FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2020
CONTACT:
Lee Phenner
339.368.1140
ABCD EMERGENCY FUND HELPS MEDFORD RESIDENTS PAY RENT DUE TO HARDSHIP CAUSED BY COVID-19 CRISIS
Partnership with the City of Medford and funding through the Community Preservation Act will sustain tenants at risk of homelessness
(BOSTON, MA) – ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development), in partnership with the City of Medford and with funding through the Community Preservation Act, is offering temporary financial assistance to eligible Medford residents struggling to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Medford residents can apply for this emergency assistance by contacting ABCD’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention department at 617.348.6347 or housing@bostonabcd.org. Eligibility requirements include an annual income of 80% AMI or less. (Table below.)
“ABCD is here to provide crucial rental assistance to help Medford residents get through these dire times,” said John J. Drew, ABCD’s President/CEO. “Our most vulnerable neighbors are especially affected by the economic meltdown we’re experiencing, which was unthinkable until COVID-19 arrived.”
On April 20, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a coronavirus-related moratorium on evictions that will last for 120 days or until he lifts the COVID-19 state of emergency. However, rents still need to be paid either monthly or cumulatively when the moratorium is lifted to avoid eviction.
“ABCD brings an excellent portfolio of services and a record of working successfully and collaboratively with the City of Medford,” said Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. “I appreciate their efforts to help those who are struggling through no fault of their own.”
ABCD is an anti-poverty agency that each year provides more than 100,000 low-income residents with the tools and resources needed to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success.
Through offices in Boston and Malden, ABCD’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention department supports people in their housing search and provides housing counseling to help prevent families from becoming homeless. The organization provides assistance to help people navigate the maze of paperwork and procedures that comes with subsidized housing.
Along with housing services, ABCD serves under-resourced residents of Medford, Malden, Everett, and Boston with a range of programs including Head Start, fuel assistance (LIHEAP), youth programs, career training, tax preparation, citizenship and naturalization, and more.
Federal Poverty Level to Area Median Income Conversions
| Household Size | 200% FPL | 80% AMI | 50% AMI | Difference between 200% FPL and 80% AMI in $ | |
| 1 | $25,520 | $67,400 | $44,800 | $41,880 | |
| 2 | $34,480 | $77,000 | $51,200 | $42,520 | |
| 3 | $43,440 | $86,650 | $57,600 | $43,210 | |
| 4 | $52,400 | $96,250 | $63,950 | $43,850 | |
| 5 | $61,360 | $103,950 | $69,100 | $42,590 | |
| 6 | $70,320 | $111,650 | $74,200 | $41,330 | |
| 7 | $79,280 | $119,350 | $79,300 | $40,070 | |
| 8 | $88,240 | $127,050 | $84,450 | $38,810 |
About ABCD
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is a nonprofit community action agency that provides low income residents in the Boston and Mystic Valley areas with the tools, support, and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success. Each year, we serve more than 100,000 individuals, elders and families through a broad range of innovative initiatives as well as long-established, proven programs and services. For more than 50 years, ABCD has been deeply rooted in each neighborhood we serve, empowering individuals and families and supporting them in their quest to live with dignity and achieve their highest potential. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.
