Action for Boston Community Development assistance programs

Action for Boston Community Development assistance programs in Boston MA

Action for Boston Community Development assistance programs in Boston MA. The entire Boston region, including Suffolk and Middlesex County, is supported by the Action for Boston Community Development, also known as ABCD. The non-profit agency can give short term emergency financial help for bills, rent and home repairs as well as other expenses.

The money is combined with long term self-sufficiency programs. Find details on programs, as well as the contact information listed below, from Action for Boston Community Development.

Financial help, including grant money for housing and energy bills

Grant money from ACCD community action is limited, with the funds used to pay certain pre-approved bills. The goal is to help a low-income family, or person, get through a crisis while obtaining long term support. Financial help, including grant money for housing and energy bills: Heating bill help

is from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federal resource helps low-income residents of Boston, Brookline, and Newton, by providing utility bill payment assistance and grants.

Many families use the services of this program each winter and they are also provided with help concerning the application process. Repairs from ABCD - Action for Boston Community Development provides assistance to low-income Boston households in need.

Supported is offered through the Heating System Repairs and Replacement program , also known as HEARTWAP. Free services of the program include heating systems tune-ups, repairs, replacements, and burner and system replacements.

Staff in Suffolk County will respond to emergency no-heat situations are also included in the service and such repairs are possible for homeowners and, in some cases, renters. Broken or inefficient boilers or furnaces and are replaced. In addition, tune ups are performed for both homeowners and renters during winter and summer seasons.

The goal is ensure that eligible low-income families have energy and cost efficient heating systems that are fully functional. Some neighborhood sites of Action for Boston Community Development offer the basics to the poor . This can be free emergency clothing assistance and furniture for low-income families with infants or young children.

Other goods may be free food, diapers, and more. The assistance is also available to eligible clients who have recently moved into a new home. There are free furniture banks in Boston area for the low income as well. Telephone Life Line Service s are among various resources at the centers. This is free wireless phone application services are provided to eligible families by ABCD.

The program, created by the federal government, offers one free cell phone and a limited number of voice minutes each month for one family. It is funded through the Universal Service Fund. The purpose of this program is keeping families connected, especially in case of an emergency.

The application process is free, quick and easy and the assistance with completing and submitting an application is also provided. Action for Boston Community Development will also help some very low income families (in general the homebound, disabled, or elderly) that can get free telephones using government grants and resources such as Lifeline .

There may be wireless or landline phones, depending on the need as well as other factors. More details on free government landline phone programs

ABCD free food and holiday resources

In a partnership with the utility company NSTAR, the community action agency delivers the Conservation Action Program (NCAP) . This electrical appliance audit program is designed to help struggling households reduce their electric bill.

High usage and a savings plan are determined through the appliances assessment. Clients of NCAP will receive energy efficient light bulbs and water conservation materials. Replacement of old refrigerator or freezer is also possible in some cases. HCA, or the Housing Court Advocacy program

is part of the services available. The Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department's provide resources that runs it. Eligible households living in Boston are entitled to use the services that will help them prevent eviction, help people maintain their tenancy, and understand their tenant’s rights and responsibilities.

ABCD self-sufficiency programs

The HCA program staff advocates for tenants before and during court proceedings in order to educate them on their rights and responsibilities. It is a form of legal aid to ensure their laws are observed in the courtroom and to support them during mediation with a landlord. Additionally, they provide clients with external resources to help maintain their tenancy, including referrals to rental assistance in Middlesex County and Boston.

Stabilization Program provides an 18-month service of dedicated case management to eligible clients who have transferred from shelter living to permanent housing. The program is administrated by ABCD's Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department.

Counseling and resources are available in order to prevent falling back into homelessness during the transition of families from the shelter system. This program gives families ongoing support services to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Eligible clients receive assistance customized to their needs so they can maintain their tenancy by helping with educational goals and classes for job skills development. As well as offering money management. ABCD provides emergency financial assistance and counseling services to Boston homeowners facing foreclosure via the Mattapan Family Service Center.

Individualized credit counseling services are attainable for qualified clients, as well as education on financial management skills related to monthly budgeting, credit card interest analysis, and saving techniques. The goal of the program is on reducing foreclosure rates through a various number of prevention, mortgage resources and stabilization services.

Financial and housing related education is provided through foreclosure prevention workshops so the families in risk of losing their homes could keep their residence. In addition, workshops on foreclosure prevention and legal rights, with following topics are also available Budgeting, Mortgages, and how to avoid fraud and predatory loans.

Low-income, uninsured clients and their families are entitled to the services of the: MassHealth insurance application. The first step for applying for the program is completing and submitting the MassHealth application at a Suffolk or Middlesex County center.

Eligibility will be determined by ABCD staff and many income verification components are considered. Next, a follow-up support is provided to ensure that all eligible applicants obtain their needed health insurance and medical needs.

MassHealth is the state’s version of Medicaid and CHIP, which is free health care for the poor/low income as well as assistance for children. There are both hospitals as well as free community clinics across Massachusetts as well as Middlesex and Suffolk County. They offer free or low cost (sliding fee) health or dental care, including immunizations, dental cleanings, medications and many other services.

Find locations of free community clinics in Massachusetts

Contact information for ABCD assistance programs

In a partnership with the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) as well as the Department of Housing and Community Development, Action for Boston Community Development offers Job development services

to eligible Boston residents. All applicants need to be enrolled in the HomeBASE Rental Assistance in order to be eligible for this program.

The aim is to help prevent clients from returning to shelter or becoming homeless. Another objective is helping them gain employable skills for finding and maintaining employment. Some of the services provided by the HomeBASE Self-Sufficiency Program are Career Readiness Skills; Job Skills Training Program Enrollments; Resume Assistance; Cover Letter Assistance; Career Action Plan Development; information on Career and Job Fairs; Counseling; Job Search Assistance; Interview Skills; and feedback on Job Placement.

Shelter, information on rent help , and more is from the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department. The location provides shelter housing units to homeless families. Referral from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is required in order to apply for this assistance.

Eligible clients for the services of this Boston program are two-parent families, single moms, single fathers raising children, larger families, and those with special needs. Once the eligibility is determined, the client receives assistance from ABCD staff in adjusting to their shelter placement.

It will ideally help families achieve self-sufficiency by obtaining permanent and affordable housing.

Weatherization Assistance Program

from Action for Boston Community Development provides help to low-income, senior, and disabled households with their energy bills. They can save money on their heating costs through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The goal of the program is to lower energy bills for consumers and protect the environment.

This program helps qualified clients to reduce heating expenses by as much as 25% per year. The improvement assistance of $4,500 or in some cases even more is available to households who use or electric heat and all the services are free.

Those with gas heat may receive conservation measures totaling thousands of dollars, based on federal funding. ABCD free food and holiday resources: Emergency food pantry services are available to eligible seniors and local needy and unemployed families throughout various location of ABCD. Participati