Resources for Families

This page includes resources for families around housing, food, health, mental health, unemployment and more. Scroll down for each section.

If you have questions or need support, please reach out to Ms. Anderson-Clemente (Ms. AC) at tandersonclemente@bostonpublicschools.org

Cradles to Crayons Request

Cradles to Crayons serves students experiencing low-income and/or homelessness. Cradles to Crayons serves children ages 0-12, sizes Newborn - Adult Medium. Feel free to submit an ORDER FORM for all of your children, even if they do not attend the Mendell.

Ms. Herring will be in contact regarding orders, feel free to email her with any questions or concerns at herrinta@bc.edu Some items that Cradles to Crayons offers:

  • Winter Coats

  • Clothing packs

  • Hygiene items

  • Diapers (newborn-size 6) and wipes

  • Shoes (everyday, winter boots, summer shoes)

  • Hats & gloves

  • School and art supplies

  • Pajamas, Socks, Underwear

  • Face masks

*Sizes/Items requested are not guaranteed to be available.

BPHC housing and Food Resources

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has assembled BPHC Housing and Food Resources, which is a pretty comprehensive listing, including eviction and foreclosure prevention references.

Massachusetts’ ban on evictions and foreclosures are extended till April 2022. There is now a federal eviction moratorium established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more below or go here


Rental and Mortgage Relief


Resources


Utility Financial Assistance

Read the attached document, Solutions to Help with Your Energy Bill, from National Grid and Eversource for residential customers who may benefit from financial assistance in these difficult times (info about billing/payment plans, discounts and fuel assistance)

English_NGRIDESCustomerWebinar_10-20-20.pdf

Mendell Counseling Services

  • The Mendell partners with the Brighton Allston Mental Health Association (BAMHA) program through the Italian Home for Children to provide students with school counseling services. Read the Clinical Director's letter to learn more about the new Mendell School Counselors.

  • Check out the BAMHA flyer to learn more about their outpatient clinic, which offers a diverse array of group, individual and family therapy services as well as psychopharmacology to clients ages 4 and older.

BAMHA flyer.pdf
Mendell Letter.docx

Housing Resources


Housing Search Leads

Food Assistance

Hotline: MA residents can contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 (TTY 1-800-377-1292) or http://www.projectbread.org/get-help/ or gettingsnap.org for resources in their community and help signing up for SNAP (“food stamps”), WIC (Women, Infants, & Children). Available in 160 languages and for those who are hearing impaired.

Brookside Community Health Center

Stop by at the Brookside Community Health Center Parking, 3297 Washington St. Jamaica Plain, Wednesdays and Thursday from 9am-4pm to pick up a box of produce for free, no questions asked. Additionally they are handing out free care packages .

Academic Support

Steppingstone

Steppingstone prepares students from historically marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college. The Mendell partners with Steppingstone in supporting eligible 4th and 5th graders apply to the program. Read more below.

Steppingstone recruits Boston fourth and fifth grade to participate in a program that provides the academic tools and social-emotional skills to be successful in middle school and high school, and the support to access, navigate and graduate from college. Steppingstone guides all students and families through the process of identifying and applying to a right-fit school. This includes independent schools - tuition-charging private schools that offer financial aid - and select Boston public schools, including the three Exam Schools which are public schools that require an entrance exam. Students accepted to the program in fourth grade will participate for up to 3 summers and 2 academic years. Students accepted in fifth grade will participate for 2 summers and 1 academic year. Regardless of entry point, we make a 12+ year commitment to each student and family on their path to and through college!

  • Interested in applying? Fill out this online inquiry form and Steppingstone will send you more information

Steppingstone One Pager.pdf

Cash benefits (Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), TAFDC, EAEDC, and SNAP/EBT

If you are in Boston and have questions about cash benefits (TAFDC), SNAP, or child care, you can call Boston Legal Aid’s Welfare Law Unit at (617) 603-1806. Make sure to leave a voicemail with your name and number or you will not get a call back.

  • Families applying for cash assistance (TAFDC or EAEDC) should call their local DTA office to start an application. Find your local DTA office here.

  • DTA local offices have been closed to in-person visits until further notice. You can still call the DTA Assistance Line at (877) 382-2363, visit DTAConnect.com, and download the DTA Connect mobile app.

COVID-19 Resources

  • Link to Nurse Jasmine's Site: School Nurse Site; This site has resources for families on health and wellness related to COVID-19

  • At-Home Covid Tests: Starting March 7, in addition to the routine weekly pool testing and symptomatic testing, BPS, will begin offering free, weekly take-home antigen tests. In order for your student to participate in this new option, parents/guardians are required to specifically sign up for this at-home rapid testing option. If you would like your student to receive a weekly take home test, you must submit a permission form. Please note this form is a different form than the one you may have signed earlier this year for testing. Please check your email for an email from “permission click”, which allows you to digitally sign your students permission form. Please note, this email may be in your junk mail folder. For students who have submitted a permission form, every two weeks starting on the week of March 7th, students will receive an iHealth At-Home Rapid Test kit. Each kit contains two individual tests. We ask that these tests be used 3 to 4 days following your student’s pool testing at school. We test at the Mendell on Tuesdays. Please test at home on Friday or Saturday. If your child tests positive, we ask that you report the positive result to your child’s school immediately via phone and follow isolation protocols outlined on the BPS webpage COVID-19 Health & Safety Information / Quarantine Protocols

  • COVID-19 Testing: Do you want to get tested for COVID-19 but don't know how or where? There is free testing at mobile testing sites in the City, available to all regardless of symptoms. Visit boston.gov/covid19-testing-map to find a testing site near you.

  • Talking to children about COVID-19

Childcare

Employment and Unemployment

  • If you have been laid off, terminated, or have experienced a significant decrease in hours, you may be eligible to receive unemployment assistance.

  • Apply for Unemployment Benefits by calling at (617) 626-6800 or (877) 626-6800. Click here for instructions on how to apply.

Internet

Comcast Internet Essentials

Families can sign up for the Comcast Internet Essentials program and receive 60 days for free.

  • Households are eligible for this program if they:

    • Qualify for programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others.

    • Live in an area where Comcast Internet service is available

    • Have not had Comcast Internet in the last 90 days

    • Households who owe money to Comcast may still qualify if approved by 12/31/20

  • Be sure to call the correct phone number (see below). DO NOT call the regular service line.

  • The language of the application can be changed. There is a link to change the language on the top right side of the application.

  • Amnesty for bad debt/past debt forgiveness is in place through 12/31.

  • Families should elect to get the self-install kit first. If they ask for a technician to come and install, they will be charged an installation fee. However, if they call after they've received the self-install kit, they will send a technician at no charge.

Lifeline

RCN

Questions or Concerns? Call 311 or go to https://www.cityofboston.gov/311/ for non-emergency needs and information. A 24/7 service center for non-emergency city services and information.