Supporting Communities Impacted by COVID-19
Visit our NEW COVID-19 Resources Page and learn more about the ongoing LISC Rapid Relief and Resliency Fund for Massachusetts initiatives.
The message and resources below were last updated in April 2020.
A Message from LISC Boston:
As the spread of COVID-19 in the US gradually impacts us all, LISC is first and foremost concerned with the safety and stability of the partners we work with and the communities we serve together. It is increasingly clear that we will all be impacted by this public health crisis, but the burden will undoubtedly be greatest on our most vulnerable neighbors and communities. We hope you will work with us to identify and address the challenges faced by these neighbors including health risks and access to care, but also the socio-economic burdens they may face.
LISC is taking in-person meetings and convenings "virtual" or postponing them for the time being. Our staff is working remotely, but we are just an email or phone call away - we can be reached via our contact information listed here.
We also recognize that the work that our communities count on our nonprofit partners to do should remain a priority during these unprecedented times. If you have a LISC Boston grant or loan that requires activities that are difficult to achieve during this time, please reach out to us directly so that we may modify your goals and timeline to reflect the progress that can be made under current limitations.
We are working alongside government, community, and philanthropic partners, locally and nationally, to understand and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on these communities and have begun to track resources that may be helpful to those affected below. We are incredibly grateful to our community partners, healthcare workers, first responders, and those working to slow the spread of COVID-19 for the safety and health of our communities.
Thank you for your partnership. Please let us know how we can be of assistance during this time.
Questions?
Karen Kelleher, kkelleher@lisc.org
Margaret Keaveny, mkeaveny@lisc.org
Emily Jones, ejones@lisc.org
Tia Vice, tvice@lisc.org
Marilyn Sanchez, msanchez@lisc.org
Finally, please see the message from LISC CEO Maurice Jones below as well as a list of resources from a few of our partners.
Last Updated in April 2020.
Please visit the LISC Boston COVID-19 Pages and Resource List for the latest.
Resources for Housing & Small Businesses
Verizon's Small Business Recovery Fund with LISC -- Future Rounds to be announced soon
LISC and Verizon have teamed up to offer grants to help small businesses across the country.
LISC is building our nationwide Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund and local efforts. Learn more and sign up to receive alters about future funding rounds here.
Facebook's Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time.
MGCC - COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Loan Fund
A loan fund of $10 million has been created by the Baker-Polito administration to provide financial relief to Massachusetts businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will receive and process all applications for this fund. Applications can be found on the MGCC website at empoweringsmallbusiness.org
Union Capital's UCB COVID19 Support Fund
Union Capital is seeking everyone's help in a one-time direct gift campaign to send Visa gift cards to those who need it urgently in the Greater Boston area. 100% of everyone's donation will go immediately to families in need. This Fund is open to all Greater Boston area residents, not just UCB Members.
More info about the Fund is below, as well as on the donation site.
The U.S. Small Business Administration – Massachusetts District Office
Next Steps for Small Businesses
– SBA Resources
-- SBA Website
City of Boston - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates for Boston
-- City of Boston - 3/17/2020 Coronavirus Email Update + Mealsites Information
-- The Boston Resiliency Fund
The Boston Resiliency Fund is the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate fundraising and philanthropic efforts to provide essential services to Boston residents whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. We also working to help first responders and critical care providers.
The emerging priorities of the Boston Resiliency Fund are to provide food for children and seniors, technology for remote learning for students, and support to first responders and healthcare workers.
Massachusetts WorkShare Program
"The WorkShare program is an alternative for employers faced with a cut in workforce. Employers can divide available work between affected employees instead of laying off workers. It allows employees to receive a part of their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits while working reduced hours."
The Boston Foundation's COVID-19 Response Fund
The COVID-19 Response Fund has been established by a coalition of business, government and philanthropic partners to rapidly deploy flexible resources to organizations in Greater Boston that are working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
-- TBF's List of Other COVID-19 Response Efforts
MSGA - Kresge Grassroots Funding Opportunity - Applications Due April 3
Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance Kresge Grassroots funding opportunity for rapid response advocacy and organzing efforts on housing and health equity.
Information Clearinghouses & Resource Lists
MACDC – Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
Visit MACDC’s website for COVID-19 updates and sign up for the MACDC mailing list.
CHAPA – Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
COVID-19 affordable housing updates and resources plus lists of other resources and ways to take action.
Local Housing Solutions - COVID-19 Resources
A running list of resources related to eviction moratoriums, affordable housing and community development, homelessness outreach efforts and related resources and more.
CommonWealth Kitchen - Running a Food Business in the face of COVID-19
CommonWealth Kitchen has compiled resources available for HR, financial, and other aspects of food businesses that are impacted by COVID-19 and the precautions around it. The document evolves as new resources come out.
Nixon Peabody
-- Nixon Peabody - HUD issues updates to FAQs for owners of multifamily assisted housing on dealing with COVID-19 and legal guidance for closing transactions (3/19/2020)
Affordable Housing Alert- "HUD has updated previously released FAQs, providing additional guidance for owners and managers of HUD-insured and HUD-assisted multifamily housing. This alert reviews the new guidance and newly established protocols for closing FHA-insured multifamily loans and other transactions during remote work situations."
--Nixon Peabody - COVID-19 Guidance for Owners and Managers of Multifamily Residential Properties (3/16/2020)
Real Estate Alert -"We discuss topics that owners, managers and other providers of market-rate and affordable housing should consider as they make plans to address the COVID-19 virus."
Crisis Communications Resource
JPMorgan Chase- Spitfire Strategies Crisis Communications Webinar Series
JPMC is partnering with the communications experts at Spitfire Strategies to provide access to two webinars that may be helpful to nonprofit partners at this time.
(1) Communicating During a Crisis Webinar - Wednesday, March 18 at 1:00 pm ET
(2) The Smart Crisis Communication Plans Webinar - Wednesday, March 25 at 1 pm ET
Massachusetts State and Local Government Updates and Resources
State of Massachusetts - Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
LISC and Citizens Bank Launch Small Business Recovery Grants for Massachusetts
Pay It Forward: Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
LISC and Verizon have teamed up to offer grants to help small businesses across the country. Register to be notified of upcoming rounds of funding. Guidance in Spanish