Resources
IMPORTANT: Know Your Rights
Covid-19 Rights (English): https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-ago-resource-flyer/download
Covid-19 Rights (Arabic): https://www.mass.gov/doc/arabic-ago-resource-flyer/download
Covid-19 Rights (Espanol): https://www.mass.gov/doc/spanish-ago-resource-flyer/download
Greater Boston Legal Services: 617-603-1807 or see here. Accredited lawyers and legal assistance for ANYONE.
Lawyers for Civil Rights: 617-482-1145 or see here. Accredited lawyers and legal assistance for ANYONE.
In response to this housing emergency, we are launching a new pro bono initiative to connect those who need help paying rent and housing expenses with volunteers who can help complete an application for RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition), and for the City of Boston’s Rental Relief Fund. As part of this critical housing work, we will work closely with all our community allies and partners, including Metro Housing | Boston and CityLife/VidaUrbana.
Center for Disease Control:
Qué hacer si contrae la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (espanol)
Lo que necesita saber sobre la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (espanol)
What is Social Distancing?
Important Action:
Ley Familias Primero de Respuesta al Coronavirus (FFCRA):Click here
LEY FAMILIAS PRIMERO DE RESPUESTA AL CORONAVIRUS: DERECHOS DEL EMPLEADO SOBRE LICENCIA LABORAL PAGADA: Click here
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights: Click here
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers: Click here
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about Covid-19: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
Unemployment (desempleo):
English: https://www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online
Espanol: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/dua-espanol-spanish
Assistance with Online Application / Asistencia con Reclamo En Línea
Assistance with Lawyers for Civil Rights: Application for Assistance with Unemployment
The RAFT Program is a homelessness prevention program funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). RAFT provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. RAFT offers flexible financial assistance designed to meet each family’s particular needs. Eligible uses include:
moving cost assistance
rent and utility arrears
rental stipends
utility bills.
helps families who must move but do not have enough money to pay a security deposit, utility startup costs, or first/last month’s rent, and furniture (no more than $1000 of the family’s can be paid for furniture).
Families cannot get more than $4000 within a 12-month period.
Housing:
The Office of Housing Stability is available to answer questions, has basic information on their website, and fact sheets in several languages - boston.gov/housingstability
Moratorium en Espanol
Moratorium em Portuguese
Moratorium in English
I am a tenant. How does this law protect me?
Your landlord is not allowed to send you any eviction notices. They must not send you a:
Notice to Quit,
14-day notice,
30-day notice,
Notice to vacate, or
Any other kind of notice that says you must move out.
Landlords cannot file any new eviction cases in court, including:
Non-payment of rent, or
No-fault/no cause.
Tenants must provide documentation that non-payment was related to COVID-19 within 30 days of missing payment.
The moratorium is in effect until October 18, 2020 or until 45 days after the Governor lifts the state of emergency, whichever comes first. The Governor can extend the end date of the moratorium so that it does not end before the end of the state of emergency.
Boston residents can also submit a rental assistance request with City Mission, who are offering one-time grants for back rent. Apply here. Los residentes de Boston también pueden presentar una solicitud de asistencia para pagar la renta con City Mission, quienes otorgan subvenciones para los que no pueden pagar la renta. Aplicar aquí.
Landlords in MA cannot evict tenants without a court process, regardless of the motivation for wanting them to vacate. Because of the moratorium, landlords cannot initiate a no-cause court process right now. Families will be protected until at least 45 days after the end of the state of emergency and at that point the landlord would still need to follow due process by sending a 30 day Notice to Quit and only then initiating a court process, during which a court will decide when the tenant actually needs to leave. In some no-cause cases, tenants may be given several months for housing search, as long as rent is paid and no other lease violation issues exist. Please call for assistance in Housing, City of Boston , Office of Housing Stability: (617) 635-4200
Utilities:
Eversource: https://www.eversource.com/content/ema-c/residential/safety/protect-yourself/responding-to-covid-19
National Grid:https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Gas-Home/covid-19#aboutbill
Possible free / Reduced cost Internet Connections:
Verizon has already provided their data usage customers with an additional 15g hotspot.
AT&T has an entire web page dedicated to covid 19 questions
T Mobile Provide unlimited smartphone data until May 13th / 20GB hotspot access no extra cost
Sprint 20 GB hotspot access at no extra cost
Testing:
EBNHC is now offering COVID-19 testing seven days a week to community residents who have flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive. Call 617-569-5800 to ask about screening and testing.
Food / Medication:
East Boston Neighborhood Resource and Wellness Center 617-568-4845 (grocery and medicine delivery)
Boston Free Meals for Adults: East Boston YMCA 8am-12pm (Monday through Friday)
The City of Boston is offering deliveries of fresh fruits and vegetables to your home, at no cost to you. You can receive a free box of food if:
You are unable to leave your home due to illness, quarantine, or disability
You are at high risk for COVID-19 and do not have access to food
You have children under the age of 18 / seniors at home over the age of 65
To apply, send an email to: food@boston.gov.
City of Boston Meal Sites
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry:
Crossroads Family Center · 56 Havre Street · East Boston · MA 02128 · 617-567-5926
Open every Sunday and Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
Each household may pick up food every two weeks or no more than twice a month.
To register for the food pantry, please arrive at the pantry between 3:30-4:00PM when staff will have the most time to assist you. You will be asked to fill out a registration form and to show a photo ID and proof of East Boston address (a piece of mail, lease, letter from a doctor, etc.).
If you have questions about these policies, please contact Food Services Coordinator, Maria Ramirez, at (617) 567-5926 ext.15.
City of Boston Updates:
Updates in 10 total languages can additionally be accessed through boston.gov/coronavirus#multilingual-help.
Arabic: boston.gov/covid-19-ar
Cabo Verdean Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-cv
Simplified Chinese: boston.gov/covid-19-zh
Spanish: boston.gov/covid-19-es
Somali: boston.gov/covid-19-so
Russian: boston.gov/covid-19-ru
Vietnamese: boston.gov/covid-19-vi
French: boston.gov/covid-19-fr
Portuguese (Brazil): boston.gov/covid-19-pt
Haitian Creole: boston.gov/covid-19-hc