Middlesex County assistance program.

Resources, programs, and services that can help people with bills

The local community action agency, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD for short) is focused on ensuring people become self-sufficient over the long term. However, they clearly recognize that sometimes people need help today to make it thru short term problems. Therefore ABCD offers a number of assistance programs and services that help families through these difficult times, including fuel and heating assistance in winter, rent help, food pantries, foreclosure counseling, utility bill help, and more. They have multiple offices around the county and in Cambridge, but are headquartered at 178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111. Or call them at 617-348-6000.

Housing Assistance Programs: One resource offered is ABCD Housing Services. They have full time staff that are experts in all aspects of housing counseling and assistance programs. They diligently work to assist both low and moderate-income families, whether they are at risk of losing their home or if they are currently homeless. The primary goal is to prevent people from being evicted or losing their home. They can provide mortgage counseling, direct people to grant programs, and help people find other ways to get housing assistance. Find additional rent assistance programs.

Career Development: The organization realizes that job skills, including education and skill development tied to labor market needs are key elements in fighting poverty. People need jobs in order to become self sufficient. So ABCD works closely with Boston academic institutions and businesses to develop collaborative programs that help people find jobs and also educate workers who are consistently applauded for their commitment and ability to get the job done.

Energy and Heating Bill Assistance: More than 15,000 families are assisted every year. ABCD Fuel Assistance serves people throughout Middlesex County, including in Boston, Cambridge, Brookline and Newton. Grants are provided to help people pay fuel bills during the heating season. Assistance is provided from November to March of each year.

 

 

 

Heating and Cooling System Repairs and Replacements Program: Low income homeowners can get free repairs, or even replacement of heating systems if they are facing an emergency. If your system is no longer functioning, a replacement of the heating systems will be considered.

Weatherization: This program will help Middlesex, Cambridge and Boston families lower their energy bills by up to 35%. People who apply and are accepted can receive free cash grants of up to $6,000 that are used to improve their home, with the goal of reducing their energy bills.

Free Health Care: They run several modern, cutting-edge, community-based health clinics that provide public health disease prevention and health promotion programs. The goal is to help those who are under insured or who lack health insurance. Numerous other programs exist that provide health care assistance, and click here to find additional ways to get medical bill help.

Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - This is a federal government funded program. It will provide cash grants and other assistance for low and moderate income families. For those who do qualify for LIHEAP assistance, they received last year on average $1,000 in benefits. however, note that the maximum allowable benefit was $1,495.

Food Pantries: Multiple food distribution or located around Boston and Middlesex County. They will distribute food to struggling families who are facing an emergency.

All of the services listed above are offered by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) (phone 617-348-6000), while the items below are offered by other local Middlesex charities and non-profits.

 

 

Help with heating bills in Chelmsford and Lowell

If you need assistance with paying your heating bill, contact Community Teamwork Inc., which is a private nonprofit social service agency that serves people in the Greater Lowell Massachusetts area. Families can apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The fuel assistance program provided by CTI provides help and grants for heating costs when the household income falls below poverty guidelines. The program operates annually from Nov. 1 through April 30, and will accept applications during that time.

The funding is limited, and after the fuel assistance program ends in April, CTI has other programs that can help residents with weatherization and funding repairs on their homes. They can help people with replacing windows, tuning up their furnaces, or putting on a new roof.

Medical assistance and health care programs

Community Health Connections, Inc. (phone (978) 665 - 5901) is a clinic that offers services on a sliding fee scale, and it provides family medicine offering continuity of care to infants, children and adults of all ages in the Middlesex area.

The Great Brook Valley Health Center is another local health car clinic that offers comprehensive primary health care services for children and adults in the area. Dial (508) 270 - 5700.

Patients in the northern part of the county can turn to The Greater Lawrence Family Health Center. This facility provides primary health care, prescriptions and community medicine for Greater Lawrence Massachusetts residents regardless of their current health insurance coverage or ability to pay current programs or for their medical or hospital bills. Dial (978) 685 - 1770.

The low income, people with no or limited health insurance, and others in the community have their choice of other clinics and assistance programs as well. Read more Middlesex community clinics.

Somerville Housing Assistance

This organization provides shelter, counseling, housing, rent help, and food services to thousands of people each year. They can be reached at 617-623-6111. Their programs include:

• Prevention & Stabilization Services (PASS) - This component has been available since 2000, and provides rent grants to people who are facing an eviction.
• Food Aid - Several resources are available to aid people. They include Project Soup and various food pantries that provide fee groceries.

Ashland Emergency Fund

If you live in Ashland Massachusetts, a local nonprofit may be able to provide you help with your property taxes, water bills, rent, utility bills, and even mortgage payments. They offer a wide variety of resources and programs for residents, and the Ashland TAB has also selected the Ashland Emergency Fund for a charity campaign called Gifts of Hope.

Last year the organization’s helped almost 50 local families and individuals pay their rent, pay utility bills, manage medical bills and they have also even provided emergency mortgage assistance to help them prevent a foreclosure. Click here to find other ways to stop a foreclosure, or for more information or to apply to the Ashland Emergency Fund, visit www.ashlandemergencyfund.org.

Help with bills in an emergency

Catholic Charities has several locations around the county. The assistance programs they oversee range from rental assistance, foreclosure prevention, and cash grants for energy and heating bills. Call the agency at (617) 482-5440 to learn more or to apply for help. Also, click here for information on Massachusetts energy assistance programs.

Salvation Army - Cambridge Corps offers numerous programs to help the working poor, unemployed, and low income individuals. Some of the services they offer include food pantries that distribute groceries and household items. Housing assistance that can e used to pay rent and / or a mortgage. Financial aid for energy bills, including utility, electric, heating, and gas bills. Holiday help, such as meals and gifts. Money may even be made available for needs such as prescription drugs and doctor bills. Dial (617) 547 - 3400.

The Salvation Army also has other local branches and offices around Middlesex County, including in Lowell, Framingham, Waltham, the city of Boston, and Mystic Valley. I suggest calling the main branch at 617-542-5420, as most of the branches offer rent help, utility assistance, food, and other support services.

The City of Everett runs several programs for its residents. Call them at (617) 394 - 2260. While with all places and organizations, funding will be limited, they may be able to help people in an emergency. Learn about rent and mortgage payment assistance, gas bill payment assistance, as well as water and electric bill payment assistance.

Newton Massachusetts residents may be able to receive a grant to pay a one time expense. They can apply for the Horace Cousens Industrial Fund. It is a charitable trust which gives financial help and a one time financial aid grant to residents who are faced with a temporary but severe financial problem. The grant can’t be used to pay a recurring bill. Dial (617) 796 - 1324.

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, Inc. provides a variety of resources, assistance programs, and services for Cambridge residents who need help. Services include a food pantry, tenant counseling, information on utility and rent assistance programs, budgeting counseling, and more. (617) 868 - 2900

Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund (phone 617-234-5340) may be able to help the needy and low income with paying for initial rental costs, providing funds for rental security deposits and first and last month rent payments.

Care & Share Fund Inc. - Some grant money can help pay for education, clothing, medical bills, holiday meals and gifts, rent, food, and school supplies.

Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs (HDSP) - Runs the homeless prevention and rapid rehousing fund. This can provide emergency rent assistance and money to prevent an eviction. Also learn about the tenant based rental assistance program. Or dial (617) 349-6204

Bedford Town Center – An assistance program known as Bedford Youth and Family Services provides heating fuel bill payment assistance, federal and state of Massachusetts benefits assistance, WIC, family based services, and specialized information and referral to charities and non-profits. 12 Mudge Way, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730. Phone (781) 275 - 7727

Catholic Charities – Several other locations are around Middlesex County Massachusetts. Call anyone of these for programs that can help with bills, rent, provide food, and assistance with health care.

• 270 Washington Street, Somerville, Massachusetts, 02143. Telephone: (617) 625-1920
• 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn, MA, 01902. Call (781) 593-2312
• 5 Wilson Street, Natick, Massachusetts, 01760 Phone:(508) 647-5638
• 599 Canal Street 6th Floor West, Lawrence, Massachusetts, 01840. Dial (978) 685-5930
• 70 Lawrence Street, Lowell, MA, 0185. Phone:(978) 452-1421

Hugh Cargill Trust Committee – This is a trust fund that can help the low income and Poor in Concord Massachusetts only. Service and assistance provided includes gas and electric bill payment assistance, mortgage payment assistance, emergency rent help, and prescriptions and medical bill payment assistance. Phone (978) 318 - 3100 Ext: 2030

New England Farm Workers Council, Inc. - The Fuel Assistance Program operates from November 1 to April 30 providing heating fuel bill payment assistance. 473 Main St., Floor 3, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 01420. Call (978) 342 - 4520

South Middlesex Opportunity Council – Offers funds to pay rent in an emergency. 300 Howard Street, Framingham, MA 01702. Phone number - (508) 620-2300

MAPS – A non-profit agency that is based in Cambridge Massachusetts. They can provide utility bill payment assistance to those in a crisis. 1046 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. (617) 864-7600

Middlesex County resources, assistance programs and agencies that cover all of Massachusetts

Cambridge, Lowell, and all Middlesex County Massachusetts families can get foreclosure counseling, utility help, rent assistance, food and other financial aid from these statewide programs.

• Rent help organizations in Middlesex County Massachusetts. Click here.
• Massachusetts Section 8 housing
• Massachusetts mortgage assistance and foreclosure help
• Massachusetts HUD foreclosure counseling
• Massachusetts heating and utility bill help
• Massachusetts community clinics
• Massachusetts free legal advice
• Dental care from clinics in Massachusetts. Read more.
• Massachusetts food pantries and banks
• Massachusetts debt collection laws

Foreclosure counseling, debt assistance and mortgage help

Homeowners Options for Massachusetts Elders (HOME), which can be reached at (413) 443 - 7138, provides loss mitigation / anti-foreclosure counseling, homeless prevention, legal advice, and mortgage help. Also learn about Massachusetts foreclosure programs. Click here.

Another non-profit housing agency is Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Inc. The programs they run include rent payment assistance, foreclosure information, mortgage and loan delinquency, and default resolution counseling. Dial (800) 272 - 0990.

Homeowners across Middlesex County, and specifically people in the Cambridge area, can receive confidential one-on-one foreclosure counseling and information on how to get help paying their mortgage from Chase. The lender has opened a home loan counseling center in the region. More Chase Cambridge homeownership center.

In addition to those organizations, the region is also served by a number of non-profit credit and housing counseling organizations. They offer individuals a number of solutions to their housing or debt problems. Find a list of Middlesex credit counseling agencies.

 

 

Northern Middlesex County Assistance programs

For residents of the northern part of the county, in areas such as Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, Woburn, and Winchester Massachusetts, they can contact the Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. This is the non-profit community action agency that helps low income and struggling people in area north of Cambridge. They offer information and referrals to federal government and Massachusetts programs. They may also be able to provide financial assistance for the following expenses.

• Housing Counseling - Learn about foreclosure prevention programs, including mediation. Also get mortgage payment assistance.
• Rent payments - Funds may be able to pay your rent and keep you in your apartment. Stop an eviction.
• Money for energy bills - Get help with heating, water, and electric bills.

Call Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc at (781) 322 - 4125.

Food and household products in Middlesex County

Some of the options for food, household items, clothing, and other items may include the following. Or click here for other Cambridge and Middlesex Massachusetts food banks.

A Place to Turn, which is based in Natick, provides residents with a food pantry with some general clothing available. Dial (508) 655 - 8868.

Bedford Community Table/Pantry, Inc. distributes free meals and food from its pantry. Dial (781) 275 - 7355.

Boston programs

Of course the most populous city in Middlesex County is Boston, and some programs exist for that area as well. Learn more on Boston assistance programs.