Food, Housing, Utilities, Shelter, and Transportation Resources

On this page you can find resources related to:

• Food
• Housing/Shelter
• Utilities
• Transportation

These resources are updated regularly, so please check back frequently.

Food

• Food Source Hotline (Project Bread)
• Phone: 1-800-645-8333 | TTY 1-800-377-1292
• Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Food for Boston Children/Youth
• Daily Table
  • Affordable food; free membership
  • Locations and Hours: Codman Square and Nubian Square
• WIC
  • Call 1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601. weekdays Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, and we will respond the same business day. You can also email wicinfo.dph@massmail.state.ma.us with any questions about WIC nutrition services and enrollment.
  • Link to WIC Local Program Email Addresses or call your local office.
• Access to cash assistance and food stamps (DTA)
  • Emergency SNAP due to the COVID-19 crisis
  • The fastest way to apply is to apply online/on your smartphone at DTAConnect.com.
  • Go to Mass.gov/SNAP to print a paper SNAP application and learn where to send it.
    • Call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 to apply over the phone.
• Special hours for elderly and immunocompromised shoppers
  • Daily 6:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
  • 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
  • Wednesdays, first hour after opening, 8 a.m. at South Bay, Fenway
• Market Basket
• Target
• Food Pantries and Food Distribution Centers
• CCAB Dorchester: 185 Columbia Road, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 12:30 - 3:00 p.m., 617-506-6628
• CCAB South End: 1400 Washington Street, Entrance on the right side, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., 617-506-6628
• Concord Baptist Church, 180 Blue Hill Ave, Milton, MA, Every other Thursday, 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Drive up only) Double-check Facebook page before going:
• ICNA Relief (Muslims for Humanity), Vegetarian Halal Options, Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 100 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury (Drive up only - stay in your car) For seniors/delivery options: email kmaruf@icnarelief.org
• First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain, delivering food only, complete the Google form, or call 617-524-3992. As of May, waiting list.
• About Fresh/Fresh Truck
• Eligibility for Boston residents who are homebound due to illness, disability, quarantine, and do not have family/friends that can bring food; the emergency food system/pantry/meal program they have been relying on has closed; have lost your job or income and cannot afford groceries. If your household meets any of these criteria and you would like to inquire about receiving a Fresh Box please email the Office of Food access at food@boston.gov.
• Pet Food Banks
• MSPCA resources

Housing/Shelter

• Shelter access
• Families with children seeking to apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter only can apply by phone with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD): 1-866-584-0653. DHCD EA Application Remote Line Agents are actively processing calls.
• Shelters for unaccompanied adults oversee their own admissions processes, so individuals do not need to apply through DHCD in order to access a shelter bed.
• Boston Eviction Postponement Information
• Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act
• COVID-19 y su Caso de Vivienda
• Boston Illegal Eviction Handout
• Boston Housing & Boston Public School Homeless Voucher Program
• Boston Housing Authority Latest Updates
• Metro Housing Boston Latest Updates
• Home Start -- Physical Office Closed Temporarily
• Call 617-542-0338 or email us at homestart@homestart.org
• From HomeStart: For our Prevention Hotline, please call 857-415-2900.Massachusetts recently passed a law "freezing" evictions through August 18th or 45 days after this state of emergency ends, whichever is sooner. During this time we will be answering calls and performing eligibility assessments for when they resume. We created a brief fact sheet about what this law means for renters, or you can read the full bill here.
• Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Updates
• English
• Spanish
• Metro Housing Boston

Utilities

• LifeLine
• Subsidized Phone and Internet Services
• COVID-19 Response from Phone and Internet Providers
• Pledge to keep phone, internet, and hotspots open to individuals and small businesses
• Eversource
• Suspending disconnection of service for non-payment; Eliminating late payment charges
• Also offering a flexible payment plan with no down payment for any past-due amount.
• National Grid
• Temporarily suspending collections-related activities, including service disconnections, to lessen any financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
• Suspended shutoffs for nonpayment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain in effect until further notice.
• Will also offer its most flexible payment plans to customers who indicate either an impact or hardship as a result of COVID-19 and will suspend late payment charges until May 1.

Transportation

• The Ride
• The Ride Eligibility Center will be closed and all business will be over phone (617-337-2727) or email (trec@paratransit.org)
• New RIDE customers, will be granted temporary eligibility if medical necessity criteria is met
• Current RIDE customers who require recertification soon, will have eligibility automatically extended.
• No shared rides; plan ahead.
• MBTA COVID-19 update