Housing Assistance for Massachusetts and Rhode Island

MA and RI Housing Assistance:

Massachusetts And Rhode Island residents dealing with housing issues can call the 2-1-1 information hotline to find housing resources.

Massachusetts residents can also access resources here: mass.gov/CovidHousingHelp and visit the frequently asked questions website here, and see the fact sheet here. 

Rhode Island residents can access housing assistance resources here: http://www.economicprogressri.org/index.php/rental-assistance/

 

CDC Moratorium

Through December, the CDC moratorium will prevent evictions for non-payment for qualified tenants who submit a written declaration to their landlord. Courts will accept filings and process cases, and may enter judgments but will not issue an order of execution (the court order that allows a landlord to evict a tenant) until after the expiration of the CDC order. Protection is limited to households who meet certain income and vulnerability criteria. Declaration may be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf

Notice Regarding Qualification for Union Legal Benefit

Beginning September 1st, 2020, the Legal Plan through Regan Associates will only be available to members who have a minimum of 80 hours of fund contributions credited to the month they are seeking benefit.

This means that, in order to qualify for benefits in September, a member needs to have worked a minimum of 80 hours in June. To qualify for benefits in October, a member needs to have worked a minimum of 80 hours in July.

Regan and Associates have committed to finishing any cases where they have already made a court appearance, regardless of the member’s qualification for benefits.

State Guidelines for Dining Halls

Massachusetts Restaurant and Dining Hall Safety Checklist

If you see a health and safety problem, call your shop steward right away.

To see the full MA safety standards for hotels, go to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-restaurants

Safety standards are available online in Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Khmer, Gujarati, and Haitian Creole.

 

Social Distancing

  • Restructure set-up to encourage outdoor dining as much as possible and strictly limit indoor table service.
  • Space tables at least 6 feet apart from other tables and high-traffic areas like routes to restrooms, entrances, and exits. May be positioned closer if separated by protective barriers at least 6 feet high.
  • No groups of more than 6 people at one table.
  • Reconfigure work spaces to allow at least 6 feet of distance between workers, vendors, and customers. Stagger work stations on either side of a processing line so workers are not face-to-face.
  • Set up one-way hallways for foot traffic to minimize contact upon entrance and exit.
  • Use tape or paint on the floor to mark 6-foot distance in common areas.
  • Designate assigned working areas to workers wherever possible to limit movement throughout the restaurant/dining hall and limit contact between workers (i.e. assigned zones for servers.)
  • Stagger break times and start/end schedule times. Allow breaks to be taken outside.
  • Limit number of people in elevators or delivery vehicles.
  • Require face coverings for all workers and customers, except when an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability. Customers may remove face covering when seated at a table.
  • Improve ventilation wherever possible.

 

Hygiene Protocols

  • Provide frequent opportunities for employees to wash hands with soap and water, or provide hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Close buffets, drink stations, and other self-serve stations.
  • No reusable menus.
  • Condiments, salt & pepper, and similar items should only be provided on request in single-use portions or in containers that are sanitized between use.
  • Utensils and place settings must either be single-use or sanitized between use. No pre-set tables.
  • Thoroughly sanitize tables and chairs between each use.

 

Staffing and Operations

  • Screen workers at start of each shift for temperature and symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Meetings and trainings should be virtual or in areas that allow for social distancing. Avoid large groups (over 10 people indoors is discouraged and over 25 is banned.)
  • Maintain log of workers and customers for contract tracing if needed.
  • Reservation seating is encouraged. No gathering in common areas or forming lines while waiting to be seated.
  • Use contactless payment and reduce person-to-person interaction whenever possible.
  • Management must name a Person in Charge on each shift to ensure safety compliance.

 

Cleaning & Disinfecting

  • Frequently clean and disinfect all common areas, restrooms, heavy transit areas, and high-touch surfaces. Keep cleaning logs with date, time, and scope of cleaning.
  • Increase cleaning and disinfecting in back of the house. Avoid all food contact surfaces when using disinfectants. Food contact surfaces must be sanitized before use with a sanitizer approved for food contact surfaces.
  • If a worker, customer, or vendor is found or presumed to have COVID-19, the restaurant or cafeteria must close for 24 hours to clean and disinfect before reopening.

Rhode Island COVID-19 Resources

UNEMPLOYMENT

File an Unemployment claim: https://dltweb.dlt.ri.gov/UIClaims2013/intro/index.aspx?AC=yes

GENERAL QUESTIONS & CASH ASSISTANCE

For General Questions: Call 211 for United Way helpline

To see what public assistance you qualify for go to:

https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/access/am-i-eligible?PAGE_ACTION=LoadWelcome&language=EN

For a full listing of public assistance programs go to:

http://www.economicprogressri.org/index.php/guide-to-assistance-full-listing-all-programs/

PAYING MORTGAGE OR RENT

Hardest hit fund for homeowners: hhfri.org or call (401) 277-1500

Rhode Island Housing HelpCenter – rent, mortgage, and foreclosure help: 401-457-1130 or https://www.rihousing.com/homeowner-assistance/

Housing Mediation, counseling, and other resources by bank: Read more.

ESSENTIAL UTILITY SERVICES

The Public Utilities Commission has directed every electric, gas, water, and wastewater utility regulated by the state agency, including National Grid, and Providence Water to discontinue service terminations and other collection activities for all customers until May 8, 2020.

ENERGY AND HEATING ASSISTANCE

RISEO Emergency Fuel Program
This Rhode Island program is a separate program from LIHEAP and it offers emergency assistance to households that are experiencing an energy-related crisis, and will help families pay utility and heating bills.

Good Neighbor Energy Fund: www.rhodeislandgoodneighbor.org.

UniBank assistance program: 508-754-1176

Heating assistance: https://www.ricommunityaction.org/member-services/default.aspx

RESOURCES FOR FOOD ACCESS

Starting April 7th, in order to support the health of families and staff, Providence is moving to a multi-day food distribution system. Free grab & go breakfast, lunch & dinners are available throughout the city.Beginning April 7, meals for multiple days will be provided at each location (6 meals on Tuesday & 8 meals on Friday).
Meals for multiple days can be picked up at Providence Public School meal distribution sites Tuesday & Friday 11:00AM-2:00PM or at Recreation Centers Tuesday & Friday 4:00PM-6:00PM. 
Parents and guardians can pick up meals on behalf of Providence Public School students. Come with your student’s name, school name, and school identification number. All other meals can be picked up by any Providence youth 18 & under, no registration, no identification required.
Please note, multi-day boxes of food weigh approximately 8lbs. each.
Rhode Islanders seeking food assistance may locate their local food pantry online through the Rhode Island Food Bank or by calling the United Way of Rhode Island by dialing 2-1-1. Residents seeking food assistance are asked to please call ahead to confirm a program is still open during their regularly listed hours.

Farm Fresh Rhode Island also has a Market Mobile wholesale service to get fresh food from local farms delivered to your home. Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Market Mobile Service accepts PayPal in addition to SNAP and EBT.

Help ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to the food they need while preventing the spread of COVID-19. The best way you can help support this critical work is to make a financial donation to these organizations.

Food pantries near Providence

SNAP, R.I. Works Program, Cash assistance, other programs: https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/access/am-i-eligible?PAGE_ACTION=LoadWelcome&language=EN

RI Food Banks: Read more.

RESOURCES FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS

The Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) is conducting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) appointments by phone and is also available to help clients receiving assistance from the Low Income Home Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other emergency services. To contact, call 401-467-7013 during regular working hours or email at [email protected]. Please note that state and federal taxes are not due this year until July 15.

RESOURCES FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

Testing for COVID-19 is available to every Rhode Islander, regardless of immigration status. To learn more about Rhode Island-specific healthcare, housing, food, COVID-19 testing locations, public charge, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) matters during the COVID-19 response, please visit the Rhode Island Economic Progress Institute’s COVID-19 resource page.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency will not consider any “testing, treatment, nor preventative care (including vaccines, if a vaccine because available) related to COVID-19 in a public charge determination, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits.” The Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) campaign developed a quick reference guide on Immigrant Eligibility for Public Programs During COVID-19, outlining whether public programs will be taken into account for public charge purposes.

On March 18th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it would “temporarily adjust its enforcement posture” and focus enforcement on “public safety risks and individuals subject to mandatory detention based on criminal grounds.” For all others, the agency “will exercise discretion to delay enforcement actions until after the crisis or utilize alternatives to detention, as appropriate.” The agency also stated that HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) will continue to carry out their mission and that DHS would not make any arrests near hospitals, doctor’s offices, or health clinics “except in the most extraordinary circumstances.” It remains unclear how this additional guidance will be implemented. ICE has also suspended check-ins at their local field office (and sub-contracting agencies) in some jurisdictions (including NYC); For those whose jurisdictions have not received clear guidance, individuals should contact their local field office.

All immigration court hearings are postponed until at least May 1, 2020, for people who are not detained. For people who are detained, hearings are continuing for now. Stay informed about updates by visiting The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), calling their hotline at 800-898-7180, and checking the EOIR Facebook page.

All routine face-to-face services with applicants at all United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices nationwide, including interviews, biometrics appointments, and naturalization ceremonies remain suspended until May 3. USCIS will continue to process applications that have already completed their interviews. They will also provide emergency service appointments through the USCIS Contact Center. On March 30, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will reuse previously submitted biometrics in order to process valid I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, extension requests due to the temporary closure of Application Support Centers (ASC) to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will remain in effect until ASC’s resume normal operations. United We Dream issued updated guidance for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

RESOURCES FOR HOMEOWNERS SEEKING MORTGAGE FORBEARANCE

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes several measures designed to relieve the financial strain on homeowners during the Coronavirus pandemic. Please note this information is evolving as federal guidance is created and we will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

Please visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the full range of mortgage relief options.

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Mortgage Relief in the CARES Act:

  • This fact sheet from the National Housing Law Project
  • This FAQ from the US House Committee on Financial Services.

Bad Behavior

  • If you believe that you are being denied relief you are entitled to, contact the RI Attorney General’s office. The complaint line is 401-274-4400, prompt #1 is for the consumer protection unit.

OTHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE BY LOCATION

BLACKSTONE VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM
401-723-4520-238
32 Goff Avenue
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860-2928

THE HOUSING NETWORK OF RHODE ISLAND
401-521-1461
1070 Main Street
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860

COMMUNITYWORKSRI
401-273-2330-109
693 Broad Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02907

OLNEYVILLE HOUSING CORPORATION
401-351-8719
66 Chaffee Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02909

PROVIDENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY
401-709-6400
100 Broad Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903-4129

RHODE ISLAND HOUSING
401-457-1130
44 Washington St
Providence, Rhode Island 02903-1721

HEALTHCARE

RIte Care Assistance Program: (401) 462-5300

Prescription Drug Assistance Program from RIRx: https://rirx.com/

Child Care Assistance Program: (401) 462-5300RIte Share – Healthcare assistance program for families: (401) 462-0311or http://www.eohhs.ri.gov/Consumer/FamilieswithChildren/RIteShare.aspx

COUNTY SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE:

Kent County

Newport County

Providence County

Washington County