Suffolk County assistance program.

Get help paying your bills, expenses, and other help.

The Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) offers Boston and Suffolk County residents several ways to get assistance with bills, rent, housing help, health care, and even help finding employment. Call 617.357.6012 to learn more about resources and programs they offer, or to apply.

Heating and Fuel Assistance

The ABCD Fuel Assistance program helps annually more than 15,000 low income households in Boston, Newton, and Brookline pay their home fuel and heating bills during the heating season. This program can even provide utility and heating bill assistance to clients whose heat or energy bills are included in their rent. Applications are accepted from November through March at ABCD's Central Office or at any of ABCD location. Call 617.357.6012 for more information.

Energy Conservation and Reduce Utility Bills

Various studies show that if you try to save energy, and implement some basic conservation improvements to your home, you can typically save 25-35 percent on winter heating bills. For example, significant improvements in wall and attic insulation, air sealing, weather stripping, and heating system repairs all help low-income households stretch limited resources through New England’s long, cold winter months. The services below are available to eligible families and individuals who live in Boston, Brookline and Newton neighborhoods with additional help provided from the Department of Energy, NStar, and Keyspan.

• Weatherization: This energy saving program was created to help keep the heat in your home, and therefore lower your energy bills, through free improvements to your home including insulation of walls and attics and weather-stripping throughout. Those people who heat with electric or oil may receive improvement to your home, at no cost, totaling up to $6,000. The total dollar amount of upgrades can even be higher, as through a NGRID Gas sponsored weatherization program, those with gas heat may receive additional energy conservation measures totaling $4,500.
   
• Heating System Repairs / Replacements Program: Replacement or repairs of heating systems in emergency no-heat situations are possible for most homeowners and, in some cases, even tenants of apartments. Replacement of a heating system will be considered for inefficient or inoperable boilers or furnaces.
   
• NStar Conservation Action Program (NCAP): The Action for Boston Community Development Inc. also continues to receive grants and additional funding from the utility deregulation process to expand its onsite services for energy conservation. The organization analyzes electricity use in low and moderate income homes, then they will counsel clients on reducing their electrical usage, test lighting fixtures and refrigerators for efficiency and replace those units that are inefficient.

 

 

 

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) has various offices around Boston and Suffolk County, and they are listed below. Each location is staffed with highly trained counselors who can help individuals apply for financial assistance, grants, and other resources. The goal is to help people pay their bills, rent, and housing in the short term, and ensure individuals gain longer term self-sufficiency.

• 22 Elm Hill Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02121, dial (617) 442-5900
• 143 Harvard Avenue, Allston, MA, 02134, telephone (617) 783-1485
• 178 Tremont Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA, 02111, dial (617) 348-6567
• 21 Meridian Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02128, telephone (617) 567-8857
• 295/753 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130, dial (617) 522-4830
• 10 City Square, Charlestown, MA, 02129, main number (617) 241-8866
• 535 River Street, Mattapan, Massachusetts, 02126, call (617) 298-2045
• One Michelangelo Street, Boston, MA, 02113, (617) 523-8125
• 424 West Broadway, Boston, MA, 02127, main number (617) 269-5160
• 554 Columbus Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, (617) 267-7400

Suffolk Massachusetts Housing Assistance

Rent and housing assistance is also provided. ABCD also assists walk-in customers and will respond to referrals of families and individuals who are facing evictions, behind in their rent or utility bills, or living in substandard housing, or doubled up and taking shelter with other families. Dial 617.357.6012. Or get information on additional rental programs in Boston.

Health Care

The ABCD Health Services Department (phone number above) is strongly committed to providing health care services that are used to maintain the health of low and moderate income residents and communities of the greater Boston area through the ABCD Boston Family Planning Program and several cutting-edge, community-based clinics and public health disease prevention and health promotion programs.

Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center offers health care and medical assistance on a sliding scale, free care, most insurance, Medicare + medicaid also accepted. (617) 822 - 5513

Codman Square Health Center offers discounted and some free medical care. Phone (617) 825 - 9660. They offer child and adult health services, adult medicine, information on Massachusetts prescription programs, family planning, eye care, and more. The clinic is based in Boston.

Great Brook Valley Health Center (508) 852 - 1805, North End Community Health Center (617) 643 - 8000 are other community clinics that offer health care in the Boston and Suffolk County Massachusetts area.

Find more Suffolk County Massachusetts community clinics.

Financial assistance for mortgages, rent, energy bills, and other expenses

One of the leading agencies to turn to is Catholic Charities of Greater Boston. The non-profit charity organization is a community service center of the main branch of the Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston. The agency helps low income and working poor throughout the area, and the Catholic Charities Greater Boston provides direct service in Dorchester at the new Yawkey Center, which is located in Somerville. They also cover the entire area of Boston Massachusetts, including Dorchester and Roxbury. Assistance programs, resources and services offered by the non-profit Catholic Charity include rent payment assistance, food pantries, mortgage payment assistance, rental deposit assistance, heating and electric bill payment assistance, gas bill payment assistance, immigration/naturalization legal services, and general legal aid and free legal assistance. Dial (617) 506 - 6600.

Catholic Charity locations are below. Call the office nearest to you for assistance, including food, clothing, diapers, formula, and more. Also receive limited financial help for medications, rent, and energy bills.

• 76 Union Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, telephone (617) 542-9292
• Yawkey Center, 185 Columbia Road, Boston, MA, 02121, dial (617) 506-6600
• 275 West Broadway, Boston, MA, 02127, call (617) 268-9670
• 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn, Massachusetts, 01902, dial (781) 593-2312
• 275 West Broadway, Boston, MA, 02127, main number (617) 268-9670
• 185 Columbia Road, Boston, Massachusetts, 02121, (617) 506-6600

 

 

 

Another local community action agency is the Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc., which can be reached at (617) 884 - 6130. While they cover all of Boston, they have specific programs targeted at Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, and Winthrop. They offer qualified individuals with energy conservation improvements, weatherization programs, mortgage and housing payment assistance, rent payment assistance, housing search and information, foreclosure prevention services, electric bill payment assistance, gas and heating bill payment assistance, and counseling.

The Salvation Army has various offices and locations around Suffolk County, including the South End, Chelsea, Pittsfield, and other spots. They offer a host of assistance programs to Boston and Suffolk area families including.

• Food assistance - Free food, groceries, and nutritious items
• Rent and mortgage payment assistance - Avoid an eviction or foreclosure
• Help for utility bills - Funds for paying your heating, gas, and water bills
• Health care - Vouchers for prescription medications and other medical needs
• Shelter - They have an onsite shelter and offer information on low income housing. Find more Boston low income housing.

Call one of the numbers at 617-542-5420 to learn more.

Allston / Brighton APAC provides fuel assistance and in some cases rental assistance. They also have job programs, employment counseling, social service, and other aid. Phone (617) 783 - 1485. Find additional help for heating bills, including how to get free heating oil. Read more.

Ecumenical Social Action Committee, Inc. (ESAC) provides provides rent payment assistance, home rehabilitation programs, senior housing information and referral, free legal aid, counseling, and more. Click here to find additional legal aid programs. They are located in Jamaica Plain.

Department of Housing and Community Development – This government agency runs the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This federal government created program offers funding to senior citizens, disabled, and the low income. 100 Cambridge Street, Suite # 300, Boston, MA, 02114, phone (800) 632 - 8175

Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, Inc. – The non-profit organization provides funds for free food, temporary shelter, electric and heating bills to needy Native American families and individuals. The programs focus on assistance that may be needed through the winter season or an emergency basis. In addition, during the holiday season, MCNAA may be able to mail gift certificates to needy individuals and families so they can use them at grocery stores. (617) 642 - 1683

Water bill payment plans and discounts - Families who are faced with a shut off of their water or sewer service may be able to qualify for financial aid. Senior citizens and disabled families may qualify for discounts. Read more on all Boston water bill assistance programs.

Suffolk County assistance programs and agencies that cover all of Massachusetts

Find details on Massachusetts non-profits and assistance programs that help people across Suffolk County. In Boston, get foreclosure counseling, help with heating and utility bills, legal aid, and other assistance.

• Massachusetts Section 8 housing
• Read more on mortgage and foreclosure assistance in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts HUD foreclosure and housing counseling
• Massachusetts heating and utility bill help
• Free legal advice in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts food banks. Read more.
• Massachusetts health care clinics
• Massachusetts dental clinics

Senior programs that provide aid

One local no-profit that focuses on senior citizens and the elderly in Suffolk County is Kit Clark Senior Services. Call them at (617) 825 - 5000. Among other programs they offer to seniors include:

• Housing assistance - If you need help paying your rent or money to make a mortgage payment, they may have funding for you.
• Transportation - For the disabled as well as others for medical appointments
• Adult day care and nursing.

The Howard Benevolent Society, which can be reached at (617) 742 - 2952, can provide reduced prices heating oil as well as grants for paying utility bills and rent.

Discounted heating oil

While it is not free, you may be able to save significantly on your heating oil by joining a cooperative formed by Laconia Consortium (Phone (781) 862 - 1943), the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance (phone (617) 524 - 3950), or one formed by Oil Buying Network (800) 649 - 7473. All of these organizations offer members lower prices on their energy bill needs and heating oil. Click here to learn more on these groups.

 

 

Foreclosure and dent counseling in Boston and Suffolk County

Chelsea Neighborhood Housing Services provides housing aid, including repairs and mortgage foreclosure assistance. Dial (617) 889 - 1375.

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency helps homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage by offering counseling and a loan program. Learn more. Phone (413) 733 - 0999.

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Inc. (phone (800) 272 - 0990) offers rent payment assistance, HUD approved mortgage foreclosure information, mortgage delinquency, foreclosure prevention, and default resolution counseling.

Boston Home Center - This city run site partners with local non-profits and HUD approved agencies to provide solutions to homeowners who are facing a foreclosure, or who are behind on their mortgage. All programs and resources are offered at no-cost. Click here for more information.

If the organizations above can’t help you with your housing or debt reduction needs, a number of other organizations are located in Boston and across the region. Most of them are non-profit and offer reduced fees for qualified homeowners and individuals. Find more Boston credit counseling agencies and programs.

Food pantries and emergency food vouchers

Contact the following for food, commodities, fruit, and other nutrition. First Congregational Church - Revere ((781) 284 - 4158), Boston based Grace and Hope Mission Pantry (dial (617) 442 - 7579), and Mt. Calvary Holy Church Meal Program (phone (617) 427 - 7596), and Saint Francis House Day Shelter (617) 654 - 1209. Or locate other food banks in Boston.