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.

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.

Health Care
The ABCD Health Services Department 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.