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Community Resources
U-ACCESS On-Campus Resources
SNAP Benefits
SNAP provides monthly funds on an EBT debit card to income eligible individuals or families to independently purchase your own food and groceries. Can be used at grocery store, farmers markets, participating markets including on-campus U-Market in the dorms. Book your appointment with our social service coordinator, danielle.nielsen@umb.edu at U-ACCESS to apply for SNAP benefits.
Justice Bridge Legal Center
Justice Bridge offers free legal consultations to UMass Boston students. The program offers a wide range of legal expertise. Lawyers work with their clients to provide the best possible services within their budgets. All lawyers are licensed, insured, and in good standing. They are mentored by retired judges, senior attorneys in legal service organizations, and partner with law firms who serve in various cases as outside consultants.
Tax Filing Assistance for 2024 Taxes
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who earned $70,000 or less, persons with disabilities, limited English speaking taxpayers, and F-1 Visa holders who need assistance in preparing their tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers will provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. The process is remote only for 2024 tax filing, you will email umass@cfmp.us to start the process. No appointments needed at U-ACCESS.
Sitters for Scholars
Sitters for Scholars is a first of its kind nonprofit organization. It offers free to low-cost weekly babysitting services to low-income mothers attending college in the Greater Boston area. Our volunteer sitters are committed to assisting mothers with childcare responsibilities, allowing them to pursue higher education and elevate their economic position.
Off-Campus Community Resources
Health Insurance
MA Health Connector
The Health Connector is a state-based health insurance Marketplace that makes shopping for affordable health and dental coverage easier for Massachusetts individuals, families, and small businesses. We offer plans from the state's leading insurers that have been awarded the state's Seal of Approval, so you can be sure the plan you choose meets both state and national coverage standards.
MassHealth
In Massachusetts, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined into one program called MassHealth. MassHealth members may be able to get doctors’ visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and many other important services.
“Obamacare” Affordable Care Act
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed comprehensive health reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, into law. Provisions included in the ACA are intended to expand access to insurance, increase consumer protections, emphasize prevention and wellness, improve quality and system performance, expand the health workforce, and curb rising health care costs.
Public Assistance
MA Department of Transitional Assistance
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) assists and empowers low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long term economic self-sufficiency. DTA serves one in eight residents of the Commonwealth with direct economic assistance (cash benefits) and food assistance (SNAP benefits), as well as workforce training opportunities.
SNAP benefits | Mass.gov
On the Mass.gov website one can apply for SNAP benefits (food stamps), Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, MassHealth, unemployment benefits, renew your vehicle registration, renew your driver's license, and report child abuse or neglect.
USA.gov
USA.gov provides online guide to government information and services to apply for benefits, get help with bills, grants and loans, food assistance, social security questions, affordable rental housing, financial aid for students, military programs and benefits, retirement, and unemployment help.
Foster Care Transition Toolkit
The Department of Education toolkit offers resources for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
Legal Assistance/Information
Justice Bridge Legal Center
Justice Bridge offers free legal consultations to UMass Boston students. The program offers a wide range of legal expertise. Lawyers work with their clients to provide the best possible services within their budgets. All lawyers are licensed, insured, and in good standing. They are mentored by retired judges, senior attorneys in legal service organizations, and partner with law firms who serve in various cases as outside consultants.
Lawyers Clearing House
Register on their website for free pro-bono legal clinics, in person or on zoom that address housing evictions, discrimination, or inhabitable conditions, SNAP denials, SSI/SSDI denials, credit and tax issues, unemployment, and wills/trusts issues. Free pro-bono legal clinics for CORI sealing and expungement process.
Mass Legal Help
Massachusetts legal aid programs put together this website to help people find practical information about their legal rights in Massachusetts.
Mass Legal Services
This program offers resources and information about legal issues facing lower income Massachusetts residents to legal services advocates and social services professionals.
Legal Advocacy Guides
Links to various Legal Advocacy Guides on a range of poverty law topics. These Guides are generally available as downloadable PDFs.
Legal Resource Finder - Find Legal Aid
The Legal Resource Finder search results will give you contact information for legal aid programs, nonprofits, government agencies and court programs that may be able to help you with your legal issue for free or at a low cost. It will also give you links to legal information and self-help materials.
Miscellaneous Resources
The program is funded jointly by states and the federal. Primary service areas include: individual, group and family therapy; psychological and neuro-psychological testing; medication management; child and family skills development; therapeutic mentoring; birth parent counseling; life skills training; community connection and integration; behavioral stabilization; educational preparation; and social, vocational and daily living supports.
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)
ABCD is an assistance program that offers many programs that serve children, youth, elders, and families with needs that include financial, food, health, housing, immigration, education, and other essential needs such as fuel assistance and childcare.
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC)
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers free, confidential services to survivors, parents, and friends ages 12 and older. Services include the support of trained counselors during crisis and in the healing process. BARCC also offers medical advocacy, legal services, case management, and support groups for survivors and their families.
Bay Cove offers Addiction Services, Adult Day Health Services, Child & Family Services, Healthcare Integration Services, Housing & Homeless Services, Long Term Support Services, and Mental Health Services.