Some the resources/services below may change based on COVID-19 spread and local/state decisions around services.
Support with physical & mental health/safety
| Purpose: | Organization/ LINK | Notes: |
| Emergency Mental Health Services | Boston Emergency Services Team | A mental health emergency hotline to do crisis evaluation and treatment if you feel your child has become a danger to themselves or others in the home. Must have mass health insurance. BEST team is able to evaluate children and adults. |
| Helping Parents with Stress | Parents Helping Parents Stress Hotline | The current national health emergency is causing many parents anxiety. * How do I protect my children? * What do I tell them? * Or simply, how do I keep them busy when there is no school? Parental stress line counselors are still there to listen to your concerns and problem-solve with you. 24-7, free and confidential. CALL: 800-632-8188 |
| Emergency Childcare Providers | Exempt Emergency Childcare Providers | To slow the spread of coronavirus, Governor Baker has issued an emergency order temporarily closing all early childhood education programs across the State of Massachusetts to suspend providing childcare by 11:59 P.M. on Sunday, March 22, 2020. This will remain in effect until April 6, 2020 and may be extended as needed. Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs will be the only child care programs that are allowed to operate during this time. This prioritizes public health and safety while maintaining critical service. |
| Crisis Hotline Resources | Crisis Hotline Resources | Suicide prevention, domestic violence, and other crisis hotlines for youth, young adults, and their friends and families. |
| Crisis Text Line – Text TALK to 741741 | Crisis Text Line | Crisis Text Line is here for you 24/7. Text a free Crisis Counselor anytime. You don’t have to deal with the hard parts of life alone. Text us. Get free help. Anxious about coronavirus? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. |
| Suicide Prevention Hotline | Lifeline Chat | Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can use the chat. The chat counselors are here to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing. The Lifeline Chat service is available 24/7. If you have trouble connecting to the chat service we encourage you to call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). |
Support with food and shelter:
| Purpose: | Organization Link: | Notes: |
| Boston Food Meal Sites | Boston Food Meal Sites | “Grab and go” breakfast and lunch will be available to youth and teens 18 and under |
| Food and Meal Service Hotline | Project Bread Food Source Hotline | Food and Meal ServicesFoodSource Hotline – Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline is the only comprehensive statewide information and referral service in Massachusetts for people facing hunger. To find food resources in your community, call the FoodSource Hotline: 1-800-645-8333 TTY 1-800-377-1292 |
| Stop and Shop – shopping for ages 60+ | Stop and Shop | Starting March 19th, Stop and Shop will have a 90-minute window from 6 am-7:30 am open only to shoppers ages 60+. |
| Food Resources | Haley House Soup Kitchen | Haley House Soup Kitchen is providing take-out meals throughout the week. Mon-Fri 7-9am Breakfast, Sunday Brunch 11-2pm, Elder Meal (age 55+) Tues & Thurs 1-3pm @ 23 Dartmouth St, South End |
| Free Lunch Buffet for Boston Students | The Breakfast Spot Flyer | Tuesday-Friday 11:30am-2:30pm at 2805 Washington St, Roxbury. If you know a child depending on school lunch, please sent them to The Breakfast Spot. Mention Romilda or Families for Justice as Healing to receive a free meal. |
| Free meals YMCA | YMCA Food Distribution | Grab and go breakfast and lunch provided from 8AM-12PM by YMCA of Greater Boston for youth and teens 18 and under. Visit https://go.aws/2UdqgsV for locations. |
| Make Shift Boston Free Groceries | Make Shift Boston Flyer | Free Food and supplies every Monday 5:30pm @ 549 Columbus Avenue Updates: follow facebook.com/solidaritysupplydistro or twitter: @bostondistro |
| Pet Food Services | Pet Food Services | The Pet Pantry offers support for those in need of pet food assistance. They have various distribution sites across the South Shore. |
Support with internet & technology:
| Purpose: | Organization Link: | Notes: |
| Technology | BPS Laptops Or call 311 | Use this link to request a laptop delivery during BPS School Closure. |
| Free / Low-cost internet | Comcast Internet Or call 311 | Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect low-income families to the Internet at home. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax. APPLY BY April 30, 2020. |
| Free Video Calling | Zoom Video Call | Free video and audio conferencing up to 100 people. Up to 40 minutes at a time for groups. |
Support with Employment / Income and Legal Services:
| Purpose: | Organization Link: | Notes: |
| Legal Help | Lawyers for Civil Rights | Need Legal Help or Support During COVID-19? LCR created a multilingual landing page to share multilingual information and will update it regularly. |
| Unemployment Resource | Unemployment Resources | If your hours have been cut due to COVID-19, you qualify for Unemployment Insurance. Governor Baker announced emergency regulations that will allow those impacted by COVID-19 to collect unemployment insurance. Emergency legislation is being filed that will waive the one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits. Apply here: https://www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online |
Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Virtual Town Halls Sign up for a town hall presentation | Unemployment Assistance | The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting daily virtual town hall meetings featuring a step by step process to achieve a successful unemployment claim. They will also take questions from claimants across the Commonwealth. The current virtual town hall schedule is: Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 3:30 PM Monday, March 23, 2020 at 9:00 AM Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 9:00 AM – Spanish Town Hall Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 9:00 AM Friday, March 27, 2020 at 9:00 AM Click here to sign up for a virtual town hall via phone or online. |
| Financial Relief | Gift Card Support | Do you live in the Greater Boston area? Are you in need of financial support due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) either because of school closings or lost wages? If yes, please fill out this form and answer honestly. Union Capital Boston will order Visa gift cards on Friday, March 20 and take 7-10 days to arrive. We will divide the amount on each card evenly based on the amount of money raised. Do you know someone who can donate? Ask them to donate at: bit.ly/UCBCOVID19Fund |
| Utility Bill assistance – COVID-19 | Utility Assistance | If you are having trouble paying your utility bills, here’s information you should know. State’s moratorium on electric and gas service shutoffs EXTENDED for the duration of the state of emergency for COVID-19 |
| COVID-19 FAQs related to workers rights | Legal Aid at Work | COVID-19 FAQs related to workers rights |
Information and Resources related to Coronavirus:
| Purpose: | Organization Link: | Notes: |
| Boston Public School Updates | Boston Public Schools Coronavirus Updates | BPS updates and resources for Boston children and families including Free Lunch & Breakfast locations, staying digitally connected & virtual learning, tips for educators, and more |
| Boston Alerts and Updates | Boston Alerts and Text Updates Or call 311 | To get regular updates on #covid19 from the City of Boston text BOSCOVID to 99411 |
Phineas Bates Elementary School 