A News-brief about the Massachusetts Network of Information Providers for People with Disabilities
Brought to you by: DisabilityInfo.org
November 6, 2008
November 6, 2008
For many of us, these are difficult times with the cost of day-to-day living expenses increasing - hikes in food prices, declining home values and the uncertainty of the stability of our retirement accounts. Seniors and those with disabilities are facing even more financial challenges now with their limited incomes. Mass.gov has a List of Links & Resources for those that need help in these tough economic times. The following are additional resources pulled together from various online sources. We suggest you keep these handy as you try to respond to calls about where to turn for help. If you know of other resources that should be included, please let us know at Rebecca.Olsen@neindex.org.
The Financial Resources (Possible) Fact Sheet lists organizations / groups that have been known to assist those in need, or whose mission it is to provide assistance. One of the more frequent requests information specialists receive are those for financial assistance. Beyond the regular assistance provided by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), there is precious little money available for people with disabilities. However, on occasion, private clubs / charities / organizations have been known to provide assistance if they can.
Here are additional MNIP fact sheets that may be of interest to you:
Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the state agency responsible for administering public assistance programs (food assistance, job assistance, cash assistance and emergency shelter) for the needy citizens of the Commonwealth.
The Massachusetts Aging and Disability Information Locator (MADIL) is designed to help find information on services and programs that support seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts. MADIL's Quick Guides are a handy tool to locate information on employment, finances, food, housing and where to "get stuff" free or cheap.
Mass.gov provides helpful resources and links for those that need help in these tough economic times. Go to Need Help on the main page to find resources on jobs, housing, foreclosure, home heating & energy, gas prices, managing finances, food and business assistance.
Massresources.org provides useful information about a wide range of assistance programs for people in need living in Massachusetts. It has information on available benefits, how to apply, eligibility requirements, benefit amounts and answers to commonly asked questions.
Community Action Agencies (CAAs, also known as Community Action Programs or CAPs) provide emergency assistance to people in crisis. All CAAs offer fuel assistance. Depending on the local CAA, it may offer transitional housing, homelessness prevention programs, temporary emergency food assistance programs and child-care voucher management services. To find out what programs/services your local CAA has to offer, see Local Community Action Agency.
Many cities and towns have social-service departments that may be of assistance. To find out what your community offers, call your city or town hall. See MMA City & Town Web Sites for contact information.
Additional city online resources:
Project Bread Food Resource Hotline 1-800-645-8333
In anticipation of an increased demand for emergency food and food stamps this season, the Food Resource Hotline has extended its hours. The new hours are: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 7 PM and Saturday, 10 AM - 2 PM
DTA Food Stamps and Application (800) 249-2007
DTA Assistance Online Food Stamp Application (new applicants only).
DTA is committed to enrolling as many eligible individuals and families as possible in supplemental nutrition programs.
City of Boston - Mayor Menino's Food & Fuel Campaign
HEAT LINE (800) 632-8175
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MHC)
Call (781) 595-7570
MCH provides a list of Massachusetts emergency shelters and domestic-violence shelters for families and those without children.
Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the state agency responsible for administering public assistance programs (food assistance, job assistance, cash assistance and emergency shelter) for the needy citizens of the Commonwealth.
Call the DTA office that covers the consumer's town of residence. Use our Area / Town Cross Reference to locate the consumer's local DTA Office
Mayor Hotline Emergency Shelter Program (Boston) (617) 635-4500
Homestart Inc.
(617) 542-0338
Housing Search Advocates assist homeless adults and families at more than 50 shelters and programs in Greater Boston with the complicated process of locating affordable, permanent housing. People are assisted one-on-one with obtaining private apartments and government subsidized housing units.
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP)
(857) 654-1000
BHCHP provides comprehensive healthcare for homeless individuals and families.
Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCEC)
Housing Consumer Education Centers offer answers to a wide range of questions about all types of housing problems. There are nine HCEC centers in Massachusetts that offer housing assistance, services and information to low- and moderate income Massachusetts residents.
Call (800) 224-5124 or see http://www.masshousinginfo.org/agencies/, to find the Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) nearest you.
Home Owner Preservation Foundation
Hotline: (888) 995-HOPE (4673)
The Home Ownership Preservation Foundation has a single mission: to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. HPF is an independent nonprofit that provides HUD-approved counselors dedicated to helping homeowners.
Mass.gov - Foreclosure Link Governor Patrick's administration created this Web site of resources for homeowners in response to the sharp increase in mortgage foreclosures in Massachusetts. It includes a video and home-owner foreclosure-prevention workshops available to Massachusetts residents.
Foreclosure Facts for Tenants
Action for Boston Community Development Fact Sheet
Money Management Programs
AARP MMP in Massachusetts
The purpose of the Money Management Program is to promote independent living for persons on limited income who are at risk because of their inability to manage their financial affairs and who do not have friends or relatives able to help. Most of the MMPs listed serve seniors only.
Financial Workshops for Boston Area Organizations
Organization for a New Equality: Financial Education Workshop Series
ONE's financial education workshops cover a variety of topics, including: debt and credit management, budgeting, building better banking relationships and planning for long-term financial needs. All workshops are a two-hour session and are free. Boston organizations can sign up for financial-education workshop series by contacting. Kenille Daniel at (617) 318-1080, ext. 13 or by e-mail at kdaniel@newequality.org.
There may be some people on your staff who would benefit from our MNIP training. It includes the use of the databases on-line and the use of all the resources to which you have access as MNIP members. If you or anyone at your organization would like to be trained for the first time, or would like a refresher on using MNIP resources, please contact Angie Aguirre at Angelica.Aguirre@umassmed.edu
If your agency is not yet a member of the MNIP and is interested in joining, or if you know of an agency that is interested, please direct it to our application page. There is no charge for membership in the MNIP. Members receive the MNIP newsletter; have access to a members' site with electronic tools to facilitate provision of information and referral; and participate at periodic trainings and conferences. Any organization, which provides information and referral for people with disabilities at no cost to the public, is eligible for membership. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Bass at Robert.Bass@umassmed.edu
New England INDEX and the MNIP are funded by: Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
| Name | Position | Phone Number | E-mail Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Bass | Director | 781-642-0246 | Robert.Bass@umassmed.edu |
| John Rochford | Director of Technology | 781-642-0255 | John.Rochford@umassmed.edu |
| Amy Weinstock | Director of Autism Insurance Resource Center | 781-642-0248 | Amy.Weinstock@umassmed.edu |
| Angie Aguirre | Special Projects Coordinator / MNIP Newsletter Technical Editor | 781-642-0289 | Angelica.Aguirre@umassmed.edu |
| Audrey Huntley | Information Acquisition Coordinator | 781-642-0286 | Audrey.Huntley@umassmed.edu |
| Becky Olsen | Information Specialist / MNIP Newsletter Editor | 781-642-0026 | Rebecca.Olsen@umassmed.edu |
| Derek Chaves | Technical Project Manager | Derek.Chaves@umassmed.edu | |
| Jonathan Gottlieb | Office Assistant | Jonathan.Gottlieb@umassmed.edu | |
| Vadim Droznin | Network Administrator | Vadim.Droznin@umassmed.edu | |
| Viet Do | Web & Database Developer | Viet.Do@umassmed.edu |
New England INDEX is a program of Commonwealth Medicine, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, located at the Shriver Center in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Note: Archived issues can be found at http://www.disabilityinfo.org/MNIP/news/archive
Useful information about our Web sites and network members can be found within those issues.
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