

SNAP benefits calculator

Get Help With Housing

Apply for a free computer

Low-Cost Refurbished Laptops

Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit

Free food delivery with SNAP

COVID relief package summary

Protection Against Eviction

Basic legal info overview

Accessing legal help

Establishing paternity

Request child support change

Information about Child Support

Mass 2-1-1

Mass 2-1-1

Mass 2-1-1

Greater Boston Food Bank

Essex County Hunger Relief

Mass 2-1-1

Free/reduced-cost health insurance

Info on Eviction Moratorium

Virtual Babysitting for Student-Parents

Apply for Unemployment Benefits

Low-Cost Laptops & Hot Spots

Verizon Lifeline Discount Internet

Affordable Internet through RCN

Help Paying for Utilities

HousingMatch.org

Free produce for SNAP participants

SNAP benefits for online grocery shopping

Project Bread Food Resources

Pre-K – Grade 9 Learn at Home

Breakfast & Lunch from Women’s Lunch Place

Sanvello Free App

CVS free prescription delivery

City of Boston food resources

Unemployment for "urgent reasons"

Rent arrears assistance - City Mission

Domestic Violence Legal Helpline

Domestic Violence Community Advocacy Hotline

MA Domestic Violence Hotline

Fresh produce delivery

RAFT & ERMA housing programs

HomeBASE

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter

Boston Children's Museum Resources

WGBH PreK-12 Distance Learning

Boston Public Schools chromebooks

Prescription Discount Cards

MassHealth COVID policy

Student Loan Payments

Mutual Aid Networks

United Way COVID-19 Family Fund

If you are unable to afford your bills

Tips for paying bills

Comcast - 2 Months of Free Internet

Childcare Financial Assistance

Food Pantries

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline

Apply for SNAP Benefits (food stamps)

Community Resources for Mental Health

Tips from CDC on Managing Stress/Anxiety

"Isle of Calm" Playlist

Managing Stress/Anxiety for Children & Teens

Domestic Violence Support

Protection from Utility Shutoff