We are here for you – COVID 19 UPDATES!

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  • CALL THIS HOT IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR RENT/MORTGAGE? (more info below)
  • UPDATES! WE WON A EVICTION/FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM! NEXT STEPS! (more info below)
  • UPDATE: LETTER TO BRA STOP ALL ROXBURY PLANNING IN RESPONSE TO COVID19 (more info below)
  • RESOURCES (more info below)

In times of hardship, the word “community” means even more. While we are also dealing with the day-to-day changes from the COVID19 epedemic to our lives, we are still committed to fighting for Roxbury! Below are some updates as well as resources:

WORRIED ABOUT RENT/YOUR MORTGAGE APRIL/MAY ?

  • Our partners in struggle, City Life/Vida Urbana have created a hotline to help support tenants/homeowners who are worried about making rent/mortgage on the 1st of the month. – 617-934-5006 (ESPANOL : 617-397-3773)
    • IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH A DISPLACEMENT EMERGENCY: CALL THEIR HOTLINE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC at (617) 934-5006. (ESPANOL : 617-397-3773)
    • IMPORTANT NEWS: A Massachusetts judge has postponed most evictions in our state. Please call the hotline (above) with any questions about how the eviction postponement affects your case.

WE WON AN EVICTION/FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM!!!

From CityLife/VidaUrbana: “On Monday, 4/20/20, Governor Baker signed the Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium into law.

Here’s what the moratorium does:

✅ Stops landlords from sending Notices To Quit

✅ Stops courts from hearing eviction cases or entering judgments

✅ Stops sheriffs from enforcing executions for possession

✅ Stops late fees + negative reporting for COVID-impacted tenants

✅ Moratorium on residential foreclosures

✅ Moratorium on evictions of small businesses

Read a comprehensive FACT SHEET on what the new moratorium does here: https://www.masslegalhelp.org/covid-19/housing

Find info on emergency shelters here.

Find info on debt collection here.

The fight is not over! Please share this petition far and wide, so folks know that we are here fighting for them: http://www.housingguarantee.org/

Read more about the campaign thanks to DIG Boston Journalism!

Update: LETTER TO BRA+: STOP ALL ROXBURY DEVELOPMENT

Last week, Reclaim Roxbury sent out a joint statement in partnership with ACE and BJC to the BPDA and others asking for an immediate stop to all Roxbury development decision making until resident participation can resume. Updates coming soon!

RESOURCES

We know that this global epidemic is making it even harder to pay bills and meet our needs, especially for Black and Latino people that make up the majority of Roxbury. We are hit the hardest by this virus, both through job loss and by being over represented in those effected! Things have always been tough, but now its even harder for most! Our family at The Boston Jobs Coalition has pulled together an impressive list of resources, as well as the CDC, City Council President Kim Janey, and our family at City Life/Vida Urbana. Please reach out if you have any questions (reclaimroxbury@gmail.com)

If you live in Roxbury and want to offer support to neighbors, or need support, please fill out this form! 
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKYN_pgaErepgzxehM3OgOpNDrygqveCVXDGHfkx93oAezDw/viewform

MASSACHUSETTS CDC RESOURCES

https://www.macdc.org/covid-19-resources

CONTENTS:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation … – CDC

 https://www.heart.org/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-resources     HEALTH

https://www.masslegalservices.org/DTA-COVID-19  LEGAL

Apply for SNAP:  

All applications for SNAP must be done online, fax or mail in applications:

  • To appy online, including from your smartphone, go to DTAConnect.com
  • Households can apply by phone through the SNAP Outreach Providers who are authorized to take applications by phone including the Project Bread Food Source Hotline, the Food Bank of Western MA and other outreach partners. For a list of SNAP Outreach Providers. go to Mass.gov/snap-outreach. 

For households requesting new or replacement EBT cards, requests will be taken through the automated DTA Assistance Line or directly with workers. EBT cards mailed out take about 5-7 days to arrive. If a client does not have a mailing address or for an urgent reason needs access to their benefits, you can try to contact a local office manager or the DTA Ombudsman Office. At this time, DTA may not be able to issue EBT cards in a different way than the regular mail process. 

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-dhcd-website      HOUSING

Table of Contents

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program and COVID-19 State of Emergency 

Guidance for Private Affordable Housing Operators and Owners 

Guidance for State-Aided Public Housing 

Guidance for Rental Voucher Holders and Administering Agencies 

Guidance for Family and Individual Shelter Providers 

Guidance on Construction 

FAQ for Cities and Towns regarding FEMA Reimbursement for Quarantine/Isolation Solutions 

                                                                                                                Housing Updates

https://www.chapa.org/housing-news/covid-19-affordable-housing-updates

CHAPA is holding weekly Affordable Housing Coronavirus Response virtual meetings on Fridays at 2:30 PM EST. Please see our events calendar to register for the next meeting. Notes from previous meetings can be found below:

The Mass Alliance of HUD tenants along with the national alliance has put together a fact sheet for HUD tenants. Check it out:


LINK TO HUD FACT SHEET: COVID-Recent-Fact-Sheet-for-Tenants-Final-b-1-1Download

CITY ANNOUNCES RENTAL RELIEF FUND –

Thousands apply – READ MORE HERE (click here) – info below