波士頓三醫院斥資3年300萬元 改善不健康源於居不安的社會問題

（Boston Orange編譯）波士頓醫療中心(Boston Medical Center)，波士頓兒童醫院(Boston Children)和布里吉罕及婦女醫院(Brigham and Women’s Hospital)這三家醫院計在3年間分發300萬元給社區組織，資助房屋計畫，改善貧苦人家身體健康。

波士頓環球報(Boston Globe)在8月7日的報導中指出，這三家醫院正在各自所屬院區內大規模施工蓋樓，依照市政府批准其建築計畫的條件之一，他們必須捐款給社區機構，結果這三家醫院都決定聚焦住宅。。

由於三家醫院高層人員都認為居所穩定和健康良好之間關係密切，住宅，教育和食物對個人的健康及醫療開銷都有重大影響，因此第一個150萬元將以掙扎求存，無穩定居所者，以及因欠租面對逼遷危險者為優先濟助對象。

這三家醫院的不尋常合作，始於波士頓醫療中心。該中心是安全網醫院之一，大約有10%的病人是流浪漢或居住環境不穩定，2017年時承諾在住宅項目上5年斥資650萬元。波士頓兒童醫院和布里吉罕婦女醫院後來加入行列，推出一項新的創新穩定住宅計畫(Innovative Stable Housing Initiative)。他們希望這努力最終會擴展到包括其他醫院。

根據市府人員可提供的最近年份資料，波士頓住宅法庭在2016年內就有4600多宗申請逼遷案，大多數涉案租戶，都住在有補助住宅內。

麻州醫療補助(Medicaid)項目為低收入家庭提供醫療保險，也推動醫療提供者處理包括住宅等社會及經濟問題，以防範病人出現嚴重及昂貴醫療問題。

三家醫院合作的創新穩定住宅計畫(Innovative Stable Housing Initiative)，目前資助的社區組織包括”由家開始(HomeStart)”， 城市生活(City Life/Vida Urbana)，Casa Myrna等。

這些組織計畫用醫院補助，一部分支付通常其他資助不補助，但和住宅相關的開銷，例如找新公寓的經紀費，搬到新家的租卡車費用等。

他們指出，來自該項目的補助款，約可分別幫助到75戶，85戶不等的人家，大約每1500元就能幫助一個家庭免於被逼遷。

”由家開始(HomeStart)”是得到醫院補助的第一批社區組織之一。該機構董事長Matt Pritchard表示，穩定住宅是決定健康的主要社會因素，這些醫院在做絕佳聲明。

紐英崙中華公所七月份董事大會(圖片)

波士頓慈濟 8/17 邀眾祈福

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 (Boston Orange)佛教慈濟基⾦會波⼠頓聯絡處將於八⽉十七日(週六)早上十一點至下午二點，於慈濟牛頓會所（15 Summer Street, Newton Upper Fall, Newton, MA 02464) 舉辦歡喜吉祥月祈福活動，勸募愛心，也為東非災民募款。

活動將以戶外園遊會形式舉行，備有與會眾結緣的素食餐點，鼓勵延續物命資源再利用的和會眾分享二手家用物品及書籍，供出席購買的靜思產品或冷凍素料等。

波士頓慈濟還將在” 吉祥月愛灑祈福”活動中，為東非受災國家的災民募款，希望出席者人人發揚心中大愛，聚沙成塔，點滴匯流的付出，共聚福緣來消瀰災難。

波士頓慈濟指出，今年3月熱帶氣旋伊代，在東非莫三比克、辛巴威及馬拉威三國造成嚴重損害，讓原本就已貧困的地方災民，生活更加艱難。活動現場當天將有圖片，ㄧ系列報導的展覽，向出席者展示慈濟人援助東非三國足跡，希望集合眾人力量為東非募款，捐的美金ㄧ塊錢可買十塊磚; 美金ㄧ百塊錢可買一袋建材農作包; 美金一千塊可蓋一間房房; 美金六萬五可資助蓋建一所學校。

波士頓慈濟表示，炎炎夏日，要過得有意義，就該參加”吉祥月愛灑祈福”活動，既有美味素食、可口餐點，還有悅耳音樂節目，出席絕對有收穫。

查詢詳情，可洽(617)762-0569。

台灣搭橋青年訪波士頓 Home媽照顧太週到 樂不思蜀

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉與學員，接待家庭合影。(周菊子攝)

       (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導)僑委會2019年台灣青年海外搭僑計畫，有8名學員來到波士頓，日前結束9天8夜行程，在僑教中心做心得報告，坦言”萬里行來，眼界大開”，接待家庭及個人與機構的贊助，熱情令人感動，激勵他們要更努力，把台灣變得更好。

波士頓僑務委員梅錫銳(後右二)親自送贊助午餐到僑教中心。(周菊子攝)

       台灣青年海外搭僑計畫是僑委會從2017年開始辦理的項目，今年名額從117人增至234人，分別前往18國33城市參訪。

       8名來到波士頓的台灣青年，分別為成功大學郁晉維，郭人豪，師範大學蔡妮諪，楊雅婷，科技大學陳威林，東華大學楊子玉，輔仁大學李思穎，海洋大學林唯傑。經由波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉協助安排，由波克來台灣商會顧問郭競儒，大紀元時報波士頓社長馮文鸞，星樂隊阮琴樂手林瑩玉分別接待。去年也做過接待家庭的紐英崙昭倫公所主席謝如鍵全程協助接送。

郭競儒接待4名男生，照顧週到的讓其中一人打趣要認乾媽。
(周菊子攝)

       在活動期間，這8名台灣搭橋青年拜會，參訪行程滿檔。第一天參加僑教中心志工培訓會議，聽取僑務工作簡報，就地實習，參訪牛頓市政府，參加Idiil青少年夏令營。接下來，陸續參訪了哈佛大學，麻省理工學院，麻州州政府，麻州議會，波士頓經文處，中華廣教學校，中華公所，慈濟聯絡處，基督教長老教會，以及波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬的夫人史美芳所創辦的超音波醫療器材公司，Terason，還參加了慶祝雙十籌備會，僑社青年座談會。

       他們也走了”自由步道(Freedom Trail)”，逛過勒星頓古蹟，遊覽Gardner博物館，邦克丘紀念碑，國王墓園，憲法號，獨立紀念碑等等的名勝古蹟。

林瑩玉(右二)打三份工，還抽時間出來接待搭橋青年。(周菊子攝)

在心得報告中，他們把幾天的行程總結為”出發前的想像與期待”、”波士頓生活體驗”、”僑務僑胞與外交”等三大類。，直言來到波士頓後發現，本地僑胞連結緊密，常辦活動聯誼，頂尖大學遠不只有哈佛，MIT，和他們出發前的想像完全不一樣。然後僑胞們熱情接待，竟然讓他們出現龍蝦吃太多也會膩，剝起來好累的感覺。

       這些參訪既讓他們領略了波士頓的豐富歷史文化，也概略了解什麼是僑務工作，什麼是在美國的外交工作。和接待家庭及僑胞的深入接觸，聽到的待人處事原則，異域奮鬥故事，都讓他們深受啟發，更懂得規劃自己的未來。

       "當地生活體驗"這部分，他們分別點評飲食，消費習慣，宗教信仰，建築，教育，交通及環境。

馮文鸞接待師範大學師妹楊雅婷。波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬。(周菊子攝)

他們覺得波士頓華埠還是廣式料理比較多，在木蘭餐廳等吃到傳統台菜，很是驚喜。一般美國餐飲份量都很大，但Shake Shack的漢堡很小。美國人小額消費，一般不會拿出大於20員的紙幣，平時多半刷卡，不用現金，生活用品會一次買很多，都是和台灣人不同的習慣。

在參訪行程中，他們接觸到中國城廣東人拜關公，郊區慈濟，佛光山的佛教，以及長老教會，聖經教會等的基督教，雖然信仰不同，卻也常彼此來往，聯繫。

最讓他們喜歡的是波士頓的都鐸式，移民式等等古建築景觀，襯托著夏日的藍天綠地，真的是即使走在市區，都風景如畫。

至於教育，他們看到僑民鼓勵子女學中文的積極，看到公共圖書有很多台灣沒有的設備，空間比台灣的寬敞很多等不同。

在交通上，行人路權大，地鐵居然要停紅綠燈，都出乎他們的想像，也讓他們更覺得台灣的捷運很棒，很方便。

僑教中心主任歐宏偉在心得報告結尾表示，其實9天絕對逛不完波士頓，但是留點缺憾，將來就更有期待，希望學員們都會再回到波士頓來。

火土海葬? 安泰殯儀館訪白禮頓樓談"未雨綢繆"

安泰殯儀館主席Christopher P.
Goulet，禮儀經理譚秀婷。
(白禮頓樓提供)  

                           (Boston Orange)中華耆英會白禮頓樓7月30日安排了一場”未雨綢謀”講座，請來安泰殯儀館主席Christopher P. Goulet，禮儀經理譚秀婷，由耆英會活動統籌朱麗芬協助翻譯，在茶點早餐中，解釋火葬、土葬和海葬的分別與處理步驟。

             人有生老病死，無論是自己，家人或親友，都有一天要面對喪葬問題。Christopher P. Goulet和譚秀婷在會中指出，及早考慮這些問題，預作處理，一旦生離死別的時刻來到，就不會驚慌。

              她們倆人解釋了火，土，海葬的處理步驟，也即席回答各種提問，包括預買墓地，若每年增值，權益是否會受損，棺木有購買或租用等不同選擇，棺木的材質，配件，也有防水石泥套或不防水的選擇，就看安排葬禮者的各自偏好。墓地價格在預購之後，一般可保持廿、三十年。

             由於每個人的需求不同，Christopher P. Goulet和譚秀婷建議，關心自己身後事者，最好先和家人，親友商量，並指定一個明白，了解並會遵照自己意願辦事的人，作為和殯儀館服務人員溝通的代表，提前做好一應準備。

             當天的講座以英文、廣東話和普通話同時進行。演講者還提點出席者，有疑問，可和他們聯繫，譚經理的電話是617-472-5888，中文專線617-657-9016。安泰殯儀館提供廣東話，普通話和台山話服務。地址是650 Hancock street，Quincy，MA 02170。

                    中華耆英會白禮頓樓8月份安排精彩夏日節目。請联系白禮顿樓朱小姐查詢報名（617）789-4289。中心地址：677 Cambridge Street, Brighton, MA 02135）。(內容白禮頓樓提供)

Baker-Polito Administration Launches $400,000 Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund

Baker-Polito Administration Launches $400,000 Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund

Loan fund will provide financial assistance to Natick businesses impacted by last week’s eight-alarm fire

NATICK – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a $400,000 emergency loan fund for businesses directly impacted by the July 22^nd fire in Natick.

The Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund will provide financial support to affected shops to help them open for business once again. Eligible businesses can immediately apply for loans from $5,000 to $50,000, with no payments for the first 30 days. 

“We are committed to helping Natick businesses rebuild after the devastating South Main Street fire,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Beyond the initial cleanup, we recognize that financial support is essential to their long-term recovery and hope this emergency fund will provide necessary aid during this difficult time.” 

“These Natick businesses are important to the financial wellbeing of the community as well as to the business owners and their families,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration is proud to work with the MetroWest Chamber and the South Middlesex Opportunity Council to offer the kind of vital financial support needed for them rebuild and reopen as soon as possible.”

“I am thrilled funds are being made available to help these critical businesses as they continue to recover from the devastating July 22^nd fire,” said Senate President Karen Spilka. “These additional resources are a result of great collaboration between the Natick community, our legislative delegation and the administration.”

“Our administration prides itself on being responsive to communities and helping them thrive, including during difficult moments like this,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “This fund is intended to provide an important resource for the businesses affected by the devastating July fire and to sustain these important small businesses throughout the rebuilding process.”

“I am pleased to see a rapid and direct response from the administration to deliver much needed aid to the local businesses affected in this blaze,” said Senator Becca Rausch. “These business owners are part of the fabric of Natick Center, and supporting these invaluable community members is critical to helping the entire town heal. I am grateful for the leadership of Secretary Kennealy and my partnership with Senate President Spilka and Representative Linsky as we all help the community to rebuild, both with nuts and bolts and also emotional support for everyone affected.”

“I am grateful that the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development recognized the devastation that Natick endured through the loss of so many local business that embody what makes us such a great town. The Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund is a great opportunity for our community to move forward from this tragedy and come back even stronger,” said Representative David P. Linsky. “The collaboration of the many different partnership within the EOHED to make this opportunity available, particularly the MA Office of Business Development, is greatly appreciated and we look forward to the opportunity to rebuild.”

Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) capitalized the fund and will administer it, partnering with South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) and the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce for support.

“This loan fund can provide capital to these businesses affected by the devastating fire,” said MGCC President Larry Andrews. “We have seen Massachusetts small businesses remain resilient during very adverse situations. Their resolve to push through to success is stalwart and these funds can help to accelerate their recovery.”

“SMOC Financial Services recognizes that the survival of small businesses in our communities is critical to a vital local economy and job creation,” said SMOC Executive Director James T. Cuddy. “We are honored to partner with MGCC in this important effort that is closely aligned with our mission to provide low interest loans and technical assistance to longtime business owners who have played such a significant role in the economy and daily life of their community.”

“MetroWest is a generous and caring community, including the many Chamber member businesses and organizations who jumped in to help respond to the fire in Natick,” said Katherine Garrahan, Board Chair of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. “SMOC was at the front of the line to help – thank you to SMOC, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, and state and local officials who responded without hesitation to create the Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund.”

Today’s announcement builds on the administration’s continued efforts to support Natick businesses, including the Department of Revenue’s announcement that it will waive any penalties associated with late-filed return or payment that was due on or after July 22^nd and before November 15^th for those impacted.

###

How to Apply:

Please complete the application found on MGCC’s websiteempoweringsmallbusiness.org/2019-natick-small-business-emergency-loan-fund. Completed applications can be sent via email to mgcc@massgcc.comwith the subject line “2019 Natick Small Business Emergency Loan Fund.”

MGCC can be reached by phone or email:

617-337-2815

mgcc@massgcc.com

Loan Fund Details:

•       Who Qualifies: Open to Massachusetts-based businesses in Natick impacted by the fire of July 22, 2019 (loss must be verifiable).

•       Terms and Conditions: This fund is being offered with a 3-year note, no payments for the first 30 days, then a 5-month moratorium on principal (interest due monthly), then 30-month of principal and interest and no prepayment penalties.  Businesses can apply for loans of $5,000 to $50,000.

AG HEALEY REPORT: MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS WHO SWITCHED TO COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTINUE TO LOSE MILLIONS EACH YEAR

AG HEALEY REPORT: MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS WHO SWITCHED TO COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTINUE TO LOSE MILLIONS EACH YEAR

AG Calls for Passage of State Legislation that Protects Competition While Stopping House-to-House Sales to Residential Customers

BOSTON – A report released today by Attorney General Maura Healey shows that even while rapid growth of municipal aggregation programs continues to improve choices for electric customers, Massachusetts residents who contract individually with competitive electric suppliers continue to lose millions of dollars per year. With the release of today’s report, AG Healey is renewing her call to stop these companies from making direct solicitations to residential customers. 

The AG’s new report, which expands upon her office’s original report on the industry from March 2018, found that Massachusetts electric customers who switched to a competitive electric supplier paid $76.2 million more than if they remained with their existing service during the one-year period from July 2017 to June 2018. This new data brings the total net losses to $253 million for Massachusetts customers over the course of three years (July 2015 – June 2018). The AG’s report also showed that low-income residents and communities of color are disproportionately impacted.

“Our concern remains that too many customers are being falsely promised big savings on their electricity bills and then overcharged month after month,” AG Healey said. “The results of our new report highlight the need for legislation to protect real competition and stop these predatory companies from scamming residents in Massachusetts.”

Today’s report also shows that of the 500,000 residents in the state that receive their electricity directly from a competitive supplier, low-income minority residents living in many of the state’s gateway cities including Boston, Brockton, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Quincy, Springfield, and Worcester are continuing to be hit particularly hard by these companies. Low-income households participate in the individual residential electric supply market at twice the rate of non-low-income households, and on average pay rates that are 25 percent higher. The new report found that low-income households lost an average of $166 in the one-year period from 2017–2018.

In the last four years, residents in Massachusetts filed more than 1,000 complaints with the AG’s Office about competitive suppliers engaging in aggressive and deceptive tactics. Complaints include suppliers pretending to be a utility company to induce customers to turn over sensitive information; suppliers harassing customers with repeated calls or home visits; and door-to-door salespeople forcing their way into elderly customers’ homes and refusing to leave without a signed contract. 

In January, AG Healey filed legislation that would ban suppliers from contracting directly with residential customers for new contracts after Jan. 1, 2020. The legislation would not change Massachusetts’ cities and towns’ municipal aggregation programs or the markets for commercial and industrial electric supply.

As the state’s ratepayer advocate, AG Healey’s office has supported reforms to basic service and supported competitive products and services in the electricity market, including the expansion of power purchase agreements by large-scale commercial and industrial users of electricity—like manufacturers, hospitals, universities, and office parks—and by cities and towns that purchase power on behalf of their residential customers. 

As of 2019, over 120 cities and towns in Massachusetts provide electricity to their residents through municipal aggregation programs. Dozens more are in the process of setting up municipal aggregation programs—including Boston and Worcester—with the goal of providing competitive and often cleaner electricity options for residents.

Since AG Healey first called for reform in the competitive electric supply market, other states have undertaken similar efforts to protect consumers from these deceptive practices. In October 2018, then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan called for the Legislature to stop residential market contracting for competitive electricity suppliers in her state. In February 2019, the Connecticut consumer counsel and the chairman of the New York State Senate’s Energy and Telecommunications Committee each introduced legislation similar to AG Healey’s. 

Today’s report is part of AG Healey’s ongoing efforts to address unfair and deceptive practices in the individual residential electric supply market, which includes investigating and taking action against suppliers who violate the state’s consumer protection laws.

In March 2018, Viridian Energy LLC agreed to pay $5 million in restitution to consumers for allegedly engaging in various deceptive and unfair sales tactics to switch consumers into costly contracts. The AG’s Office also reached a $4 million settlement with Just Energy in December 2014 for deceptive marketing and sales, entering consumers into agreements without their consent, and charging costly termination fees.

In October 2018, the AG’s Office sued Starion Energy for allegedly falsely promising consumers electricity rate reductions in unsolicited telemarketing calls and pre-recorded robocalls and then charging those consumers tens of millions of dollars more than they would have paid if they stayed with their utility company.

In March 2019, AG Healey filed extensive comments with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), calling on the DPU to enact a series of regulatory measures that would help mitigate consumer harm for as long as suppliers continue to directly contract with residential electric customers, and requesting that the DPU investigate the impact of the individual residential electric supply market on the various low-income assistance programs and their participants.

Any resident or retailer with concerns about these deceptive marketing practices should file a complaint with the AG’s Office or call the consumer hotline at (617) 727-8400. Residents with questions can also contact the Consumer Division of the Department of Public Utilities at (877) 886-5066. 

The AG’s report was prepared by the Susan M. Baldwin Consulting firm.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Elizabeth Anderson, Joseph Dorfler, Alexander Early, and Elizabeth Mahony, Deputy Division Chief Nathan Forster, and Division Chief Rebecca Tepper, all of AG Healey’s Energy & Telecommunications Division, along with Energy and Environment Bureau Chief Melissa Hoffer.