Category: News
Massachusetts woman says storage bills eat up her Social Security after she lost her housing
Marylyn Johnson, 75, spends her time helping care for preschoolers at a Head Start program in Dorchester, Massachusetts, where she is known as “Mema.” Widely recognized as the volunteer in purple, Johnson has now told local media that storage bills for her belongings have been eating into the Social Security she depends on. This comes after the loss of her…
CityLine: Energy relief, affordable housing, and remembering Jim Boyd
This week on CityLine: Massachusetts is among the most expensive states in the country. As winter approaches, many families are bracing for sky-high energy bills. Sharon Scott-Chandler, President and CEO of ABCD, outlines the many tools helping people keep their heat on.
State seeing heavy interest in middle-income heating aid
Thousands of Bay Staters have already registered their interest in applying to a new home heating oil assistance program that the governor unveiled this month, a state housing official said Wednesday. Roughly 50,000 middle-income households are expected to qualify and receive a one-time benefit of up to $680 for heating oil, under an initiative designed to help families who typically…
‘Something’s gotta give’: Foster grandma struggles with her own housing crisis
For years, Marylyn Johnson has been a familiar face at a Dorchester Head Start program. Known affectionately as “Mema,” the 75-year-old spends her days helping care for preschoolers through the Foster Grandparent Program run by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). Parents know her by name, as she said children talk about her when they go home. “I’ve got so…
With colder weather approaching and high oil prices already here, Massachusetts families are increasingly seeking financial help for their energy bills, as the state prepares to launch a new relief program aimed at expanding assistance to middle-income households. Earlier this month, Gov. Maura Healey announced $15 million in supplemental funding for the existing federal Home Energy Assistance Program, along with…
Doc Rivers talks about NEW LOOK Celtics after shakeup in offseason
Doc Rivers sat down with Kayla Burton for an exclusive interview where the Former Celtics head coach talked about his annual ABCD Hoop Dreams tournament. Rivers also talked about the Celtics upcoming season. He also talked about Paul George’s fit on the Celtics, since Rivers had experience coaching George in Philadelphia. Listen: https://can.siriusxm.com/player/episode-podcast/entity/089dca4b-eb2b-3cfc-8200-bde3fc0b7bfe
Rising food costs are squeezing Boston families. Here’s how they’re coping
For Betty, a Dorchester mother raising her young son on a fixed income, help from nonprofits and community organizations has become essential to keeping food on the table. By the time she arrived late morning, the shelves inside the Dorchester Community Fridge were nearly empty. “Oh my goodness, they did get in here,” Betty said as she looked through the…
Governor announces new utility bill relief programs
On Monday, October 5, Governor Maura Healey held a press conference at the Connolly Center to announce new actions to help Massachusetts families lower their utility bills this winter. She was joined by former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, Mayor Robert J. Van Campen and representatives of Citizens Energy and Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). Governor Healey declared a State…