Supporting Immigrant & Refugee Communities:

Information, Relief Support, and Advocacy to
Respond to the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

Working towards the well-being of our immigrant and refugee communities is at the core of what we do. We are aware that the COVID-19 public health crisis may be especially impactful on these communities, and we want to do everything we can to provide resources to support them in dealing with the challenges they may be facing.

The Refugees Welcome! team has compiled this list of informational resources, relief funds and other individual support, grants and relief funds for businesses and nonprofit organizations, and advocacy tools. We will be updating this list on an ongoing basis. If you are aware of any resources that you think we should add to this list, please fill out this form.

Information and Resource Lists
Relief Funds and Support for Individuals
Relief Funds and Grants for Organizations and Businesses
Advocacy and Organizing Tools

 

 

INFORMATION AND RESOURCE LISTS

RELIEF FUNDS AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS

  • Information about filing for Unemployment Benefits 
  • Federal Disaster Unemployment Benefits The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides unemployment benefits to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a Presidentially declared major disaster.
  • Economic Assistance (Chas Benefits) The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) offers economic assistance (cash benefits) programs to help families and individuals meet basic needs.
  • MassUndocuFund
    The MassUndocufund for COVID-19 relief in Massachusetts is Currently raising funds to assist the victims of COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused thousands of undocumented workers to lose their jobs and livelihood across the state.
  • Betancourt Macias Family Scholarship Foundation Emergency Funds
    You may apply to this fund if you are undocumented yourself or have family members who are undocumented and have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • One Fair Wage – Emergency Coronavirus and Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund
    We’re providing cash assistance to restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers and more who need the money they aren’t getting to survive.
  • Restaurant Workers Community Foundation RWCF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
    A fund for restaurants and restaurant workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
    Grants for emergency assistance for bartenders and dependents of bartenders who have experienced a catastrophic event or emergency hardship and lack the ability to provide basic necessities.
  • Massachusetts Jobs with Justice Workers Emergency Relief Funds
    Compiled by Massachusetts Jobs with Justice for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Workers should apply for these funds regardless of immigration status.
  • Cambridge COVID-19 Emergency Fund
    Grants forCambridge residents, nonprofits, and small businesses experiencing financial crises. Applicants must be Cambridge residents – or people whose main source of income emanates from Cambridge – Cambridge organizations with 501c3 status, or small businesses in our community with demonstrated loss of opportunity or income. To be clear, individuals or groups can apply to this fund; 501c3 status is not a requirement.
  • United Way COVID-19 Fund United Way has established the COVID-19 Family Support Fund, a dedicated resource for working families affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency. We will mobilize our broad network of nonprofit agencies throughout the region to provide a flexible source of cash assistance to help families weather the COVID-19 crisis. These agencies have a proven and long track record of working with United Way to administer flexible emergency assistance for families impacted by income disruption. Grants will be made to help families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis meet their basic food, childcare or housing needs.
  • COVID-19 Mutual Aid Networks
    Communities Across the Commonwealth are Springing into action to help our neighbors. Mutual aid is a powerful way to build strong connections- we all have something to offer and we all have something we need.
  • Food Resources:
  • Internet Access
    • Comcast Internet Essentials You may be eligible for free internet services for two months if you are eligible for public benefits such as SNAP, free school lunches, housing assistance, SSI, or MassHealth; if you do not owe any debts to Comcast; and if you live in the Comcast service area, but have not had an active Comcast account in the last 90 days.
    • Internet from PCsForPeople This program is not free, but three prepaid plans are available for those 200% or below of the federal poverty level OR who are currently enrolled in an income-based government assistance program (for example, SNAP, TANF, free/reduced lunch, Section 8, SSI). Customers must show a photo ID and proof of eligibility.

RELIEF FUNDS AND GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES

  • Boston Resiliency Fund
    The emerging priorities of the Boston Resiliency Fund are to provide food for children and seniors, technology for remote learning for students, and support to first responders and healthcare workers in the City of Boston.
  • Massachusetts Nonprofit Network: Corona Virus and Massachusetts Nonprofits
    A summary of policies that affect nonprofits as well as philanthropic and government relief funds.
  • Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts
    The Southcoast Emergency Response Fund has been established by the Community Foundation in partnership with other regional funders, to rapidly attract and deploy resources to organizations in our region that are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This Fund will prioritize those areas of impact that will not likely receive governmental support, are most severely affected, and those serving our most vulnerable neighbors.
  • Cambridge COVID-19 Emergency Fund
    Grants forCambridge residents, nonprofits, and small businesses experiencing financial crises. Applicants must be Cambridge residents – or people whose main source of income emanates from Cambridge – Cambridge organizations with 501c3 status, or small businesses in our community with demonstrated loss of opportunity or income. To be clear, individuals or groups can apply to this fund; 501c3 status is not a requirement.
  • Rapid Response: Racism is a Virus Too
    The Nellie Mae Education Foundation created this rapid response fund to respond to the hate crimes and bias against Asian American communities resulting from COVID-19. The Foundation has allocated resources for the Racism is a Virus Too rapid response grant fund to support Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that provide services for AAPI communities.
  • Philanthropy Massachusetts Disaster and Emergency Relief Resources
    This will serve as an ongoing resource page for funders with ways to respond to natural disasters and other calls for emergency relief.
  • Restaurant Strong Fund
    The Greg Hill Foundation has teamed up with Samuel Adams to support those from the Massachusetts restaurant industry who have been impacted by the Covid-19 closures.  Our goal is to provide $1,000 grants to as many qualifying grantees as possible.
  • Restaurant Workers Community Foundation RWCF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
    A fund for restaurants and restaurant workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Grants and Resources for Artists and Nonprofits
    A list of national and local funds that will support artists, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING TOOLS