MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS FREE MEAL SITES TO SERVE ADULTS

MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS FREE MEAL SITES TO SERVE ADULTS

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the City of Boston is now serving adults, in addition to children and youth, at six meal sites in East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Brighton. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency in Boston, the City has distributed over 461,000 free meals across 65 meal sites. Residents can visit boston.gov/COVID19food to find food resources for all residents, including youth meal sites, food pantries, and more. "We are working every day to meet the needs of Boston's residents: our young people and our seniors; our homeless and vulnerable residents; our essential workers and first responders; and everyone in our city," said Mayor Walsh. "No person should go hungry while we are fighting this pandemic, which is why it is so important that we make food resources available to all of our residents who may need it." Meal sites now serving adults, in addition to children and youth, include:  SITE NAME ADDRESS HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY - FRIDAY YMCA @ Egleston Square 3134 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. YMCA @ Oak Square (Brighton) 615 Washington Street  Brighton, MA 02135 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. YMCA @ East Boston - Bremen Street 215 Bremen Street East Boston, MA 02128 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. BCYF Leahy Holloran 1 Worrell Street Dorchester, MA 02122 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. BCYF Mattahunt 100 Hebron Street Mattapan, MA 02126 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Mary Ellen McCormack Sterling Square South Boston, MA 02127 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. FOOD SUPPORT FOR YOUTH Although the Boston Public Schools are closed to students and this week is April vacation week, the City has continued to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all Boston students. Families can find a location near them here. Families with special education students who receive door-to-door transportation, can email mealdelivery@bostonpublicschools.org to request to have their meals delivered. FOOD SUPPORT FOR OLDER ADULTS In addition to special shopping hours for seniors at grocery stores, food delivery and home-delivered meals may be an option for individuals age 60 and older who are unable to leave their homes. Older residents can find a food distribution location near them here and are encouraged to call 311 or the Age Strong Commission at (617) 635-4366 for more information. FOOD SUPPORT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC Residents can visit boston.gov/covid19foodmap to find food resources for all residents, including youth meal sites, food pantries, and more. For information on accessing SNAP and WIC benefits and food pantries information, residents are asked to connect with Project Bread at 1 (800) 645-8333. If someone cannot access food due to mobility, illness, or quarantine, they are encouraged to connect with the Mayor's Office of Food Access at (617) 635-3717 or food@boston.gov. Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced the distribution of additional funds to support organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. To date, the Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed $12 million in 55 emergency grants to 115 organizations, including $5.3 million to support food access.  Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students and families; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

CARES法案將撥第二輪資金 全美亞裔總商會促亞裔企業做好準備

全美亞裔總商會敦促亞裔企業為CARES法案

新一輪貸款資金及其他聯邦救濟計劃做好充分準備

(Boston Orange 華府訊) 2020年4月21日 — 美國聯邦政府的“薪資保障計劃（PPP）”等援助方案，推出甫週餘，3,490億元瞬即用罄。全美亞裔總商會（National ACE）為此提醒亞裔企業，國會與特朗普政府正在正協商撥發第二輪貸款資金，請及早做好準備。參議院多數黨領袖麥康諾 （Mitch McConnell）宣布支持兩黨合作，以向小型企業和醫院提供更多的冠狀病毒疫情緩解措施。這項由國會民主黨和共和黨與特朗普政府達成的價值4,840億美元的貸款資金  包括薪資保護計劃（Paycheck Protection Program），如果參議院在週二通過該法案，預計眾議院將在本週晚些時候批准該法案，再送交總統簽署。

新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)橫掃全球，在美國造成嚴重疫情。聯邦政府與國會已陸續推出多項方案，協助人民與企業度過經濟難關。全美亞裔總商會為確保亞裔企業在這波公共衛生問題造成的社會動盪，經濟危機中克服挑戰，等待曙光，從一開始就和國會與聯邦政府緊密合作，為亞裔企業查察政府政策，反映需要，提供相應服務。

全美亞裔總商會為確保在第一輪援助方案推出時，沒趕得及提出申請的亞裔企業，在第二輪撥款時不會錯過，特地呼籲亞裔企業關注美國財政部和SBA《救濟和經濟安全（CARES）法案》具體實施，隨時查察第二輪貸款資金的開始申請日期，以及相關細節。查詢網址包括www.treasury.gov， www.sba.gov。

根據全美亞裔總商會的了解，川普政府和美國國會正在協商”中期恢復法案”，向薪資保障計劃（PPP）， “經濟傷害災難貸款計劃（EIDL）”，以及醫院等再撥款約4,840億美元，其中包括3,100億美元將用於“薪資保障計劃（CARES Act小企業貸款計劃）”，以及預定撥給較小金融機構，以確保少數民族和服務水平較低地區也能順利獲得貸款的600億美元。預定給小型企業管理局（SBA）經濟傷害和災難貸款（EIDL）計劃額外提供的600億美元。

全美亞裔總商會推出的COVID-19緊急應對網站，內有關於小企業申請”薪資保護計畫(PPP)”，以及小企業管理局(SBA)各項貸款選擇的詳細訊息。例如根據小企業的每月發薪總額分成不同等級，再根據員工留任情況，以及其他因素，容許僱有員工的小企業不必償還一部份，或者全部貸款額的“薪資保護計畫”。

為支持總數約200萬的亞太裔及太平洋島民企業，全美亞裔總商會已特地新設COVID-19應急網站。把CARES法案的有關細節，翻譯成6種語文，供亞裔企業上網查看：www.nationalace.org。 (www.ACESmallBusiness.org)

全美亞裔總商會和包括全美各州，以及地方上亞洲商會的共65個關聯夥伴和聯盟合作，舉辦了網上研討會，重點關注SBA貸款申請，融資選擇，包括薪資保護計畫(PPP)，經濟傷害災難貸款(EIDL)，小企業快速橋接貸款(SBA Express Bridge Loans)，以及小企業債務救濟等。全美亞裔總商會(National ACE)也針對CARES法案，以及其他聯邦COVID紓困計畫，為亞裔及太平洋島民企業舉辦了簡報會。

4月6日這天，全美亞裔總商會就舉辦了場虛擬城鎮會議。應邀出席嘉賓及講者包括，聯邦眾議員趙美心（Judy Chu，加州民主黨籍）、 聯邦眾議員 Steve Chabot（俄亥俄州共和黨籍）、 MBDA 聯邦少數族裔企業發展署署長   Henry Childs II、 SBA 地區行政總監 Steve Bulger、小企業家周國忠( Andrew Chau)、全美亞裔總商會董事會主席吳嘉琳( Karen Eng)，以及 全美亞裔總商會首席執行官董繼玲（Chiling Tong）。

      全美亞裔總商會首席執行官董繼玲表示:「由於資金需求那麼迫切，全美亞裔總商會必須迅速行動，向亞裔及太平洋島民企業說明，經由CARES 法案可獲得的貸款」。她也說，有許多亞裔企業主在英語之外。還說另一種語言，我們必須準備一個簡單易懂的網站，幫助他們從眾多計劃和服務中找到那些對他們有幫助的計畫與服務」。

該網站以中文、日文、韓文、泰文和越南文提供相關訊息。其他網頁則包括聯邦，以及州、市地方政府針對 COVID-19 所提供的紓困方案鏈接，以及由行業協會、非營利機構、基金會和各大企業提供的小型企業援助計劃。

聯邦眾議員趙美心表示：「我要讚揚 National ACE 把語言溝通列為優先項目，以確保亞裔企業主能夠取得他們所需要的重要資源。由於那麼多的亞裔及太平洋島民小企業是移民創立的，確保這些資源以多種語言闡述非常重要。這就是為什麼我所撰寫，被包括在 CARES 法案中的條文，要給小型企業管理局 2500萬美元，來把他們的材料和服務用10種最常用的非英語口語，包括國語，廣東話，韓文，日文等敘述出來。

舊金山“Boba Guys”共同創辦人，也是小企業主，創業者的周國忠，就很歡迎聯邦政府和全美亞裔總商會的支持。他把17家店都關了，讓400多名員工休無薪假，還會去申請CARES法案下的貸款。

      不到10年前才創立這飲料公司的周國忠說，新型冠狀病毒大流行嚴重影響了全美大大小小的那麼多企業，只要這大流行每持續一週，他不用CARES法案”薪資保護計畫”就能重新開店的機會就越渺茫。他說，”全美亞裔總商會幫助了我了解得做些甚麼來取得這些重要貸款”。

      聯邦眾議員Steve Chabot表示：「小企業主和企業家們仍在承受COVID-19，或冠狀病毒的打擊。在這困難時期，他們探索財務援助，以及其他服務之際，能夠全面的獲取資源十分重要」。

      聯邦眾議員趙美心，Steve Chabot，以及其他國會領袖知道CARES法案可能沒有足夠資金來滿足小企業所需要的援助。趙美心說，”在國會，我們開始撰寫第四個復甦法案，而我會支持提供額外援助來幫助企業在危機結束後儘快站穩腳步”。

      全美亞裔總商會董事會主席吳嘉琳表示：「雖然我自己的公司能夠渡過這個難關，但是我知道好幾個小企業主和企業家如果沒有財務援助就無法生存。全美亞裔總商會和它的全美各地商會及工業夥伴將盡可能地幫助企業界從新型冠狀病毒造成的困難忠復甦。

Baker-Polito Administration Division of Banks Joins Multi-State Initiative to Provide Relief to Massachusetts Student Loan Borrowers

Baker-Polito Administration Division of Banks Joins Multi-State Initiative to Provide Relief to Massachusetts Student Loan Borrowers

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) has joined a multi-state initiative to secure payment relief options for Massachusetts student loan borrowers and issued a Consumer Advisory with important information and resources for private student loan borrowers.

Through this initiative, DOB has secured relief options with 15 private student loan servicers to expand on the protections the federal government granted to federal student loan borrowers. These new options stand to benefit over 182,000 Massachusetts borrowers with privately held student loans.

This response builds on the federal CARES Act, which provided much needed relief for students with federal loans, including the suspension of monthly payments, interest and involuntary collection activity until September 30, 2020, as well as the recently announced Massachusetts Department of Higher Education’s deferment of payments in its No-Interest Loan Program until August 1, 2020.

Under this initiative, borrowers with commercially-owned Federal Family Education Program Loans or privately held student loans who are struggling to make their payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible for expanded relief. Borrowers in need of assistance must immediately contact their student loan servicer to identify the options that are appropriate to their circumstances. Relief options include:

• Providing a minimum of 90 days of forbearance

• Waiving late payment fees

• Ensuring that no borrower is subject to negative credit reporting

• Ceasing debt collection lawsuits for 90 days

• Working with borrowers to enroll them in other borrower assistance programs, such as income based repayment.

Additional information and resources, including a full list of participating private student loan servicers, are included in the Division’s Consumer Advisory. 

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures, Continued Steps to Support COVID-19 Response

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures, Continued Steps to Support COVID-19 Response

New measures include deferred student loan payments, updated remote learning guidance and enacting legislation to protect residents from evictions and foreclosures

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced new actions to support the ongoing COVID-19 response, including extending the closure of all public and private schools through the end of the school year, and the closure of all non-emergency child care programs until June 29, 2020. The Administration also announced further support for students and families impacted by COVID-19.

Schools and Non-Emergency Child Care Programs: Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order extending the closure of all public and private schools through the end of the school year, and the closure of all non-emergency child care programs until June 29, 2020 in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.

·        This order expands the March 25 order suspending normal educational operations at schools and non-emergency child care programs. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) established a process to approve Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs to serve families of first responders, medical personnel and essential workers.

·        Emergency Child Care programs approved by EEC will continue operating. Currently there are 523 emergency child care programs statewide serving families of essential workers. Weekly attendance averages about 2,500 children in these programs across the Commonwealth.

·        EEC will continue to pay subsidies to child care providers based on their pre-COVID-19 enrollment, in order to support the workforce.

·        The order does not apply to residential special education schools.

Read the Orders here: K-12 School Order Link | Child Care Program Link

Child Care Program Resources: The Department of Early Education and Care is reviewing its regulations and funding programs to develop new approaches to incrementally restore child care capacity for family child care and center-based programs in the coming months.

• To support families of essential workers and families with children who have special needs, EEC and Care.com have partnered to assist currently unemployed child care workers and provide skilled in-home care. Care.com is offering both eligible families and child care workers free 90-day premium memberships, accessible here.

• Complementing the existing partnership between WGBH and DESE, EEC is launching further collaboration with WGBH to provide resources and activities for parents with young children.

Remote Learning Resources: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will issue updated guidelines for schools to support remote learning efforts through the duration of the school year, including expanded STEM learning, and will prepare recommendations to strengthen summer learning opportunities for students.

• DESE has launched a Remote Learning Essentials initiative, focused on addressing access to tools, Internet connectivity, and educator training necessary to enhance remote learning during school closures.

• The department is conducting a survey of school districts to identify barriers that inhibit effective remote learning, including challenges around inequitable access to technology.

• An advisory group of administrators, educators, parents, students and business leaders will engage external partners to mobilize resources for schools, including philanthropic gifts and in-kind contributions.

• DESE will also solicit input from national and local education vendors regarding the potential to create a statewide online education platform for districts to opt into and customize.

STEM Learning: In partnership with EEC, DHE, the STEM Advisory Council and Regional STEM Networks, DESE has established online STEM education resources to provide continued support for remote learning opportunities. This includes virtual STEM learning opportunities for both students and teachers, and is accessible here.

No-Interest Student Loan Program: The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) is deferring scheduled repayments for its No-Interest Loan Program for a duration of four months to support relief efforts during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These deferments will help approximately 12,000 students that participate in the $5 million program annually funded through the repayment of loans.

• All no-interest loan accounts currently in repayment will automatically be placed in a deferment from April 2020 through July 2020. This deferment will not count toward the program’s permissible 36 months of available deferment.

• If a payment has already been made for April, that payment will be applied to the outstanding balance and not refunded. While accounts are in deferment, borrowers who wish to continue monthly payments may do so, without incurring late fees until July 31, 2020.

• Accounts currently 120 days past due will not be placed into collections until August 2020, and regular credit bureau reporting will resume at the end of August.

Eviction and Foreclosure Protections: Yesterday, Governor Baker signed legislation into law to protect homeowners and tenants from eviction and foreclosure. An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 emergency ensures housing stability for residents and families, and can be read in its entirety here.

波士頓慈濟馳援抗疫 陸續發放10萬件醫療用品

(波士頓慈濟提供)

                     (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導) 慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處陸續獲得美國總會與台灣本會支援10萬件醫療用品，現正擴大濟助遭受新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)打擊人士，另呼籲各界響應捐款，以期善長上限50萬元的比照捐款得以加倍。

美國的新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)疫情，從3月起惡化。慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處的師兄，師姐們，一直默默努力，分頭搜尋資源，把外科用口罩，N95口罩，KN95口罩，護目鏡等抗疫醫療用品，分送到各個醫院，老人院，看護中心等地，幫助病人，院民及醫護人員防疫。

截至4月19日，慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處已送出2萬餘件這些醫療用品，同時還送上了祝福包。

日前，波士頓經文處轉述一名80餘歲台灣阿嬤買不到防疫口罩，非常焦急，擔心自己出外購物，搭地鐵，電梯時，容易被感染。波士頓慈濟新任負責人金滿師姐聞訊不及一小時，就已率同慈濟志工，把內有口罩，酒精消毒液和素食餅乾的慈濟防疫祝福包，送到台灣阿嬤手中。金滿師姐還代購了麵包、牛奶和雞蛋送上，讓阿嬤大為感動，

(波士頓慈濟提供)

本身是第一線醫護人員的波士頓慈濟廚藝能手蕭惠菁，也早從3月20日就知道布里吉婦女醫院(Brigham and Women's Hospital)等醫院的醫護人員急缺個人防護用品，和波士頓慈濟志工們向洛杉磯，紐約慈濟分會，以及波士頓各個群組搜尋，撥打了無數通電話，在週末的短短兩日內，募集1000個醫用防護口罩，8個N95口罩，一起捐給了布里吉婦女醫院的護理師公會。

(波士頓慈濟提供)

慈濟師姐李以蕙表示，新型冠狀病毒的肆虐，竟使治療病患的醫護人員都成了需要救助對象，最是讓人痛心。這一，二個月來，波士頓慈濟和各個善長仁翁攜手合作，為遭逢打擊，匱乏資源的人送上他們急需的用品與愛心。很多熱心人默默努力，奉獻，讓人十分感動。

慈濟美國總會與台灣本會，最近又先後運送10萬件醫療用品到波士頓，本地慈濟志工刻正計畫擴大防疫物資發放範圍，在醫護單位之外，先照顧其他領域的第一線工作人員，包括在機場，警察、消防單位服務的人們，之後再考慮照顧沒有口罩的一般民眾。

慈濟波士頓聯絡處新任負責人金滿師姊(左)也親自出門送口罩。
(波士頓慈濟提供)

波士頓慈濟表示，該聯絡處在捐贈醫療物資給醫護單位之外，同時發放熱食，濟助因疫情失業，生活出現困難人士。一些曾經接受慈濟經濟協助的個案，在這COVID-19大流行期間，也回來聯絡慈濟，尋求濟助。慈濟將陸續接受失業急難救濟金申請，在疫情穩定後，也將辦理物資發放，向需要協助家庭伸出援手。

 一名心地善良的企業家，最近表示，願意以50萬元為上限，比照慈濟所募款額來捐贈。波士頓慈濟因此呼籲各界踴躍捐款，以期愛心善意得以加倍。

波士頓慈濟強調，唯有攜手同心，才能弭平世紀災疫，疫情一日不平息，慈濟的”撫平美國疫情線”愛心濟助活動，就會堅持下去。查詢相關訊息或需要協助，可電洽617-762-0569 。(更新版 2)

台灣送給麻州10萬口罩

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(中)送口罩給麻州政府，旁為麻州眾議員
黃子安(左)，MOITI主任Mark Sullivan(右)。(經文處提供)

                      (Boston Orange)為響應麻州貝克州長(Charlie Baker)呼籲支援麻州醫護人員個人防護裝備需求，駐波士頓辦事處徐處長佑典代表中華民國政府於本(109)年4月20日捐贈麻州政府十萬片醫療用口罩。上揭口罩已轉交麻州緊急事務管理署(Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency)，後續將由麻州政府陸續分送予第一線醫療照護人員使用，以實際行動展現台灣協助麻州政府共同抗疫!

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蔡英文總統在本年四月初宣布，在台美醫療合作架構下，台灣除每週提供美聯邦政府十萬片口罩外，並再捐贈美國兩百萬片及其他疫情嚴重之友好國家八百萬片口罩，共同對抗疫情。台灣雖迄仍無法參與世界衛生組織(WHO)，但我們堅信防疫無國界，國際社會應該團結起來，彼此幫助，協力共度這場史無前例的全球危機。

(經文處提供)

台灣與麻州一向享有深厚友誼及長遠合作。此次捐贈的十萬片口罩全部均為台灣製造，並由台灣直接運抵麻州，更為麻州政府在疫情爆發後，首次接獲之外國政府直接援贈。台灣珍視與麻州的夥伴關係，將繼續共同攜手合作，一同度過難關。

除了前述的捐贈之外，本處也與麻州台灣人社團共同合作募款，將自台灣訂購的三千片口罩，以及由麻州台灣媽媽團隊手工縫紉的布口罩，捐贈給波士頓市警局、波士頓消防局，以及麻州交通局(MBTA)。麻州州政府、波士頓市政府及相關受贈之單位對來自台灣的愛心均表示由衷感謝。(波士頓經文處提供)

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES NEW MAP WITH TESTING SITES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES NEW MAP WITH TESTING SITES IN THE CITY OF BOSTON

BOSTON - Monday, April 20, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today launched a new mapping tool to help Boston residents find locations offering COVID-19 testing. The City of Boston is partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. "Every community deserves full access to COVID-19 testing. We will continue to work to expand access to testing for all residents across Boston, particularly our hardest hit communities," said Mayor Walsh. "Access to neighborhood-based testing will help us quickly identify cases, and get people the care and support needed to recover and prevent the further spread of COVID-19" According to the latest data from the Boston Public Health Commission, Hyde Park had 413 reported cases of COVID-19, Mattapan had 298, Dorchester had 1,274, East Boston had 410, Roxbury had 335, Roslindale had 302, and the South End had 372.   The map is available on boston.gov/coronavirus and bphc.org/coronavirus. Residents are asked to call ahead for pre-screening and to schedule an appointment. Residents can click on the interactive map to find the testing center with hours, address and contact information. It will be updated as new sites become available for testing. TESTING FACILITY ADDRESS CONTACT  Codman Square Health Center 637 Washington Street Dorchester, MA 02124 (617) 822-8271 The Dimock Center 55 Dimock Street Roxbury, MA 02119 (617) 442-8800 DotHouse Health 1353 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA 02122 (617) 740-2292 Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center 632 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02121 (617) 825-3400 Mattapan Community Health Center 1575 Blue Hill Avenue Mattapan, MA 02126 (617) 296-0061 Whittier Street Health Center 1290 Tremont Street Roxbury, MA 02120 (617) 427-1000 East Boston Neighborhood Health Center 10 Gove Street  East Boston, MA 02128 (617) 569-5800 Upham's Corner Health Center 415 Columbia Road Dorchester, MA 02125 (617) 388-5007 Bowdoin Street Health Center 230 Bowdoin Street Dorchester, MA 02122 (617) 754-0100 Brigham and Women's Faulkner Community Physicians at Hyde Park 1337 Hyde Park Avenue Hyde Park, MA 02136 (617) 364-9880 Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston main campus) 75 Francis Street Boston, MA 02115 (617) 732-5500 Carney Hospital 2100 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA 02124 (617) 296-4000 Massachusetts General Hospital  55 Fruit Street Boston, MA 02114 (617) 726-2000 St. Elizabeth Medical Center 736 Cambridge Street Brighton, MA 02135 (617) 789-3000 Tufts Medical Center 800 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 (617) 636-7216 Testing is free regardless of insurance or immigration status. Residents are encouraged to call the Mayor's Health Line at (617) 534-5050 to help with health insurance applications, navigating Boston's health care system, and with COVID-19 questions. Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced additional funds for organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.  The East Boston Community Health Center received funding in the first round of fund distribution and will be expanding their testing to East Boston clients, in addition to first responders. Six community health centers in neighborhoods seeing higher incidences of COVID-19 to expand their testing capabilities for residents, including: Bowdoin Street Community Health Center Codman Square Community Health Center DotHouse Health Mattapan Community Health Center Uphams Corner Community Health Center Whittier Street Community Health Center Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students and families; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.  For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.