Based on what we heard, we gathered a list of more than 40 community resources for building wealth and financial literacy.<\/p>\n
Do you have suggestions for resources we should add to this guide? Email us at mpi@globe.com.<\/p>\n
Financial coaching, resources, and education<\/p>\n
Action for Boston Community Development Tax Assistance <\/p>\n
For those who meet requirements, ABCD provides free tax preparation<\/p>\n
Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Center for Working Families<\/p>\n A program that provides coaching and information on credit and asset building<\/p>\n Get Starting Point<\/p>\n A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Tax Help Coalition <\/p>\n The city offers free tax preparation for Boston area residents who meet income requirements<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Enrich <\/p>\n The Massachusetts State Treasurer\u2019s office has an online personal financial education platform<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Financial empowerment programming at the Boston Public Library <\/p>\n Different groups hold financial workshops on various topics<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Green Space Financial Coaching <\/p>\n A program within Metro Housing Boston that provides in-person and virtual workshops<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Jewish Vocational Service <\/p>\n Offers free financial coaching and education workshops<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Worth & Wealth Seminars <\/p>\n Massachusetts offers free financial education webinars in partnership with Citizens <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Financial literacy for kids<\/p>\n Financial Literacy Reading Lists<\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 Office of Economic Empowerment offers suggestions for age-appropriate books for children<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Youth Engaged in Action <\/p>\n A free summer program within ABCD that teaches 13-year-olds about financial wellness<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Young Man With a Plan<\/p>\n A mentorship program for Black and Latino boys that teaches financial literacy<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Jewish Vocational Service <\/p>\n The organization offers free access to career coaches<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center <\/p>\n Provides free onsite and virtual career coaching<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n SkillUp Coalition <\/p>\n A nonprofit that offers free online career coaching <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Entrepreneurship and business ownership<\/p>\n We Are ALX <\/p>\n A nonprofit that supports the state\u2019s Latino business owners through initiatives, including a business program<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Asian Business Empowerment Council <\/p>\n A council within the Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation that works to amplify the voices of the state\u2019s AAPI business community<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Black Economic Council of Massachusetts <\/p>\n A nonprofit that works to grow equity and build wealth for Black-owned businesses and communities in Massachusetts<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Ujima Project <\/p>\n An organization that supports business ventures in Boston\u2019s communities of color<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Latino Equity Fund <\/p>\n A fund under the umbrella of the Boston Foundation that provides grants to Latino-serving nonprofit organizations across the state<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n New Commonwealth Fund <\/p>\n A fund that provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving Black and Latino communities in the state<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Community Legal Aid <\/p>\n Offers pro bono attorneys for civil legal matters for Central and Western Massachusetts residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n FreeWill <\/p>\n Offers free tools for estate planning, including for wills and durable financial power of attorney<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Greater Boston Legal Services <\/p>\n Provides free civil legal representation for Greater Boston residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Free Legal Answers <\/p>\n Website users can get their civil legal questions answered by pro bono attorneys<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Mass Legal Help <\/p>\n Provides free information about legal rights for topics, including debt collection and health insurance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder <\/p>\n Shares information on legal matters, such as evictions, unemployment benefits, and wills<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Volunteer Lawyers Project <\/p>\n Free civil legal assistance for matters such as family law, bankruptcy, and powers of attorney<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n ABCD: Housing Counseling Services, Foreclosure Prevention, and Rental Assistance <\/p>\n Provides help to residents in select cities with finding housing and preventing evictions and foreclosures<\/p>\n Housing Counseling Services<\/a><\/p>\n Foreclosure Prevention<\/a><\/p>\n Rental Assistance<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Metrolist <\/p>\n Where to find income-restricted housing in the city<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Office of Housing Stability <\/p>\n The city connects residents with resources, such as shelters and affordable housing units<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program <\/p>\n Massachusetts gives short-term emergency funding to residents at risk of losing housing<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston\u2019s First-Time Homebuyer Program <\/p>\n The city gives down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Housing Authority First Home Program <\/p>\n The city provides BHA residents with down payment assistance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Gloucester\u2019s First Time Homebuyer program <\/p>\n The city offers help with down payments and closing costs<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n New Bedford\u2019s First-Time Homebuyer Program <\/p>\n The city offers help with down payments, closing costs, and interest rate buydown<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n ONE Mortgage Program <\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 affordable mortgage program for low- and moderate-income families<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Worcester\u2019s Housing and Neighborhood Grants <\/p>\n The city offers homebuyers down payment assistance<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Affordable child care options<\/p>\n Child Care Choices of Boston <\/p>\n A program within ABCD that helps match families in Boston and surrounding suburbs to affordable child care providers<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Child Care Financial Assistance Programs <\/p>\n Massachusetts offers help with paying for child care for residents who meet eligibility criteria<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Great Starts <\/p>\n Boston\u2019s Citywide Enrollment Platform with information on center-based child care providers, family child care providers, and pre-K<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts\u2019 Department of Early Education and Care has a Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative<\/a> that works with public school districts and community organizations to increase preschool offerings.<\/p>\n The initiative is being implemented in the following: <\/p>\n Boston Public SchoolsHolyoke Public SchoolsLawrence Public Schools Lowell Public SchoolsNew Bedford Public SchoolsNorth Adams Public SchoolsNorthampton Public SchoolsSomerville Public SchoolsSpringfield Public SchoolsBrockton Public SchoolsFall River Public SchoolsFramingham Public SchoolsLynn Public SchoolsMalden Public SchoolsSalem Public SchoolsSandwich Public SchoolsGloucester Public SchoolsHaverhill Public SchoolsHoosac Valley Regional School DistrictPlymouth Public SchoolsWestfield Public Schools<\/p>\n Planning is underway for the initiative in the following: <\/p>\n Chicopee Public SchoolsTaunton Public SchoolsFitchburg Public SchoolsQuincy Public SchoolsPittsfield Public SchoolsWorcester Public SchoolsBarnstable Public SchoolsWareham Public SchoolsThe Gateway Regional School District<\/p>\n All Massachusetts school districts offer some public preschool, according to the state. Check your district for options.<\/p>\n BabySteps <\/p>\n A state program that gives $50 to Massachusetts families toward a child\u2019s education <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Saves<\/p>\n A city program that gives $50 to Boston Public Schools K2 kindergarteners whose parents start a financial account<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Level Up <\/p>\n An ABCD program that provides tuition assistance to eligible Boston adults who are 18 to 24<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Boston Evening Therapy Associates <\/p>\n Offers sliding scale and pro bono therapy services to Massachusetts residents<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Community Services Institute <\/p>\n Provides in-person and virtual therapy options in Greater Boston and Western Massachusetts<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Health Resources and Services Administration\u2019s health center finder <\/p>\n An online database that includes health centers across the country<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n Massachusetts Department of Mental Health <\/p>\n The state has a help line to connect callers with clinicians <\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n We Rise Collective <\/p>\n A nonprofit specializing in affordable therapy for women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community<\/p>\n Website<\/a><\/p>\n This story was produced by the Globe\u2019s Money, Power, Inequality<\/a> team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. 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