Community Resources

Affordable Legal Representation

Justice Bridge connects low-income and moderate-income Massachusetts residents who don't qualify for free legal aid with affordable legal representation from a recent graduate of UMass Law.

Down Payment Assistance

Find out about down payment assistance programs at My Mass Home.

Get help with child support

To apply for free services provided by the Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement Division, visit the website below.

Access mental health care in MA

To access mental/behavioral health care in Massachusetts, call or text the Behavioral Health Help Line 24/7, or call the nearest Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC). The Behavioral Health Help Line is a 24/7 clinical hotline staffed by trained behavioral health providers who offer clinical assessment, treatment referrals, and crisis triage services. When appropriate, Help Line staff directly connect callers with their nearest CBHC.

Grants to cover children's medical costs

UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and DO NOT need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. Info on eligibility requirements, required documents, and grant exclusions can be found at the link below.

Guide to low-income internet options

This website links out to a variety of low-income internet plans, organized by internet provider. It also explains the government subsidy programs for internet access, including eligibility requirements.

Free Household Items

Welcome Home provides families experiencing hardship with household items including air conditioners & fans, small kitchen appliances such as microwave ovens and toaster ovens, pots & pans, cooking tools, dishes, silverware, bed sheets & blankets, pillows, lamps, towels, rugs, mirrors and decorative items.

Free Lyfts for Job Access

You may be eligible for free Lyft ride credits to help you find work. If you need rides to job trainings, job interviews, or a job itself, visit the link below (only available in Boston, not other cities in MA).

Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program

Some local Housing Authorities and regional housing assistance agencies provide households who have a Section 8 voucher (and in some cases residents of public housing) with the opportunity to participate in FSS. Under FSS, as your household’s earned income increases, the resulting increase in your share of the rent will get deposited in an "escrow" account. When you finish the FSS program, you can use the money in the escrow account for any purpose - examples include purchasing a home, paying down debt, enrolling in job training/education, starting or growing a small business, and purchasing or repairing a car. In some cases, you can use the funds towards your own career or education goals even before finishing FSS. To find out if FSS is an option for you, contact the local Housing Authority or agency that administers your Section 8 voucher, or the local Housing Authority that operates your public housing.

Find an affordable rental home/apartment

The online resource linked below - Housing Navigator Massachusetts - lists affordable rental homes/apartments throughout Massachusetts.

Help for first-time homebuyers

MyMassHome is a one-stop resource for helping Massachusetts homebuyers navigate their path to becoming a homeowner.

Find a subsidized home to buy

The MyMassHome website includes listings for below-market-rate homes available for purchase by low- and moderate-income first time homebuyers.