This year, Massachusetts received $144 million in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, which helps select households reduce the costs of heating their homes in the winter. Distributed yearly, the funds from the United States Department of Health and Human Services go toward aiding low-income families in the Greater Boston and the Mystic Valley areas…
Mel King spoke truth to power as very few could do. And he had the vision and the determination to inspire action that made Boston, Massachusetts, and the country better. Deeply connected to the work of ABCD from the early days of his activism in collaboration with our South End Neighborhood Action Council (SNAP), through his years serving as state…
WASHINGTON — With the cost to heat homes this winter set to jump dramatically because of the war in Ukraine, members of Congress from New England are pushing the federal government to provide more money to help low-income families pay the higher bills. Lawmakers are seeking an extra $1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as…
For more than 30 years, March has been designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation, and celebrates the contributions of women to this country and their respective fields of endeavor. At ABCD, women have a long history of leading – from Melnea Cass, the only woman appointed by Boston Mayor John Collins as a charter member of ABCD in 1962,…
This project is evaluating Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.’s (ABCD) longstanding WorkSmart youth employment program. The team is measuring overall impact, assessing the effectiveness of specific program features, exploring areas for improvement and growth, and communicating the value of the program. This work will help inform ABCD staff as well as key constituents, including youth and their families, peer…
May is Community Action Month, and Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts are raising awareness about the wraparound services they provide to low-income residents. Community Action was started in 1964 by the Johnson administration to fight poverty, and agencies have been working ever since to help folks – both in crisis situations and with economic empowerment. Sharon Scott-Chandler, executive vice president…
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Age Strong Commission last week announced the recipients of two grant programs totaling $1,276,000 to support Boston residents aged 60 and older. The first, the Expanding Engagement grant program, awarded $570,000 to 44 nonprofit community organizations to create new or expand existing programs that promote greater engagement and social connection among older adults. The second,…
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Age Strong Commission last week announced the recipients of two grant programs totaling $1,276,000 to support Boston residents aged 60 and older. The first, the Expanding Engagement grant program, awarded $570,000 to 44 nonprofit community organizations to create new or expand existing programs that promote greater engagement and social connection among older adults. The second,…
Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC), Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), and other community partners announced that eligible Boston residents are now able to take advantage of the City’s free tax preparation service. An annual program, residents earning $70,000 or less annually can file safely while maximizing their refunds and credits through the assistance from the City…
Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Tax Help Coalition (BTHC), Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), and other community partners have announced that eligible Boston residents are now able to take advantage of the City’s free tax preparation service. An annual program, residents earning $70,000 or less annually can file safely while maximizing their refunds and credits through the assistance from the…