Week of April 27 - COVID-19 Update & Resources

Friends,

As we continue to adapt to these new social norms, it's critical that we up-to-date on accurate and updated information. In this week's issue of our COVID-19 Newsletter, you will find information regarding free meal sites, tenant/ immigrant protections, unemployment assistance, small business assistance, and much more.

As of Monday, April 27th, the number of total cases is 7,910, the number of recovered cases is 1,573, and the number of deaths is 271 in the City of Boston. My continued thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the people fighting with the effects of the Coronavirus.

Last week, on Monday, April 20th, Governor Baker signed the eviction moratorium into law! Thank you to all my colleagues at the state house and to all of the advocates that helped pass this bill.

Additionally, last week, we received resources from North Suffolk Mental Health Association for people struggling with mental illness. Intake is open for outpatient therapy, psychiatry/ med management, intensive outpatient services. Intakes happen remotely via telehealth - clients do not need to come to the clinic. For hospital discharge referrals, call Central Intake at 1-888-294-7802. All other referrals, call 617-934-7156 to speak to an intake clinician. For recovery coaching, contact Katie O'Leary at koleary@northsuffolk.org.

If you are a mental health counselor and would like to help front line health care workers, you can volunteer your time and service by clicking here and adding your name to an active list of people looking to assist.

For folks looking for fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty foods, Costa Fruit & Produce launched a new online ordering service for next day pick up at their Boston facility. If you are interested, you can visit their website here. Orders can be placed Monday - Thursday for pick up 12 pm - 4 pm at 18 Bunker Hill Industrial Park, Boston, MA 02129.

Lastly, if you are looking to volunteer during the COVID-19 epidemic, Mayor Walsh's Office along with the Department of Neighborhood Development, the Age Strong Commission, and Nesterly announced the launch of Good Neighbors, a free platform that connects older, at-risk individuals with volunteers in their community to fulfill basic needs including door-step deliveries.
Again, thank you to our brave healthcare professionals, first responders, public safety officials as well as service workers, house cleaners, grocery clerks, and anyone else on the front lines battling COVID-19 to keep us safe. We are grateful to you and your service in protecting us all.

In health and wellness,

Lydia Edwards

Boston City Councilor

District One

Join Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, Chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee and Government Operations Committee, for a virtual coffee hour "Working during COVID-19". This virtual coffee hour will discuss workers rights, safety, and how to access unemployment. Additionally, we will discuss new resources

from the federal government, state and city of Boston. It will be simultaneously translated and we will be answering questions live with Greater Boston Legal Services attorneys.

Saturday, May 2nd at 10:00 AM
Streamed on Facebook Live
Questions or comments will be taken via comment on Facebook Live

FREE MEAL SITES & FOOD MAP

Meal sites now serving adults, in addition to children and youth, include:

Food Support for youth:

Although the Boston Public Schools are closed to students and this week is April vacation week, the City has continued to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all Boston students. Families can find a location near them here. Families with special education students who receive door-to-door transportation, can email mealdelivery@bostonpublicschools.org to request to have their meals delivered.

Food support for older adults:

In addition to special shopping hours for seniors at grocery stores, food delivery and home-delivered meals may be an option for individuals age 60 and older who are unable to leave their homes. Older residents can find a food distribution location near them here and are encouraged to call 311 or the Age Strong Commission at (617) 635-4366 for more information.

Food support for general public:

Residents can visit boston.gov/covid19foodmap to find food resources for all residents, including youth meal sites, food pantries, and more. For information on accessing SNAP and WIC benefits and food pantries information, residents are asked to connect with Project Bread at 1 (800) 645-8333. If someone cannot access food due to mobility, illness, or quarantine, they are encouraged to connect with the Mayor's Office of Food Access at (617) 635-3717 or food@boston.gov.

Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced the distribution of additional funds to support organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. To date, the Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed $12 million in 55 emergency grants to 115 organizations, including $5.3 million to support food access.

Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students and families; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.

Food resources map:

Click here to view the Boston Food Resources Map

MASS. GENERAL WILL TEST 1,000 IN HARD-HIT NEIGHBORHOODS FOR CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODIES

From The Boston Globe:

Boston is rolling out a program to test 1,000 residents for coronavirus antibodies in their blood as part of a study conducted with Massachusetts General Hospital to gauge what percentage of people may have been exposed without developing symptoms, Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Sunday.

Walsh said the tests will focus on East Boston, Roslindale, and parts of Dorchester ― which are among the city’s hard-hit neighborhoods. Researchers have already begun recruiting participants for the effort, the largest of its kind to date in Massachusetts.

City Councilor Lydia Edwards, whose district includes East Boston, said she hopes the study will help head off a second wave of infections. She said the results could “enhance the awareness that we need in all our communities: You are spreading this disease even if you don’t have any symptoms.”

Click here to read more.

CITIES ROLL OUT RENT ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATES DEMAND BIGGER AND BOLDER HELP

From The Appeal:

From Boston to San Jose, new initiatives help thousands of renters face COVID-19. But low funding, poor tenants’ protections, and overwhelmed systems have housing advocates worried the programs are falling short.

Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee, told the Political Report that even the lottery system plays favorites. Landlords who own more property, and so have more tenants entering the lottery, are likelier to end up recouping the rents they are owed and benefiting from the program. “Why weren’t landlords who live in their units prioritized because we’re also saving them from foreclosure?”, she asked.

Click here to read more.

HOUSING DURING COVID-19: BOSTON'S EXISTING CRISIS, TENANT/ LANDLORD RIGHTS, RELIEF RESOURCES

Thank you to NorthEndWaterfront.com for the great write-up of Saturday's coffee hour to discuss housing issues during Covid-19. Below is a list of the resources that were mentioned during the conversation.

For a detailed summary of the virtual coffee hour on NorthEndWaterfront.com, click here.

Greater Boston Legal Services main number 617-371-1234
Unemployment assistance hotline in Spanish: 617-603-1530.
City of Boston Office of Housing Stability: 617-635-4200
City of Boston Rental Relief Fund: Click here.
City Life/Vida Urbana: 617-934-5006 (English) or 617-397-3773 (Español) Click here.
LISC small business grants: Click here.
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT): Click here.

To watch the town hall, click the video above. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us at lydia.edwards@boston.gov

During Friday's Housing and Community Development Committee hearing, I took time to address reports that some landlords are threatening their tenants with calling ICE on them. No one should be intimidated or bullied based on their immigration status. If you are frightened in any way, do not leave your home and call these numbers:

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins at (617) 619-4000
Attorney's General Maura Healey’s Office Civil Rights Division Hotline: (617) 963-2917
City Life / Viva Life - Housing Hotline: (617) 934-5006 for English. (617) 397-3773 for Spanish
GBLS - Housing Law: 617-603-1807. Immigration: 617-603-1808.
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights - (617) 988-0601
BOS:311

To view my comments during the hearing, please click the video above

BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION (BPHC) DATA

As of April 15th, 2020, there had been 14,871 COVID-19 tests with results among Boston Residents. Of these, 4,976 tests (33.5%) tested positive for COVID-19.
To see the most recent report in its entirety, click here.
Some numbers for District One:
Charlestown (02129) - 337 people tested, of those tested, 22.0% are positive
East Boston (02128) - 907 people tested, of those tested, 47.2% are positive
Back Bay, Beacon Hill, West End, Downtown, & North End (02108, 02114, 02116, 02199, 02222, 02109, 02110, 02113) - 1,210 people tested, of those tested 17.7% are positive

PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended unemployment benefits.

PUA is open to the following individuals:

Self - employed individuals, including gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors
Those seeking part-time employment
Claimants that have an insufficient work history to qualify for benefits
And claimants that have been laid off from churches and religious institutions and are not eligible for benefits under state law

Click here to apply.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Small businesses have been affected particularly hard by the coronavirus outbreak. The city has put together some resources to help those businesses. All essential businesses that will remain open are encouraged to register here.

Restaurants that are still open for takeout and delivery are encouraged to register and be listed here.

Save Small Business Fund:

Grants up to $5,000
To qualify, must employ 3-20 employees and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic
Applications open on 4/20 at 12PM
Funded by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Click here for more info and to apply

NURSE & PHARMACY TRAINING

From JVS Boston:

Pharmacy Technician Training Program

12-week training program, intermediate/high level English speakers, with job placement support

Program Start Date: May 11th

To begin the application process, candidates can fill out an interest form here.

Spaulding & Franciscan Children’s Nurse's Aide Training Program
6-week training program, for high level English speakers, with guaranteed job placement with one of our hospital partners
Program Start Date: May 11th

To begin the application process, candidates can fill out an interest form here.

PREVENTING FORECLOSURES ON HOMEOWNERS

As of April 9th, twelve of the largest housing lenders in Boston will offer at least three months (longer if needed) of deferred mortgage payments for homeowners who contact them and demonstrate they have been financially impacted by the public health crisis.

These lenders have agreed not to charge late fees or report non-payment to credit bureaus.
After the deferral period, homeowners will not be required to pay the deferred payments in one lump sum. They will be able to work with their lenders on a repayment plan.
The 12 lenders that will offer this relief to homeowners include: Bank of America, Boston Private, Cambridge Trust Company, Century Bank, Citizens Bank, City of Boston Credit Union, Dedham Savings Bank, Eastern Bank, Mortgage Network, Inc., Prime Lending, Salem Five Bank, and Santander Bank.
Lenders should contact the Boston Home Center if they want to join the agreement.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESS

The Mayor's Office of Innovation and Technology is providing internet connectivity and tech support during the COVID-19 response to BPS families, non-profits, and low-income individuals. Visit their website to see special deals with Comcast, Starry, and PC for People as well as information for BPS parents.