In addition to AIDS Action’s Rental and Utility Assistance Programs which offer short-term support for people who are HIV-positive, there are numerous other options for rental and utility assistance throughout the state. This includes:
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and HomeBASE – two major state emergency rental assistance programs administered by the Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCEC).
- Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Homelessness Prevention and Rapid-Rehousing programs – federally-funded programs to assist households who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless through 2-6 months of rental assistance and supportive services
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – the federally-funded program to help eligible low-income households with winter heating bills, administered by Massachusetts’s Community Action Agencies.
- CPA-funded town-wide emergency rental assistance programs
- Other smaller state and federal programs, as well as independent organizations and community funds
These programs are administered by service agencies all over the state, many of whom also offer housing and utility advocacy and case management. Most agencies provide assistance within a limited service area. We have created the resource below to aid in locating and connecting with rental and utility assistance programs. To browse programs, select a county from the drop-down menu.
| Organization | County | Towns Served | Services Provided | Eligibility Notes | Phone Number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Positive Place | Hampshire | Towns in Hamsphire County and surrounding areas | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | People living with HIV/AIDS | (413) 586-8288 | (here) |
| ABCD - main (downtown Boston) | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 348-6000 | (here) |
| ABCD - Allston-Brighton | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 903-3640 | (here) |
| ABCD - Asian-American Civic Assoc. | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 426-9492 | (here) |
| ABCD - Dorchester | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 288-2700 | (here) |
| ABCD - East Boston | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 567-8857 | (here) |
| ABCD - Jamaica Plain | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 522-4250 | (here) |
| ABCD - JFK Center (Charlestown) | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 241-8866 | (here) |
| ABCD - Mattapan | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 298-2045x245 | (here) |
| ABCD - Mystic Valley | Middlesex | Malden, Medford, Everett | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (781) 321-2501 | (here) |
| ABCD - North End/West End | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 523-8125 | (here) |
| ABCD - Parker Hill/Fenway | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 445-6000 | (here) |
| ABCD - Roxbury/N. Dorchester | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 442-5900 | (here) |
| ABCD - S. Side (Roslindale, W. Roxbury) | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 327-1152 | (here) |
| ABCD - South Boston | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 269-5160 | (here) |
| ABCD - South End | Suffolk | Boston | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | (617) 267-7400 | (here) |
| Action, Inc. (Gloucester) | Essex | Towns of Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Rockport, Wenham | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | residency, specifics vary by program | (978) 282-1000 | (here) |
| AIDS Project Worcester | Worcester | Call for service area by program | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | HIV+, income below 50% AMI, proof of unit occupancy | (508) 755-3773 | (here) |
| Berkshire Community Action Council | Berkshire | All towns in Berkshire County | utility assistance; utility advocacy | residency | (413) 445-4503 | (here) |
| Black and Pink, MA | Statewide | all | rental assistance; utility assistance | justice involved/formerly or currently incarcerated, LGBTQIA+ or HIV+ | (here) | |
| Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. | Plymouth; Norfolk; Bristol; Worcester | Towns in Norfolk and Plymouth counties, northern Bristol County, central Worcester county | case management; housing advocacy | low-income, health-focused (mental, physical, behavioral +) | (508) 580-8700 | (here) |
| Brookline Center for Community Mental Health | Norfolk | Brookline, Newton, Waltham, Watertown | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance | (617) 277-8107 | (here) | |
| Cape Cod Council of Churches | Barnstable | Barnstable, Dennis, Harwich, Mashpee, and Yarmouth | case management | low-income families, residency, must have an eviction notice and be able to retain tenancy if given short-term assistance, must also coordinate with additional sources of rental assistance (Cape Cod Needy Fund, St. Vincent de Paul, HAC) to ensure that assistance is sufficient to retain tenancy, will not provide assistance to individuals on a fixed income (SSI) | (508) 432-1312 | (here) |
| Cape Cod Times Needy Fund | Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket | Towns in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties | utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency, emergency situation | (508) 778-5661 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities - Dorchester | Suffolk | Boston | case management; housing advocacy; rental assistance | youth & families (all faiths served) | (617) 506-6600 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities - Lowell / Merrimack Valley | Essex; Middlesex | Towns in northern and eastern Essex County, northern Middlesex County (see website for full list) | case management; housing advocacy; rental assistance | youth & families (all faiths served) | (978) 452-1421 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities - South Boston (Laboure Center) | Suffolk | Boston | case management; housing advocacy; rental assistance | youth & families | (617) 268-9670 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities North - Lynn | Suffolk; Essex; Middlesex | Towns in northern Suffolk County, southern Essex County, and eastern Middlesex County (see website for full list) | case management; housing advocacy; rental assistance | youth & families (all faiths served) | (781) 593-2312 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities of Worcester County - Greater Milford | Worcester | Whitinsville, Northbridge, Sutton, Douglas, Uxbridge, Grafton, Upton, Millville, Blackstone, Mendon, Hopedale, Milford | case management; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 234-3800 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities of Worcester County - Leominster | Worcester | Leominster, Fitchburg, Sterling, Lunenburg, Lancaster, Clinton, Harvard, Bolton, Berlin, Princeton, Westminster, Gardner, Templeton, Phillipston, Petersham, Athol & Royalston | case management; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (978) 840-0696 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities of Worcester County - Milford | Worcester | Milford, Upton, Mendon, Hopedale | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 478-9632 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities of Worcester County - Southbridge | Worcester | Southbridge, Sturbridge, Charlton, Dudley, Webster, Oxford, Spencer, Brookfield, East Brookfield, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Warren, Hardwick | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 765-5936 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities of Worcester County - Worcester (Central) | Worcester | Worcester, Auburn, Millbury, Leicester, Shrewsbury, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, West Boylston, Holden, Paxton, Rutland | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 798-0191 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities South - Brockton | Plymouth; Norfolk | most towns in Plymouth & Norfolk Counties (see website for full list) | case management; housing advocacy; rental assistance | youth & families (all faiths served) | (508) 587-0815 | (here) |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Springfield | Hampden; Hampshire; Franklin; Berkshire | Towns in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 452-0605 | (here) |
| Catholic Social Services Diocese of Fall River | Bristol; Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket | Towns in Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties, Mattapoisett, Marion, and Wareham (Plymouth County) | case management; utility advocacy; housing advocacy; rental assistance; utility assistance | low-income, residency, emergency situation | (508) 674-4681 | (here) |
| Citizens for Citizens | Bristol | Attleboro, Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, Rehoboth, Somerset, Taunton, Westport | utility assistance; utility advocacy | low-income, residency | (508) 679-0041 | (here) |
| City Mission: Emergency Needs Network | Suffolk | City of Boston | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | Boston resident, low-income, at risk of homelessness | (617) 742-6830x205 | (here) |
| Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) | Middlesex | Somerville | case management; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (617) 623-7370 | (here) |
| Community Action Committee of Cape Cod & Islands, Inc. (CACCI) | Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket | Towns in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties | utility advocacy; housing advocacy; rental assistance; utility assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 771-1727 | (here) |
| Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions (CAFHNQ) | Franklin; Hampshire | Most towns in Franklin & Hampshire Counties | utility assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 774-2318 | (here) |
| Community Action Pioneer Valley | Franklin; Hampshire | Towns in southern Franklin and Hampshire counties | utility assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 774-2310 | (here) |
| Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) | Suffolk | Chelsea, Melrose, Revere, Wakefield, Winthrop, East Boston (some services) | utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (617) 884-6130 | (here) |
| Community Action, Inc. | Essex | Towns in northern & eastern Essex County | utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (978) 373-1971 | (here) |
| Community Teamwork, Inc. | Essex; Middlesex | Towns in Essex & Middlesex counties, excluding southern Middlesex | utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (978) 459-0551 | (here) |
| Construct, Inc. | Berkshire | Towns in southern Berkshire County | utility assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy; rental assistance | residency | (413) 528-1985 | (here) |
| Duffy Health Center | Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket | Barnstable, Dukes, (and Nantucket?) Counties | case management; housing advocacy | homeless, at risk of homelessness | (508) 771-9599 | (here) |
| El Centro del Cardenal | Suffolk | Boston | utility assistance; rental assistance | Latinx Boston residents | (617) 542-9292 | (here) |
| Emmaus | Essex; Middlesex | Towns in Essex and Middlesex counties, maybe more | rental assistance; housing advocacy | Low-income, program specifically for HIV+/AIDS clients | (978) 241-3400 | (here) |
| Ensuring Stability through Action in our Community (ESAC) | Suffolk | Towns in Eastern Massachusetts | housing advocacy | Eastern Mass. Homeowners | (617) 524-2555 | (here) |
| Everett Head Start and Children's Services | Middlesex | Everett | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | 617.294.2497 | (here) |
| Falmouth Service Center | Barnstable | Town of Falmouth | utility assistance; rental assistance | residency, low-income, assist. once every 18 mos, must attend budget workshop for first application | (508) 548-2794 | (here) |
| Family and Children's Service of Greater Lynn | Essex | Towns of Lynn, Lynnfield, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott | rental assistance | low-income, residency, all other options (public & private) exhausted | (781) 598-5517 | (here) |
| FamilyAid Boston | Suffolk | City of Boston | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | residency, child(ren) under 18, need case manager referral | (617) 542-7286 | (here) |
| Greater Lawrence Community Action Council | Essex | Andover, Methuen, N. Andover, Reading, N. Reading, Lawrence - all Essex (some services) | utility assistance; utility advocacy | low-income, residency | (978) 681-4905 | (here) |
| Harbor Health | Bristol; Essex; Middlesex; Norfolk; Plymouth; Suffolk; Worcester | all in eligible counties | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; | low-income, residency, HIV+, need to be referred by provider | (here) | |
| Homeless Prevention Council | Barnstable | Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet | case management; housing advocacy | homeless & near-homeless residents | (508) 255-9667 | (here) |
| Homestart | Suffolk | Boston | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | homeless families & individuals, at risk of eviction | (617) 542-0338 | (here) |
| Housing Assistance Corporation on Cape Cod | Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket | Barnstable, Dukes, (and Nantucket?) Counties | rental assistance; housing advocacy | residency, low-income, proof of temporary crisis (cause included) | (508) 771-5400 | (here) |
| Housing Corporation of Arlington: Homelessness Prevention Program | Middlesex | Arlington | rental assistance | Low-income, Arlington residents | (781) 859-5164 | (here) |
| Housing Families, Inc. | Middlesex | Malden | rental assistance | low-income, residency, families w/ dependent child/ren | (781) 322-9119 | (here) |
| Howard Benevolent Society | Suffolk | City of Boston | utility assistance; rental assistance | Families and elderly individuals, residency | (617) 742-2952 | (here) |
| Interfaith Social Services (HomeSafe Program) | Norfolk | Quincy, Milton, Holbrook, Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset & Scituate | utility assistance; rental assistance | Residency, low-income | (61) 777-3620x316 | (here) |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service - Brighton | Suffolk | Greater Boston area | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, Jewish, or client of another JF&CS program | (617) 224-4127 | (here) |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service - Canton | Norfolk | Towns in Norfolk County | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, Jewish or client of another JF&CS program | (781) 419-6777 | (here) |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service - Central MA (Worcester) | Worcester | Towns in Worcester County | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, Jewish or client of another JF&CS program | (508) 755-3101 | (here) |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service - North Shore (Danvers) | Essex | Towns in Essex County | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, Jewish or client of another JF&CS program | (978) 741-7878 | (here) |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service - Waltham (Central) | Middlesex | Towns in Middlesex county | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, Jewish, or client of another JF&CS program | (781) 647-5327 | (here) |
| Jewish Family Service of Metrowest - Family Assistance Network | Middlesex | Towns in greater Boston & MetroWest | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency -- individuals & families | (508) 875-3100x300 | (here) |
| Just A Start | Middlesex | Contact for service area details | rental assistance | Income & geographic eligibility requirements, client must be in eviction proceedings | (617) 918-7518 | (here) |
| Justice For Housing, Inc. | Suffolk | Greater Boston Area | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low income, residency, justice involved/formerly or currently incarcerated | (857) 201-3775 | (here) |
| Justice Resource Institute | Bristol; Essex; Middlesex; Norfolk; Plymouth; Suffolk; Worcester | all in eligible counties | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency, HIV+; need to be referred by provider | (here) | |
| Lend A Hand Society | Suffolk | Greater Boston area (inside Rt 128) | utility assistance; rental assistance | Low-income, once in a lifetime, application must be submitted by a case manager - see requirements on website | (617) 338-5301 | (here) |
| Lower Cape Outreach Council | Barnstable | Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet | utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (here) | |
| Lynn Economic Opportunity, Inc. | Essex | Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus, Swampscott, Wakefield | utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency, homeless or received eviction notice | (781) 581-7220 | (here) |
| Mass. Good Neighbor Energy Fund | Statewide | all | utility assistance | 60-80% of median income - in an emergency, covers 1 month of energy costs | (here) | |
| Making Opportunity Count (formerly Montachusett Opportunity Council) | Worcester | Towns in northern Worcester County and northwestern Middlesex County | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income families | (978) 345-7040 | (here) |
| Medford Head Start and Children's Services | Middlesex | Medford | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | income, residency | 781.874.1255 | (here) |
| Montague Catholic Social Ministries | Franklin | Towns in eastern Franklin county | utility assistance; housing advocacy | low-income families | (413) 863-4804 | (here) |
| Nantucket Interfaith Council | Nantucket | Nantucket | utility assistance; rental assistance | 2-yr, year-round resident, employed or potential for employment, low-income | (508) 901-1320 | (here) |
| North Shore Community Action Program | Essex | Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, Salem, Topsfield | case management; utility assistance; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (978) 531-0767 | (here) |
| Partners for Community (New England Farm Workers' Council) | Hampden | Hampden and Worcester counties | utility assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 272-2200 | (here) |
| People Acting in Community Endeavors | Bristol | Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester | utility assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (508) 999-9920 | (here) |
| Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. | Norfolk | Braintree, Hull, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth & towns in Greater Boston, Norfolk County, and South Shore | utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (617) 479-8181 | (here) |
| RCAP Solutions | Worcester | All towns in Worcester County | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | residency, specifics vary by program | (8004) 881-9696x770 | (here) |
| Self-Help, Inc. | Norfolk; Bristol; Plymouth | Towns in southern Norfolk, northern Bristol, and western Plymouth Counties | utility assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (508) 588-0447 | (here) |
| ServiceNet, Inc. | Berkshire; Hampshire; Franklin | Towns in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency, RAP only for chronically homeless | (413) 585-1300 | (here) |
| South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. | Middlesex; Norfolk; Worcester | Towns in southeastern Worcester, western Middlesex, and northwestern Norfolk Counties | utility assistance; rental assistance; utility advocacy; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (508) 872-4853 | (here) |
| South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. | Plymouth; Cohasset; Nantucket; Barnstable; Plymouth; Dukes | Cohasset, Nantucket, Barnstable County, eastern Plymouth County, most of Dukes County | utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 747-7575 | (here) |
| Springfield Partners for Community Action, Inc. | Hampden | Springfield, other towns in Hampden county | utility assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 263-6500 | (here) |
| The Bridge Fund of Massachusetts, Inc. | Statewide | Statewide | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | Low-income, at risk of homelessness, referred by provider!! | (617) 454-1120 | |
| The British Society | Statewide | All New England States - MA, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME | utility assistance; rental assistance | British, holding a passport of the UK or dependencies, or child of a British passport holder | (888) 808-4895 | (here) |
| Transgender Emergency Fund | Statewide | Statewide | utility assistance; rental assistance | MA resident, transgender/gender non-conforming | (here) | |
| United Way Mass 2-1-1 Helpline | Statewide | all | utility assistance | call to find nearest emergency assistance resources/providers | 211 | (here) |
| Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. | Hampden | Hampden county | utility assistance; rental assistance | low-income, residency | (413) 552-1554 | (here) |
| Way Finders | Hampden; Hampshire | Towns in Hampshire and Hampden Counties | case management; rental assistance; housing advocacy | low-income, residency | (413) 233-1500 | (here) |
| Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. | Worcester | Towns in southern Worcester county | utility assistance | low-income, residency | (508) 754-1176 | (here) |
