Below you will find a helpful list of organizations in the Boston area that offer resources
and guidance to those facing legal issues, healthcare problems and housing challenges,
including eviction, affordable housing and housing discrimination.
It’s good for children. Studies have shown that living in poor quality and unstable housing can have a devastating effect on the physical, emotional and behavioral health and development of children and can jeopardize educational success. Quality affordable housing creates the stable environment young people need in order to succeed, leading to a steadier academic life and improved educational outcomes.
HOUSING SUPPORT – Legal Issues
Residential Assistance for
Families in Transition Program (RAFT) and Emergency Rent & Mortgage Assistance (ERMA)
CICD is a service provider RAFT and ERMA, serving middle- and low-income residents of Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester, including Haitian Creole speakers.
The RAFT program is designed to help individuals and families facing eviction or homelessness stay in their homes or move into a new residence.
Boston College
Legal Services (LAB)
Phone: 617-552-0248 | Fax: 617-552-0593
(LAB) provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals with certain types of cases
to the residents of Newton, Waltham and Watertown, as well as elderly clients from Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley and Weston. Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing Community Development Corporation (WATCH CDC) can email your documents to LAB and you will be contacted directly by LAB staff. If your case is accepted,, meetings between LAB and the client can take place at the WATCH office in Waltham.
Harvard Law School
Tenant Advocacy Project
Phone: 617-495-4394 | Fax: 617-496-2294
Email: tap@law.harvard.edu
Represents ONLY tenants of, and applicants to, public and subsidized housing at administrative hearings at housing authorities throughout greater Boston.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Housing Search
City of Boston Metrolist
Provides listings of available affordable housing units according to applicant's income level.
Metro Housing Boston
Provides services that help residents of great Boston bridge gaps in the homelessness prevention and affordable housing system. Metro Housing Boston provides services and resources to help individuals access and retain affordable housing, including the areas of rent relief and eviction prevention.
MassAccess Housing Registry
– Handicapped Accessible Apartments
Helps people find affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts. A key feature of the Registry
is to highlight homes for people with disabilities who need accessible or barrier-free housing.
HEALTHCARE RESOURCES
Immigrant & Refugee Health Center at
Boston Health Center
Phone: 617-414-5951
Connects all of Boston Medical Center's programs and expertise in immigrant and refugee healthcare so patient's can access all of BMC's medical, mental health and social services from one access point.
This tool matches patients with resources and cost-sharing programs that may help lower out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, with out without insurance.
Phone: 877-508-3974 (Toll Free)
600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111
Provides information, demonstration or funding for medical equipment, wheelchairs, computers, or any other assistive technology.
OTHER RESOURCES
Greater Boston Legal Services
Phone: 617-371-1234 | 800-323-3205
(Toll Free)
197 friend Street, Boston, MA 02114
Provides assistance for emergency housing situations, immigration asylum cases, denial of benefits, domestic violence, unemployment denial, job related issues and other situations. It operates state-wide intake and referral service Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm. Eligibility is based on income. Referrals service available.
Employment Resource
through CICD
CICD offers periodic job fairs designed to provide professional and economic opportunities for the low-income and immigrant communities in Mattapan and beyond. CICD brings together a diverse coalition of partners for the events. Past partners have included local trade unions, the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, the Building Pathways Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, the New England United for Justice, and the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust.
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Financial Resource offered
through CICD
CICD is a service provider for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) and Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA), serving middle- and low-income residents of Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester, including Haitian Creole speakers. The RAFT program is designed to help individuals and families facing eviction or homelessness stay in their homes or move into a new residence.
Also visit the Massachusetts Government Unemployment Insurance website for more information on unemployment insurance.