Community Resources DoC | BHA Site Live

Community and Health Resources

This page contains community and health resources outside the Brookline Housing Authority that are available to help individuals respond to the Coronavirus. For BHA updates and resources, please see our Health Updates webpage.

The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) of Massachusetts aims to advance and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. To understand the needs of persons with disabilities during COVID-19, DPC has developed a survey.

If you are a person with a disability, please take this survey. This information will help DPC to make sure that healthcare providers and state/ local governments make decisions to address COVID-19, that include the needs of people with disabilities. Everything you say will be kept confidential.

Table of Contents: Resource information on this page

Covid-19 Information
Food Resources
Mutual Aid Brookline (Ask or Receive Help)
Free Tax Preparation Assistance
Employment Assistance
Emergency Financial Assistance
Mental Health
Domestic Violence
Internet
Census 2020
Additional Contact Information/Assistance

1. COVID-19 Information

For general COVID-19 questions not specific to the Town of Brookline, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information.

For Brookline-specific information, please contact:

COVID19Info@brooklinema.gov | https://brooklinecovid19.com/
For nonmedical questions, please call: 617-879-5636
For medical or public health questions, please call: 617-730-2000

The call center will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the case of emergencies, please call 911.

2. Food Resources

Brookline Food Pantry

15 St. Paul St.

Wednesday: 3 PM - 6 PM

Thursday: 11 AM - 2 PM

55A Egmont St., Community Room

Thursday: 3 PM - 7 PM

Saturday: 10 AM - 1 PM

226 High St., Community Room

(follow Family Learning Center signs):

Tuesday: 3 PM - 7 PM

Brookline Thrives (food bags for children)

Friday: 3 – 5PM

@ 226 High St., Community Room

(follow Family Learning Center signs):

Food Delivery for elderly and/or frail residents:

Write an email to Chanin@brooklinefoodpantry.org with the subject line: “Needs Home Delivery.” Include name and age of Head of Household, total number of people living in household and ages of all household members. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY.

For additional information, please contact the Brookline Food Pantry:

617-566-4953 | chanin@brooklinefoodpantry.org

www.brooklinefoodpantry.org/need-groceries.html

Free and Reduced Lunch for Brookline Students

During the temporary closure of the Public Schools of Brookline, students who qualify for free or reduced price meals will be offered meals at no cost through the district’s online student ordering system.

Students 18 and under can access grab and go prepared meals at one of four locations -- Coolidge Corner School (CCS), Pierce School, Brookline High School and Baker School -- three days per week. See the table below to determine when and where you should pick up meals:

Families that qualify for free or reduced meals can use publicschoolsofbrooklineschoolnutrition.com to place orders ahead of time through the Out of School Ordering System. The website also has step-by-step instructions on how to place an order online.

3. Ask or Receive Help (grocery or medication deliveries; phone call; child care)

Brookline Mutual Aid

(617)-651-1468 | MutualAidBrookline@gmail.com

Website

4. Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Due to the Coronavirus, Brookline tax preparation drop ins have been canceled. Brookline tax preparation sites have authorization from the Internal Revenue Service to implement a virtual delivery method for tax preparation instead.

To limit the number of taxpayers that need to come to the buildings for income tax preparation all tax forms can be:

- Scanned and emailed to us at: mail@cfmp.us
- Faxed to: 617-433-1898
- Or mailed to: 9 Sylvan Road, Norton, MA 02766

The Intake/Interview Review Sheet Form for tax preparation (IRS Form 13614) can be downloaded at the Internal Revenue Service website (irs.gov). If you can, please print, complete and send this form, and a scan of your health insurance card with your documents. If you can’t, we will get this information over email or phone instead.

When you contact us please include your phone number, mailing address, and email.
All tax forms will be completed and sent back for your review and approval before we can e file.

CONTACT:

Email: mail@cfmp.us

Fax: 617-433-1898

Telephone: 855-687-7345

5. Employment-Related Assistance

Contact: Grace Watson, Next Steps Program Director, gwatson@brooklinehousing.org, (617) 566-6011

6. Emergency Financial Assistance

The Safety Net Fund provides emergency financial assistance to Brookline residents in need to maintain stability during difficult times. The Safety Net Fund is a program of the Brookline Community Foundation and administered by the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. Examples of needs covered include:

Rental assistance
Moving costs - in or out of Brookline
Utility payments with shut off notice
Beds/mattresses/mattress covers
Refrigerators and air conditioners
Apartment cleaning/supplies for unsanitary or pest situations
Medical and dental bills
Gift cards for food, toiletries, school supplies, t-passes, and clothing

Contact the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health at 617-277-8107 (ask for Safety Net)

Email: safetynet@brooklinecenter.org

7. Mental Health Support

The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health now offers mental health counseling via online video conferencing.

If you need a consultation about whether therapy makes sense or a general question which you'd like answered confidentially or to request an appointment, please call 617-277-8107, ask for the intake line, and leave a message. Please have your health insurance card ready.

Email: intake@brooklinecenter.org

8. Domestic Violence Support

The Brookline Police Department (BPD) is continuing to support victims of domestic abuse. ALL MEMBERS of the BPD are trained to respond to calls involving domestic violence and abuse. BPD has the ability to teleconference with judges and clerks to assist Brookline residents who are in need of emergency restraining orders or harassment prevention orders any time of day or night. To reach the BPD call (617)-730-2222 or 911 in an emergency.

The BPD's Domestic Violence Advocate, Doreen Gallagher, LCSW, can be reached at (617)-730-2713. Please know that her number is NOT monitored 24/7 and should not be used to report an emergency situation.

If you don’t want to call BPD, SAFELINK is a resource that is available nationwide, 24/7 by calling 1-800-799-7233

or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Their website, https://www.thehotline.org/ includes a “chat” option if you’re unable to speak freely or prefer to communicate by text.

For additional domestic violence resources, click this link.

9. Free Comcast Internet Essentials

New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax. Apply by April 30, 2020. All public housing residents are pre-qualified.

Learn more and sign up https://www.internetessentials.com/
Or call 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376)

10. Complete Your 2020 Census Form Online

All residents should have received the Census 2020 form. This information collected is maintained confidential by the U.S. Census Bureau and is not used for any other purpose. It is important to complete this form to ensure that all residents are counted, including low-income residents, young children, and others. You can learn more and complete your form online at https://2020census.gov/ or call 844-330-2020



11. If you need help accessing these or other resources, please reach out to:

BHA Seniors Buildings

Contact your property manager or Springwell Care Coordinator below:

Morse (90 Longwood)/Kickham (190 Harvard St.)/

Colonel Floyd Apartments:

Cici (617)-972-5627 (speaks Mandarin)

61 Park St.

Natisha (617)-607-1114

Sussman (50 Pleasant)

Reyan (617)-972-5680

Springwell Case Manager Line: