Resources
IMPORTANT: Know Your Rights
Legal Services
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.
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
RAFT Learn about Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
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
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
City of Boston Resource Guide for Immigrants